WHAT I LOVE ABOUT EBIRA CULTURE 1.CARING AND SHARING One of the most enthralling attributes of Ebira peoples way of life I grew up with in the late 50s and 60s was that of how one family lived in harmony with the neighbours.They shared food and drinks on daily basis within the closely knit family.Or,with others during the annual festivals. Indeed,farmers engaged in healthy competition by tilling the farmlands of neighbhours on annual basis.It was called Arowun. 2.RESPECT FOR ELDERS AND AUTHORITY Back in our idyllic days in the farm,my father, late Mallam Sadiku Umeche would ensure that members of his family maintained the bond of brotherliness with his older brother,late Mallam Lawal Baje.All members of the larger family slept at the same farmland while the youths enjoyed listening to morally sound folklore or recounted popular native songs. It was out of similar respect that I bear my uncles name till this day.And if my father hunted a game the thigh and the heart would go to his older brother! It is a taboo in Ebiraland to use ones fathers or mothers name to insult another person,unlike what obtains in some ethnic groups,especially here in Lagos. 3.ENTHRONING AND SUSTAINING HIGH MORAL STANDARDS Back in the village there were agreed standards of morality.A thief was tagged as such and got the appropriate prompt punishment.For instance,a woman who stole dried cassava peelings was paraded round the major street for all to see en route to the chiefs palace. It is not like these days that governors or past politicians alleged to have stolen from the state coffers hire conscienceless people to hail them during trials. In those days there was a blind clairvoyant in Oboroke Ihima,who had the means of detecting thieves by tying the iron part of the hoes with specific leaves that turned to prove the culprits guilt.Simply put,people cherished their good names far above silver or gold. Good enough, any older person could instil discipline on any child in the village apart from his. 4.RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE Ebira people DO NOT ENGAGE IN HUMAN SACRIFICE.It is a taboo! 5.AFFORDABLE DOWRY Ebira people do not charge abnormally high dowry to give off their daughters hand in marriage.Items such as yam,dried fish,red palm oil,rice and salt could be offered with a token fee.What the parents of the bride want is an assurance that their daughters would be well catered for. 6.COLOURFUL ANNUAL FESTIVALS WITH DIDACTIC MESSAGES Ekwechi is celebrated every December to mark the end of the Ebira Calender year and the beginning of another.Is it not interesting it coincides with the Roman Calender?Echane is to mark the harvest season while Echori is to pay respect to the god of fertility. Apart from the mesmerising music packed full with lyrics on moral messages,they afford the people to socialize,fete friends and well wishers while the best of fashion is on full display. One wishes the messages could be translated into English language for global accessibility.In fact, our modern music starts would rework and modernize the drumbeats and dance steps as Nyanya did with kukere. 7.CREATIVITY IN THE CLOTHING,POTTERY,FARMING INDUSTRIES We are globally renowned for our ingenious hand-woven cloth designs,as well as the pottery and farming.Unfortunately,these are not being promoted and projected with the deserved passion, as before. 8..HIGH LEVEL OF HOSPITALITY Give it to us,Ebira people are very accommodating.We have hosted the Yorubas, Igbos and Hausas for centuries without allowing any harm come to them.Even when there are internal wranglings,the non- indigenes are never affected. We deserve a National Award,dont we? N.B.Are you an Ebira man or woman?Your contributions on what you cherish about our culture are most welcome
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:04:35 +0000
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