YORUBA TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

  Marriage is the union of a man and a woman to become husband and wife. It is also said to be an institution and as such must be done with care and respect since our lives depends on a stable marriage.

The Yoruba I must confess have over time developed a wonderful culture of hosting and attending ceremonies where beautiful colors, joy and happiness are being displayed. And a ceremony of great magnitude like marriage is no exception. Their hospitality is flawless and attendance is almost always at its peak.

To the point now, a Yoruba man of 25-30 usually pursues his Yoruba wife of ages between 17-25. After they both express mutual love for each other * winks *, they inform their parents. Like many other traditions in Nigeria, the groom is escorted by members of his family to the brides home. Yorubas have a custom of having and showing respect to elders and it comes to play here too. The groom and his family kneel to show the brides family respect just before they enter their home. This must be quick and prompt or else he will be asked to leave or to pay a fee. Permit me to use this, “the traditional asking out” begins here with the families sitting opposite each other while the bride and the groom are close to the center. In the middle, Olopa Iduor (speaker for the grooms family) and Olopa Ijoko (speaker for the brides family). The Ilopa Iduor now presents a letter to the brides family ones everyone is seated. The receiver will be Olopa Ijoko who reads the letter aloud and the brides family responds. Dowry is then paid to the brides family. This could be goods but mostly money is paid. The reason for paying this dowry they say is to compensate the brides family for raising her and to test the grooms patience. STUNNED? Me too!. The dowry of virgins cost more as expected. Prayers follow closely after that as usual. Some Yorubas have a Yoruba priest do a thing or two to predict the compatibilty of the couple.

Foods like Oyin(honey) and Obi(kola nut) are passed round by the Olopas to symbolize long life and a blessed union. The last part after the wedding ceremony is the “Igbe Iyawo” which means to carry the bride. Celebrations begin full time when the bride has been taken to her husband. My dear readers, isn't this wonderful?  

HOW THE MONKEYS SAVED THE FISH

The rainy season that year had been the strongest ever and the river had broken its banks. There were floods everywhere and the animals were all running up into the hills. The floods came so fast that many drowned except the lucky monkeys who used their proverbial agility to climb up into the treetops. They looked down on the surface of the water where the fish were swimming and gracefully jumping out of the water as if they were the only ones enjoying the devastating flood.

One of the monkeys saw the fish and shouted to his companion: "Look down, my friend, look at those poor creatures. They are going to drown. Do you see how they struggle in the water?" "Yes," said the other monkey. "What a pity! Probably they were late in escaping to the hills because they seem to have no legs. How can we save them?" "I think we must do something. Let's go close to the edge of the flood where the water is not deep enough to cover us, and we can help them to get out."

So the monkeys did just that. They started catching the fish, but not without difficulty. One by one, they brought them out of the water and put them carefully on the dry land. After a short time there was a pile of fish lying on the grass motionless. One of the monkeys said, "Do you see? They were tired, but now they are just sleeping and resting. Had it not been for us, my friend, all these poor people without legs would have drowned."

The other monkey said: "They were trying to escape from us because they could not understand our good intentions. But when they wake up they will be very grateful because we have brought them salvation." (Traditional Tanzanian Folktale). So funny...

DO YOU THINK NIGERIA HAS LOST ITS CULTURE?

  In a country with over 250 ethnic groups, you would expect a lot but do you think NAIJA (Nigeria) has lost its culture? This lovely weekend, I took time out to find answers to this question and I got this:

Bello Wali, a student was the first person I met.

Me: Do you think Naija has lost its culture?

Bello: yes

Me: why would you say yes?

Bello: Because western culture has taken over and if I may ask you, when was the last time you wore a kaftan (a gown worn by men)?

Umar, a medical student said yes to my question. His reason was simple and a bit complicated; it is obvious he said.

Asmau said yes. When asked why, she answered “we have forgotten most part of our culture and will most likely forget the rest”. Bold answer there!

Rita's answer was simple and straight to the point, “look around you and answer the question yourself”.

As for me, I think its yes too, what do you think?  

GIRLS AND LIPSTICKS

   Lipsticks on a blog about culture? Yes, you saw it right. The recent hype of red lipsticks by our sisi's (ladies) led me to this wonderful discovery. Most girls now use red lipstick on any outfit and event they intend to attend. Reason... because it is now a part of their day to day facial appearance. They have succeeded in making it a culture!

A lipstick is a cosmetic product which acts as a coloring for a ladies lips. As long as I can remember, a dark colored pencil-like object was used as lipsticks and it still exists around the Hausa region of Nigeria. Without much story, here is my point ''should a black skinned lady be putting on a red lipstick all the time? Let's hear your say.   

KAKAKI

   A musical instrument mostly played by men. It is a three to four meter long metallic trumpet used in Hausa ceremonial musics and I found out that the Tiv people also use it. One special thing about this musical instrument is that it is used in other countries like Niger, Chad, Burkina faso and Nigeria. In Sudan and Chad, the instrument is known as Waza.

