By Kelechi Oduebo
 |
| Berom Dancers |
If the person is a Nigerian and has
names like ‘Dung’, ‘Gyang’, ‘Pam’, ‘Kachollom’, ‘Kangyang’ or
‘Chundung’, the chances that such a person is from the Berom tribe is
ninety percent. As a matter of fact, if you have five friends from the
Jos Plateau, there is high probability that one out of those five is
from the Berom Tribe. This is because, of the Seventeen (17) Local
Government Areas in Plateau state, Four (4) are predominantly Berom inhabited. These four Local Governments include; Barkin Ladi, Jos North,
Jos South and Riyom Local Government Areas.
The Beroms are also
found in the border towns linking Southern Kaduna and the Jos Plateau
(specifically around Manchok in Kaura LGA OF Kaduna State, Ganawuri to
K-Vom axis in the Plateau). Consequently, because of their geographical
spread and numbers, the Berom people are the largest indigenous ethnic
group in the Jos Plateau region.
Berom; a Tribe and a Language
Berom (also spelt as Birom) refers to a tribe; the people of the Berom
ethnicity. Berom also refers to a dialect; the language spoken by the
Berom people. According to some historians and narrators of the Berom
history, the Berom tribe migrated from Egypt and eventually settled
around the Vom/Kuru axis (which is regarded by some as the Ancient
Kingdom of the Beroms). The Beroms by nature have farming, mining and
hunting as their profession and stock of trade. They are also warriors.
Some Aspects of the Berom Tribe
The Berom people are a people with a rich cultural heritage. This
cultural heritage is manifest in their festivals, arts and culture,
music and dance.
Food: The Berom people have a native food
referred to as ‘Rizgah’ which is a fingerlet-type crop that is cooked,
peeled and eaten (without soup, stew or any ingredient, just like eating
boiled groundnuts. Just boiled groundnuts. The major traditional food
of the Berom tribe however, is called ‘Acha’ (Hungary Rice). The Beroms
are one of major producers of acha in Nigeria. This ‘acha’ could be
eaten in a variety of ways; jollof (mixed with ingredients), plainly
boiled (like white rice) and eaten in combination with stew. It is also
prepared as ‘Tuwon Acha’; ‘Tuwo’ is the northern version of ‘fufu’,
‘amala’ or pounded yam, but this time made with Hungary rice and eaten
with some other soup. The Berom people however have a special local
‘draw’ soup, prepared from the bark of a particular tree and eaten when
the soup is almost cold. Take note: Eaten when the soup is almost cold.
Festivals: Their festivals for example stem all the way from the
precolonial times, with the advent of some after the independence of
Nigeria from the colonialists. Some of their festivals from the
Pre-clonial times include Mandyeng, Mado, Badu, Worongchun, Behwol,
Vwana, Nshok festivals,[1] while the post-colonial festivals includes
the Nzem Berom, Wusal Berom and more recently the Zereh festivals. These
festivals are usually celebrated with respect to the livelihood and
world-view of the Berom people. Therefore, the festivals are usually
farming/harvest, hunting, and belief system related. For example, the
Mandyeng and Nshok festivals are celebrated to usher in the rainy
season. The Mado and Behwol festivals are usually celebrated with
respect to hunting season.
The advent of Christianity and Western
education has served to erode quite a bit of the previous beliefs and
festivals. However, some of the festivals that stand-out amongst the
Berom festivals these days include:
Nzem Berom: The ‘Nzem Berom’
could be translated as ‘Heritage of the Beroms’. Therefore, the festival
is intended to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Berom tribe.
It also serves to sensitize and re-entrench in the minds of the people,
the culture and the tradition of the Beroms. The ‘Nzem Berom’ is
actually a montage or combination of some of the pre-colonial festivals
such as Mandyeng, Nshok, Worom Chun, and Vwana festivals.
Wusal
Berom: Though this festival is tagged as a ‘prayer festival’. It also
serves to re-emphasize the nature of the Berom people as very
accommodating tribe; accommodating of other tribes. It is a festival
intended to remind the Berom people of their virtues of kindness and
hospitality.
Zereh: This is somewhat a more recent festival,
intended to celebrate the beauty and ‘goodly’ attributes and virtues of
the Berom girl or woman. This festival spans a whole week and includes
beauty pageantry in which the most beautiful girl or the ‘Miss Berom’ is
identified. The festival is also spiced with cultural displays,
gala-dinner etc.
It might interest you to know that amongst the
Beroms, a particular historical line or lineage can be traced through
the person’s name. Such names usually have the prefix ‘Lo-’. For
example, ‘Lo-Gyang’, ‘Lo-Bot’, meaning from the ‘Gyang’ or ‘Bot’
descent. (This is synonymous to the use of ‘Bin or Ibn’ in Arabic {like
Bin Haman/ Ibn Haman-meaning ‘Son of Haman’} or ‘Ben’ amongst Jews,
{like Ben Amin-meaning ‘Son of Amin’}).
