BAKOR NEW YAM FESTIVAL
Bakor is formed from two Ejagham words:” Ba “and “kor“.
“Ba” means come.
“Kor” means take.
Bakor means ‘Come and Take’.
During the advent of colonial administration, Ayokaba descendants within the central and The present cross river state North were shared between Ikom and Ogoja administrative areas for administrative convenience.
In Ikom, were the following Nde, Nnam, Nta, Nsele, Abanyum and Ofutop. In Ogoja administrative area was, Ekajuk, Nkum and Nkem traditional clans of Ejagham speaking people.
In order to maintain their cultural bond of Brotherhood, that has kept the Ayokaba descendants right from time, great sons of Nkum, Nkem, Ekajuk, Abanyum, Nde, Nsele,and Nnam met at Alok, to see how, they can come up with a cultural union of all the Ayokaba descendants of Ikom and Ogoja administrative areas.
All this took place during the reign of great kings such as HRH Ntol Robert Mgbe of Alok, HRH Ntol Gregory Ibre Adima of Nkum, HRH Ntol Itashu Mgbeje of Nkem, and other clans heads. Among the illustrious sons and daughters who initiated this action were Late Chief E. E. Monjok, Ntol Philip Nakuku, Justice Fidelis Ikogor Nnang, Chief JI C Igbe, Chief Ishong Ayim, MR Nkor, Hon. Akumjom, Akayi Ifop and many others.
When it was resolved that a Union of Ayokaba descendants of Ikom and Ogoja administrative areas come together to form a cultural union to promote and preserve their cultural values, and refresh their brotherhood, the issue of under which umbrella body arose. This first meeting ended successfully, and all members present were given an assignment to come to the next meeting with a suggested name for general endorsement by the house in the next meeting.
When they all met in the second meeting, the name suggested by late justice Nnang was taken, which is Bakor, the two common words that mean the same in all the nine (9) clans of Ayokaba descendants. The hospitality of the Bakor man and woman that believe in sharing, quickly made this name to be generally accepted and endorsed by all. That was how the Bakor cultural union came to be, with Ntol Gregory Ibre Adima, the Ntol Atol one of Nkum, emerging as the pioneer Grand commander.
Yes, Bakor is a name that really speaks of the Bakors generosity.
In Bakor, it is wickedness and selfishness of the highest degree to eat your meals indoors.
In Bakor you must invite any passer-by to join you in your meals.
In Bakor, you must share your crops with a very large number of friends and extended family members yearly.
In Bakor, anyone who passes around your farm during harvest, you must give him a yam to take home.
In Bakor, when you are about to prepare a meal, you must make provision for the unknown visitors.
Yes, in Bakor you must be the father to any orphan in your mist.
In Bakor the visitors are given preferred attention in all acts of sharing.
Bakor is an invitation to share. Hospitality is Bakor’s common identity. What is not shareable among them are wives, husbands and children.
To promote their cultural values, it was resolved that New yam be celebrated by all the member clans of the Bakor union on the same date, and the venue rotated among the Eight (8) initial clans to foster the unity and refresh the clan’s affinity as true descendants of Ayokaba the great, not minding the colonial administrative lines.
Later, the Ofutop clan joined the Bakor union making the Ninth clan.
The month for the celebration was taken as September of every year. 15 September was agreed as the date. Nine clans, coming together, to offer thanks giving to God On the Ninth month of every year. That is the Bakors refreshing themselves for the purpose of keeping their bonded love alive and aglow.
New yam celebration among the Bakors is older than the Bakor union. It has been the sacrifice of thanksgiving to God by the descendants of Agba , Otuboki performed by the chief priest , Ayokaba while on their journey from Central Africa. It is the sacrifice of the first fruits to the God of fertility, and giver of plenty.
Yam, among the Bakors, is regarded as the king of all crops. The movement of these three (3) Zulu great warriors and their descendants took them many years before they arrived at their final destinations. The major crop that survived them at the time was yam.
To the Bakor man, yam is a mysterious crop that speaks volumes about life. The manner in which yam grows left the Bakor to treat it with all respect as a very major item of annual thanks giving to God.
Firstly, there is a long preparation that starts with reconciliation of aggrieved members of the Bakor families. The Bakor farmer goes to his farm, harvesting as many tubers on the eve of new yam. He shares these to his aged and dependent large extended family members, friends and Neighbours. He takes some to his in-laws with some other gifts of palm wine and clothes.
First is the celebration in the house by the head of the home, where for those who believe in the traditional African religion will appease their gods. Those who have embraced Christianity would gather with their tubers of new yams to be blessed in their various churches. When this is done, the grand finale new yam celebration is now done in the selected venue for the year. Here, all the people are gathered with their visitors, neighbours and well-wishers in an open place, well decorated.
The Royal fathers are seen in their proper regalia coming out in a single row, ushered in by a special Divine dancing group that usher in peace and protection for all. The Royal fathers move in union, in their regal steps to the farm within the venue, which is planted for purpose of the celebration, and religiously dig out the white new yam, and raised it to God in thanksgiving, while the people shout for joy, and in appreciation of God’s kindness, favour and wonders, for blessing the works of their hands.
The chief celebrant, assisted by other senior Royal fathers, now hand over the new yam to the ready maidens, well tutored on their religious assignment. They now roast the yams carefully, in a specially prepared camp fire, peel it as instructed, prepare the special palm oil stew, and gently, but with an inviting smile, place it before the Royal fathers. At this point, each clan Head is called upon to share in the roasted yam.
It is a way of renewing the bond of unity among the children of Ayokaba, sharing once more the very food that provided their great ancestors with the strength they needed for their journey to the promised land.
To the Bakors, new yam is like the Holy Eucharist, that draws the people closer to God in thanksgiving, and reunites the people with God, the giver of all. while deepening their belief in life after death, as in the mystery of a half or a very small tuber of yam sowed in the ground becoming a whole bigger yam after seven (7) months of intensive care for the yam farm.
The people eat this special unity food in solemnity, sharing it with visitors and friends; and after this, other food items and drinks are served to all amidst traditional dances displayed from all the nine clans.
Farmers’ competition, and other games are the side attractions that make the celebration more enjoyable. Miss Bakor eventually emerges yearly. To the Bakors, the new yam celebration is the highest festival. It draws the people to nature, and reminds them that, like the old yam, if properly taken care of, gives rise to a new tuber of yam, living a good life with neighbours and relating well with God can give you a good place among the ancestors even after death. It is a time to reflect on life and the invisible hand of God in the affairs of man, as evidenced in the mystery of who changes the old yam to the new one being celebrated on the new yam day.
15th September every year is a day that all Ejagham tribes, the Bantu all over the world, their friends and Neighbours should come and share in the very rich culture of the Bakor generosity.
The name Bakor is an invitation on its own, meaning “Come and Take”.
By Dr. Phillip Ibol