    Sara ( a weekly statement of authority and power ) has this instrument being played on days that it holds ( mostly weekly ). This weekend Godwilling, I will bring you a special edition interviews...stick around.

IRIA RITUAL

     Just got hold of this fact early this morning and I can't help but share with you all. Iria is a ritual that a girl of 17 undergoes among the Okrika tribe of the Ijaw people. It is a ''coming-of-age'' ceremony. Like many other initiation ceremonies, it involves instruction, isolation, transition and of course celebration. 

     In those days, marriage was expected to commence immediately after this ceremony but nowadays it is allowed for the lady to further her studies before marriage. But the idea still remains that after the ceremony, the woman is eligible and old enough to be married.

IJAW PEOPLE

    From the forest region of our great country Nigeria, from within the Niger Delta I bring to you IJAW. These are a group of people mostly found in Bayesla, Delta and Rivers states. They are also found in many states such as Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Ondo states. History has it that they are believed to be among the earliest inhabitants in the south. As early as the 15^th century , the Ijaw people were linked to areas of sea trade routes.

    Traditionally, it is said that their early ancestors dropped from the sky. Orus (their ancestors) were and are still believed to be devine. They are also devotees of spiritual culture that made so much use of water. Beni-Otu is the name given to the water legends and mermaids. Around 400 CE to about 650 CE (AD) Kumoni-Orus (ancestors) joined them. History has it that Kumoni or Oru were the two names which they were called up till the 19^th century. Europeans who visited noted the name Oru as the distinct term for Ijaw.

Ijaw has 40 connected tribes which are based on shared culture and religious traditions and kinship lines. Below are some of the names and states of the groups;

1. Seimbiri - Delta state
2. Oyakiri – Bayelsa state
3. Oparoma – Bayelsa state
4. Opobo – Rivers state
5. Tungbo – Bayelsa state
6. Ukomo – Edo state
7. Zarama – Bayelsa state
8. Okordia – Bayelsa state
9. Kabo – Delta state
10. Klabiri – Rivers state
11. Iduwini – Delta state
12. Gbaranmatu – Delta state
13. Iduwini – Delta state
14. Isaba – Delta state
15. Zarama – Bayelsa state
16. Buseni – Bayelsa state
17. Egbema – Delta and Edo state
18. Arogbo – Ondo state
19. Bassan – Bayelsa state
20. Bille – Rivers state
21. Tarakiri(East) – Bayelsa state
22. Tarakiri(West) – Delta state
23. Olodiama(west) – Edo state
24. Ukomu – Edo state
25. Tuoma – Delta state
26. Bumo – Bayelsa state
27. Bonny – Rivers state
28. Ekeremor – Bayelsa state
29. Engeni – Rivers state
30. Furupagho – Edo state.

Still to come, a few details of Ijaw peoples lifestyle, food and cultural practices.*winks*

IGALA PEOPLE OF KOGI STATE

From Kogi state, comes a great set of people...the Igala people. Igala are an ethnic group of Nigeria. They are people that practice different religions, such as; Islam, Christianity and animism.

These group of people are situated east of the river Niger and Benue confluence in Lokoja, Kogi state. Geographically, the area is approximately between latitude 6 30 and 8 40 north and longitude 6 30 and 7 40 east and covers an area of about 13,665 square kilometers (Oguagha P.A 1981). Reports show that their population is over 2 million. They are closely related to the Yoruba and Itsekiri language. For identification, the people of Igala have three deep horizontal marks on their cheeks with one vertical mark right at the top of the horizontal marks.

But with the coming of Islam and Christianity the practice has become less common. Like any group of people, the Igala people are ruled by a father figure known as the Attah (father). Attah Igala (which means father of Igalas).

The Igalas of the riverine Idah areas have fishing as their main occupation. But as usual, some engage in farming. In the 50's, researchers like Forde and Westermann and Bryan regarded Igala as a dialect of Yoruba due to the similarity of the two ethnic groups.

CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF KENTE IN EBIRA LAND

But today , with the availabity of improved and imported yarns in the market, clothes are woven with different kinds of yarns and invarieties for different purposes and occasions for example, the Ubah(a type of woven cloth) for Ita Okunete used for the burial of elderly people and for the dressing and decoration of masquerades during the Ekuechi festival which is usually celebrated once in a year. The festival is a means for social interaction, recreation and refreshment among Ebira people.

