Bakor New Yam Festival 2019

Bakor New Yam Festival 2019

It was all pump and pageantry in Ofutop when the nine clans of Bakor, for the first time, converged in the clan to celebrate centrally, the Bakor new yam festival.

In the St. Mary’s Primary School playing ground at Abragba where the occasion featured, over ten thousand people watched the various activities which were kick-started with a church service from the Catholic Church. This was quickly followed with the traditional symbolic cleansing of the land by the ATAM masquerade.

This colourful ceremony witnessed the traditional harvesting, roasting and eating of the new yam by the nine clan heads of Bakor with their host, Ntun Bassey Okey leading the way.

The ovation knowing no bound, as the various clan’s traditional dances thrilled the mammoth gathering, the best farmer clan competition took its turn.

The Competition

Of the six out of the nine clans that participated, Abanyum, Nkim and Nkum took the first, second and third positions respectively

The Chief Judge of the competition, Dr. Ikani Wogar, confessed that it was a herculean task to come by the above decision.

According to him, the two species of the yam – AGBOJA and ADENYI have different maturity time frame, despite the fact that they are cultivated the same time.

While AGBOJA matures after the month of September, he explained, ADENYI matures before or in September, thus would necessarily have an edge over the other in size.

Dr. Wogar then advised that there should be two categories of competition in subsequent celebrations. Doing this, he noted, would give equal opportunity to the contestants in the two groups.

In their decision to allow Abanyum clinch the 1st position, the chief judge explained that the committee based its decision on the fact that AGBOJA is a native of Bakor while ADENYi was introduced to Bakor.

Thus, notwithstanding the admirable sizes of Nkim five yams, the latter had to cede its position to the other, on nativity basis.

However, while Abanyum went home with N20,000.00 (was this to each participant), the others winners made do with less, with N10,000.00 to each of the participants. This, it was explained, was to serve as an incentive.

Earlier in his welcome address, the president of the Bakor Union, Chief Moses Ale Ujum explained the theme of the year’s celebration, – THE FACE OF BAKOR NATION.

According to him. It means …events consciously and deliberately intended to promote and celebrate the identity, pride and dignity of the Bakor nation and culture in all its spheres…

Farm Weeding and Mound Making

The Ishi Ibohr Bakor New Yam Festival of 2019 almost reached its crescendo on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 when the duo of Chief Ray Ugban Murphy and Capt. Hart Modey’s activities kept the Ogoja community in recreational mood round the clock.

The highly publicised activities of the day drew members of the former Eastern Nigeria outstanding urban center, Ogoja, to the premises of Iteg Inyamagum Guest House, for the farm weeding and mound making competitions, and their subsequent float to Itegela Ureng – the traditional playground for the dancing competition.

The weeding which had 32 females and 28 males for mound making, of diverse age grades and occupation, had Dr. Ikani Wogar as the chief judge.

GRAND FINALE: ISHI IBOHR NEW YAM FIESTA

The Bakor New Yam Festival, centrally celebrated by the nine clans of Bakor on September 15, 2019 at Abragba – Ofutop in Ikom Local Government, had its climax in Nkim, in Ogoja Local Government.

People from all walks of life were at the occasion at the Ishi Ibohr traditional playground, as early as 11 am after church officiated by Rev Dr. Fidelis Kagibia of the Catholic Church

The abrupt drizzling which constricted faces notwithstanding, the major and minor ethnic groups of the country flocked in alongside their traditional dances, among whom were the Igbo, Tiv, Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani, Yala among others.

The over fifty thousand capacity traditional playground remained decked with a sea of people which never depleted as the people watched tirelessly the memorable events unfolding, one after the other, soon after the arrival of the Ogoja monarch – Ntol Ama Mgbeje III and his queen – Rose

Dances that exude memories of unity in diversity were the ULAGA of the Igbo, the Leopard dance of the Tivs, the Owambe of the Yoruba, the Spinning top of the Yala, name it, plus the UNBEATABLE dancing group of Nkim which thrilled the Bakor nation at Abragba just as the Mmon-a-Nkim pageantry group.

Illustrious sons of the land, who had served the country and their community in various capacities and were still invaluable to the community, were honoured with befitting titles.

The known oldest man in Nkim, who was once a member of the national assembly – Chief Charles Aleje Adoga, age 92, was honoured with the affirmation of the title: NDE ABON (the father of children) by the Bakor nation.

Chief Joseph Inyambe Cyril Igbe a.k.a JIC, age 83, was conferred with the title INANGIJA (the battle field warrior).

As for Chief Paul Ugabi Adeshi, age 80, a retired school principal and the leader of the Ishi Ibohr Elders Forum bagged the title: NTOB IGAN (One who authoritatively halts erring persons and happenings).

The beneficiaries whose citations drew overwhelming ovations were decorated by the monarch himself – His Royal Highness Ama Mgbeje the III, assisted by his dear wife Rose.

While the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo of Cross River State and the leader of the Igbo’s in Ogoja Prince Alozie Ugochukwu declared Patrick Akpak Murphy as the best farmer of the year, with Philip Ujajar and Ikag Agbanda following respectively, the leader of the Tiv, Yoruba and Hausa handed out the prizes to the winners.

Miss Bakor 2019 Beauty Pageant

Ms. Regina Edi of Ekajuk clan was presented amid thunderous ovation with her runners up – Maryann Anor Ntol of Nkim clan and Jacinta Ateng Moko of Nkum clan.

Hanging on to Regina, the adjudged most beautiful girl in the Ogoja Bakor group of clans, the keys to a car donated by the sponsor – MTN, Dr. Ikani Wogar observed that being a party to those who scrutinised the contestants, there was no misgiving whatsoever in the choice of Regina.

Calling on this Bakor damsel to live up to expectation, he assured the organisers – MTN that the community would be fully involved in the exercise, come 2020.

As the royal train took its leave to start ushering in performing artists, the colourfully dressed members of the His Royal Highness wife’s age grade – Astar, encapsulated the train to the palace with songs that break the heart for not being so lucky to be the wife to an Ntol.

EVENTS IN PICTURES