ABOUT THE IGEDE CULTURE OF BENUE STATE
BRIEF
HISTORY
IGEDE is an ethnic group in Nigeria mostly found in Benue and
Cross River state. Other IGEDE can be found in Ebonyi and Ekiti state.
According to ORA tradition, the IGEDE people formally settled
around Sabongida ORA in the present Owan West local government, Edo North, in
the South-South region of Nigeria.
This is the bone of contention that ultimately forced the IGEDE
people out of their original homeland.
Presently, the IGEDE natives are found in four or more states of the federation
including Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, and Ebonyi states. The IGEDE nation shares
common boundaries with the Idoma, Tiv in Benue state; Ukelle, Ekajuk, Yala,
Ezekwe in Cross River state and the Izzisrte of Ebonyi State.
IGEDE people are unique with fabulous culture and tradition,
unique social norms. Their language called.
IGEDE language attract attention.
IGEDE cultural attire has three colours. BLUE,WHITE and BLACK. The colours of
her attire explains how Peaceful, agricultural and unite they are. The blue
colour symbolizes PEACE and UNITY, The white colour symbolizes PURITY while the
black colour symbolizes her AGRICULTURE.
The Igede people are predominantly farmers, hunters, potters and
warriors. The most popular crop produced by the Igede farmers is yam, which is
considered the best food that is befitting to the best stranger, especially
when pounded. It is often eaten with beniseed or sesame soup (oroho nya ehia in
Igede).
MARRIAGE
Traditional marriage in
Igede land is considered a lifelong although divorce is possible on the ground
of adultery or other concrete reasons. An igede man is considered ripped for
marriage at twenty five years and above and has financial and physical capacity
to maintain a wife and children. An Igede lady is considered mature for
marriage from 18yrs and above and is physically and emotionally ready.
The man who is ready to take a wife will have to report his
findings to his family, which then chooses a go-between, a person who is
familiar with the girls family. The husband to be brings kola nut and palm wine
to the lady’s parents accompanied by his kindred where the bride price will be
finalized.
A lady of a marriageable
age must bring her choice husband home to her father and the kindred.
The Igede traditional marriage comes in different forms;
catching a bride of interest either from road or market before negotiating the
marriage rights with her parents then followed by gone firing. The firing
of gun into the air symbolizes the
arrival of new wife and telling others
intending suitors to stay away from her, the gun power from the short is used
to touch the wife on the chest to show the symbol of celebration The lady is
officially someone’s wife. For whichever form of marriage, firing of gone is
mandatory.
The civilization has eroded some of the intriguing aspects of
marriage rites including forced marriage. Nowadays the both parents must have
to go for investigation in order to know who the families are. The outcome of
their investigation determines whether the marriage will hold or not. The groom
will have to work on the parents farm to show his strength and love for the
family of the bride.
Canal knowledge between the bride and groom is forbidden before
marriage rites are been done. A mediator (oleru) is appointed for the bride to
be, he communicates with the groom on what to do for the progress of the
marriage that after the bride’s parents have approved the marriage.
Bride price in Igede land is called ECHWUOTABA. It has no
specific amount, it can be paid instulmentaly but the balance should be
completed before the bride to be is been taken to the man’s home. The amount of
bride price varies from family to family.
The date for the ceremony can be fixed after the completion of
the bride price payment
POPULATION
AND DIALECT
The population figure at 2006 was estimated 267,198 people.
However, a large numbers of Igede people are dispersed across the states and
nations.The varied dialects have over time emerge from the umbrella of this
mother tongue and they include; Ito, Oju, Uwokwu briefly spoken by Oju and Obi
local government area of Benue state and others are Itekpa, Gabu, Idele Worku
in Iyala local government of Cross River State.
FOOD
The Igede people have one the most variety of food. Though their
best food is pounded yam which is
considered the best food that is befitting to the best stranger, It is often
eaten with beneseed or sesame soup (oho nya ehia in Igede) but there are many
foods like bambaranut (egbei) and their soups are cooked with natural spice
like okpehe,ikpirango, afu nyi wowo that gives their food natural taste. Some
of their local soups includes melon soup(ibehi), groundnut soup, atanje, okro soup
and igbiraba.
BURIAL
One notable aspect of the people’s tradition strongly held onto
this day has to do with burial of indigenes’ corpses in a special forest.
Corpses of people who are killed with arm or during wars are regarded as
special and are never buried anywhere near home, but in an evil forest. After
the burring such corpse, certain rites are performed to appease the gods of the
ancestors. People of questionable character such as stealing, killing are also
buried there
Nevertheless, people without this cases mentioned are buried at
home and giving a befitting burial.
WARDING
OFF WITCHES AND WIZARDS
The Igede people have what we call the Akpan. It is a kind of
men’s society ostensibly organized culturally to ward off witches and wizard
from homes. Before yams get matured for harvest or eaten, members of Akpan must
perform the rites. The akpan kills every witches and wizards who tries to
kill,harm or bring failure to the society once the rite is done before new yam
festival. The remain of witches and wizard is identify by their swelling
nature. The remain could swell and may not be embalm because it will make no difference
and their bodies doesn’t size their coffin.
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