  The Kente(Aso-Oke) is used to dress a newly wedded bride which includes the wrapper, dress, headtie, gelle(veil) and of recent the pelle which is made in two pieces i.e the headtie and gelle and are usually worn on special occasions like naming, wedding ceremonies and the like.
  The pelle is mostly used by brides maids, friends and Ubajo for women who are still in their fertile age who use them in strapping their babies to the back. The pelle is now woven using improved cotton, silk and metallic yarns and are in varieties with different designs and patterns. For example, the plain cabbled and the cubic type of Pelle.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF KENTE(ASO-OKE) IN OKENE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE

 
Okene is a local government on Kogi state. The Ebira people of Okene have a history of having formally lived in Jukun in Taraba state. They migrated and passing through Toto of Nassarawa state and Koton Karfe in Kogi state, eventually settled down in Okene in between hills. They have some similarities to that of the Ebiras in Toto and Koton Karfi areas.
   Traditional religion was the first religion that was practiced by the people, which is the worshiping of ancestors(Aheke Oziote). The religion was based on the respect for the supernatural and departed spirits of the ancestors who, they believed were the medianics between the living and the supernatural forces. It was later that Islam was introduced and lastly christianity. Presently the tradition, Islamic and christianity religions are the major religions of the area.
   The Ebira tribe is a large ethnic group living on the south-west of Kogi state. They settled on and in between the hills and derived their unity as an ethnic group from a common language, common culture and acknowledging the ritual leadership of Ohinoyi(King) of Ebira land. Within the community there are sub-units, each having their own ritual head, but they are all under the sovereign power of the Ohinoyi.
   Ebira people migrated from Jukun to Okene with their method and technique of weaving.
  It can be rightly pointed out that the Ebira people acquired the art of waving right from their place of origin. When they settled in Okene, the men were engaged in farming and hunting, while the women stayed at home for cloth weaving and the general care of the home and the children. The type of clothes woven in Okene are generally refered to as Itinoci, which means clothes woven on sticks using locally grown and spur cutton.
  But today 

WEAVING IN EBIRA LAND

 

  Weaving is the most usual way of producing fabric which consists of sets of yarns interlaced at right angles. By doing this, sequences are established which gives a strong and more durable result. It is really a creative and imaginative craft, as well as a practical one.

  The evolution of weaving in Nigeria has been traced through acheological discoveries in Eastern Nigeria of textiles over a thousand years old, woven from bast and leaf fibres. Bast fibres were probably used first and then cutton.

   Weaving and ample use of hand woven fabrics have thrived in many parts of Nigeria. These includes the Hausa from Kano, the Dakakans from Sokoto, the Kanouris from Maiduguri, the Nupe, the Yorubas and the Binis as well as the Igbos in Akwete.

  Written evidence indicates that the northern emirates of Kano had a reputation for the skill of its weavers (who were Hausa) as early as 1512.

 The Yoruba have long had a reputation for their weaving and ample use of handwoven fabrics for their own clothing. However there were smaller localities that have been involved in weaving over the years that have not yet been recognised. The Ebira people of Okene Local Government of Kogi  state have been such people. "Kente" is next to be discussed here....do you have any idea of what that means? Pls stick around.

NUPE PEOPLE OF NIGER STATE

  Hello everyone, sorry I have not been able to get you updates recently. We move to the power state. To the undisputed head-quarters of Nupe people in Nigeria, I bring you Bida.
  The Nupe people live in the heart of Nigeria, spread over the lower basin formed by the two rivers, Kaduna and Niger also known as Lavun and Edu respectively. The traditional inhabitants of the ancient city (Banin Bida) were known as Beni. As we all know, in those days( before before) other sources of power or mystical powers to be precise were in vogue. Beni was not an exception but with the coming of Islam, life was changed. History has it that in 1804, Fulani rulers displaced the Bida Nupe leadership structure quite early in the 19th century. Mallam Dendo (Manko) who was the Fulani leader became the new leader of the empire. In 1832, Usman Zaki (Manko's son) became the first Etsu Nupe.
 In Bida, there are three ruling houses where Etsu Nupe rotates. These are:
1. MASABA HOUSE
2.USMAN ZAKI HOUSE
3.UMARU MAJIGI HOUSE.
  After the emergence of the first Etsu Nupe, here are the Etsu Nupes from the three houses as follows:


  NAMES                POSITION            HOUSE           YEAR
1.Usman Zaki          1st ETSU-NUPE        Usman Zaki    1832-1859
2.Masaba              2nd ETSU-NUPE        Masaba        1859-1873
3.Usman Majigi        3rd ETSU-NUPE        Usman Majigi  1873-1884
4.Maliki              4th ETSU NUPE        Usman Zaki    1884-1895
5.Abubakar            5th ETSU-NUPE        Masaba        1895-1901
6.Mohammad U          6th ETSU-NUPE        Usman Majigi  1901-1916
7.Bello               7th ETSU-NUPE        Usman Zaki    1916-1926
8.Saidu               8th ETSU-NUPE        Masaba        1926-1935
9.Muhammad U
  Ndayako             9th ETSU-NUPE        Umaru Majigi  1935-1962
10.Usman Sarki        10th ETSU-NUPE       Masaba        1962-1969
11.Musa Bello         11th ETSU-NUPE       Usman Zaki    1969-1975
12.Alhaji (Dr)
   Sabda Ndayako      12th ETSU-NUPE     Umaru Majigi  1975-2003
13.Alhaji Yahaya
   Abubakar           13th ETSU-NUPE    Usman Zaki    2003-till date 
    Still to come, music,dress code and a few quotes from the past. Saikadegi!