Leadership of the Berom People
The leader of the Berom tribe plays a highly significant role, not only
in the co-ordination and provision of leadership for his people, but
also in ensuring cohesiveness and unity within the different tribes in
the Jos Plateau (alongside the other Traditional Heads). From the time
Da Rwang Pam became the head of the Berom people (1947-1969) till date,
the Head of the Traditional Council or Tribal Council in Jos has been,
(and is still) designated to the stool or throne of the Paramount ruler
of the Berom people. The Paramount ruler is referred to as the Gbong
Gwom Jos.
Though it never grew to become an Empire in the historical
sense, the Berom Nation had the makings of an Empire in n every sense.
Verbal history reveals that the Beroms who were by nature
hunters and gatherers had from the early 13th century followed animal migratory
patterns traveled from North Africa.
A renowned Berom historian who also fought for the British
Empire during world war ll, Late Da Nyam Kanang says the Berom originally
started from Rome and made their way southward into Africa, in search for land
and glory and being led by key animals like the chwei (Leopard), Murum (Loin),
Gbwin (Elephant), Kwaya (Hedjug), Bogwom (Gorilla), Gwom (Python), Kangyang
(Gazelle), Yop (Bushbaby), Tok (Fish) Bot (Frog), Tsok (Toad) Gyang
(Moose)...etc.
They had brief stopovers the Kanem Borno territories and then
for a longer than brief stay n Sokoto (the reason for their reffering to the
Buzus as playmates).
They then moved and found a new home on the plains of the Jos
Plateau.
According to history, the Beroms, who walked the lands from as
far as Jengre (where they had a shrine) through to Jos (Jishe), Dogon Dutse (
Chwel Nyapp...with another shrine there), Du (later) , Foron, Riyom, Gwol
(Barikin Ladi also later...during the Tin mining days), met a solitary
neighbour living to the East of Jishe....the Gwong or Anaguta, a small farmer
population content on their land.
As the Beroms settled on these lands, a part of them moved
further on to occupy the land today known as Kagoma in southern Kaduna.
As they established themselves, the Miango and Rukuba later
joined them.
History shows that each of these ethnic nationalities first came
to present themselves to the Berom ruler (Da Gwom Rwei), they would show him
what spiritual powers they had.
The Gwom Rwei would bless them and enjoined them to use their
powers for the protection and blessings of the land.
Because of the hunter/gatherer disposition of the Berom man who
spent long periods in the forests going after animals, he became more in touch
with nature and by key implication, the spirit world.
Like the Native American Indians, the Beroms integrated with
such entities, birthing the KWIT culture (spiritism).
The spirits in turn endowed them with different abilities e.g. (
to call down rain and thunder...Mandieng, abilities to excel in hunting, war
and other extraordinary feats ...Bi Toh, .etc).
They were more in harmony with nature and thus lived with each
other through simple covenant rules.
It is this disposition that caused the Berom Nation to not exert
control and seek empire expansion status but rather settled for a simple
coexistence with neighbors.
Even before the missionaries, the Berom looked to a father in
heaven... DAGWEI...the Father in the Sun.
The Berom will normally not swear by any being but by hie/her
grave...
When he/she says ..mi ha sag'o..
(I am telling the truth), it also means I speak by my grave.
Sag ...means grave.
Though some will say ....ma` shira da Dagwei....(I swear by the
name of God)
And those who walked by the power of thunder would say...ma`
shira de gbwara...(I swear by thunder)
He believes if he/she lies or cheats, they will meet in in their
graves or God will punish him or thunder will strike him/her.
Yes...those who crossed their brothers or neighbours did die
...tragically and untimely.
For those who still hold to the truth today, God and nature
still fight on their behalf today.
As to if the Berom Nation had power to ascend to the status?
The Beroms were heavily fortified in their lands so much so that
they have never been conquered in battle by any aggressors.
Traditional history says each time any invading armies
approached Beromland for war, the grounds around such armies will open up and
swallow the invaders.
Meanwhile back home in the shrine, a drum would begin to sound
all by itself to warn the land inhabitants of the danger at the outskirts of
the city.
This prepared the fighting men and women for the war...which
hardly ever reached the city.
A favorite story told was the of the Usman Dan fodio Jihad which
could not enter Beromland.
When Dan Fodio's armies reached the eastern edge of Jos from
Bauchi, their marabouts as usual sent their incantations and enchantments
(yasin) to go in and distabilize the spiritual cover if the land...but after
some time the yasin returned with the message that the city could not be taken
because the power protecting it was much.
It warned that any jihadist...including Dan fodio...that entered
the land will not return alive.
Dan fodio upon receiving this warning left Beromland, ( but not
before dong certain things which we cannot discourse here) went round to
conquer the Nasarawa areas but was eventually defeated in Benue state...he
returned to Sokoto...
Of the ethnic Nationalities on the Plateau, the Berom Nation is
about the only Nationality that does not have a Masquerade or Dodo.
They strongly believe in a supreme being or creator (Dagwei) and
the freedom of the human spirit to contact Him.
