Among my indigenous Ugep, Yakurr people, ‘Foundation ké-nöi’, is an integral communal activity that members of the paternal clan compulsorily take part in.
‘Foundation ké-nöi’, is simply the gathering of paternal clan members, at the insistence of one clan member, to inform them that the building of a house is about to be embarked on.
Early on market days, before the first feets touch roads taking them to personal activities, the town crier informs clan members that ABC, son of XYZ, is inviting clan members to ‘Foundation ké-nöi’. It is a rumbling call to gather and witness the commencement of another communal landmark.
A live goat, tubers of yam, fresh jars of palm wine, locally brewed gin, kpomo, fresh ‘afang’ leaves in commendable quantity, dexterously made bowls of palm oil containing freshly ground pepper, salt and roasted ogbono seeds, coconut, roasted dry corn as well as a few other local delicacies are presented to the clan.
The goat is slaughtered. The head of the goat, placed on a white plate and equally tied with a white cloth, is buried after prayers of peace and progress in the clan are offered to our ancestors. A day old chick, tied and hung upside down a bamboo stick, is also placed at the site of the building, as a sign to our ancestors that their intercession is needed, to guide the building project to its end. While clan members in attendance make financial contributions, a register is meticulously kept to reflect the level of members participation in clan activities.
Members who arrive early are offered seats and those who arrive late, as a somewhat punitive measure, have to make their own seating arrangements…it is something that raises no dust.
Every thing served is communally eaten and often, clan members who do refuse to eat, my have to cope with the subtle but firm decision by the clan to refuse to eat whatever such a member(s) present to the clan when the next gathering or so is at their instance.
Whenever I do have the time to spare, I sit among my native Egbizum people in Ugep, taking part in this small but critically important communal function. Like my people will always insist, “anön áköi Képön, noh këji ké wéké, Képön ké non kë-koyó, jäng aji awéh” – if you cook for the clan, the clan will finish the food but if all the clan cooks for you, a single individual, you will never be able to finish the food.
Iwara U. Iwara, publishes www.calitown.com
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