This was evident in their initial efforts to reach God... which
resulted in spiritism and later with the advent of missionaries, their quick
acceptance of Christianity.
As the Berom Nation grew, so did their rich cultural heritage,
which is today encapsulated in the annual Nzem Berom cultural festival.
Today, the Berom Nation covers 4 local Government areas of
Plateau state:
Jos North, Jos South, Gwol (Barkin Ladi) and Riyom LGAs and is
presided over by His Majesty Da Jacob Gyang Buba, the Gbong Gwom Jos and head
of the Plateau state traditional council.
Some Berom festivals include:
Festival Span Period of Celebration in the year
Mandiyeng From Pre-colonial times March–April
Nshok From Pre-colonial times March–April
Badu From Pre-colonial times March–April
Worong-chun From Pre-colonial times April–May
Vwana/Bwana From Pre-colonial times August
Mado (Hunting festival) From Pre-colonial times October/November
Behwol (Hunting festival) From Pre-colonial times March–April
Nzem Berom Postcolonial March–April
Wusal Berom (Prayer festival) Postcolonial Monthly
Festivals in Berom culture are primarily related to agriculture and hunting,
which have been the main events revolving around Berom livelihood and
cosmology.
Nzem Berom
The influx of Christianity and western Education paved way for many
socio-cultural changes in Berom culture. The changes devalued the rich culture
of the people bringing serious predicament of a severe social and cultural
crisis.
In order to avoid the danger of losing the socio-cultural practice of the
ancestor, and the overall pre-colonial activities such as the Mandyeng, Nshok,
Worom Chun, Vwana, ceremonies were brought into a single umbrella festival
called Nzem Berom.
Nzem Berom is held within the first week of April, to coincide with the period
when Mandyeng, Nshok and Badu Festival was held. The Nzem is a period when
different cultural displays are exhibited from different parts of Berom land,
especially in music, dance, arts and culture.
Mandyeng
Mandyeng is a major festival celebrated in Berom land to usher in the rainy
season. The festivals normally take place in March/ April. In the past the
Berom regard Mandyeng/Nshok (they are very similar) the most vital festivals
which ensured a good farming and hunting period and harvest. Not all the Berom
communities celebrate Mandyeng and Nshok. Those that perform 'Mandyeng' claim
their roots from Riyom, they include; Vwang, Kuru, Zawan, Gyel, Rim, Bachit,
Bangai, Lwa, Sop, Jol, Wereng Kwi, Gwo, Kakuruk, Kuzeng, Kurak, Kuchin, Rahos
and Tahoss. Nshok: Nshok slightly varies from Mandiyeng due to the fact that it
also associates hunting with the rainy season farming. It is also held once a
year around the months of April and May, to usher in the new season just as the
Mandyeng.
Names
In the pre-colonial era the Berom regarded hunting as both an occupation and a
sport. Although economically it was not as important as farming, hunting was
regarded as a show of skill and bravery. So much so, that most Berom names are
derived from game animals, most importantly duiker [...due to their perceived
beauty.
Names such as Pam, Dung (Racoon), Chuwang, Gyang (Moose), Badung etc. for boys
are most common, while girls answer to Kaneng, Yop (Antelope). Chundung, Vou,
Kangyang (Deer),. These are names for different species of duiker. Others, such
as Bot (frog) Tok (fish), Tsok (toad) etc. are names for other animals that are
non-domesticated, but not game. These names clearly typify how important game
was in pre-colonial Berom society.
Nshok was not the only hunting festival in Berom land. Festivals such as Mado
and Behwol existed but are not as important as Nshok
Music
Some of the musical instruments among the Berom include:
• Yom Nshi: a two-string banjo made with calabash and skin as resonators
• Yom: a straw string instrument
• kwag or Gwashak: a scraper made from dry cactus played with a stick slid
across the sawed body of the dry cactus to produce a scraping sound
• Kundung: a xylophone made of cattle horns and cobwebs
Leadership
The Berom have a paramount ruler called the Gbong Gwom Jos.
The various Berom groups of Du, Gyel, Vwang, Foron, Bachit, Ryom and Fan among
others were semi-autonomous and each had their individual Be-Gwom (High
Chiefs)...these formed the council of Berom chiefs representing the entire
Nation and were presided over by a Da Gwom (High Chief)at Riyom.
However, a traditional stool that would converge the entire Beroms into the
British system of government through tool of the Hausa-Fulani rulership was
created in 1935 by the British colonial administration of Northern
Nigeria.
Northern Nigeria was composed of over 600 completely different linguistic and
cultural features between the ethnicities on the Plateau and the other
groups.
This ignorance of ethnic differences had initially encouraged the formation of
vassal Hausa heads to oversee the created Jos Native Authority, which proved
tumultuous with the Berom due to conflicting views and interests, given that
during the Fulani Jihad of the 1800s, the Berom Nation were never be penetrated
or conquered by the Jihadists.
Through a circular; No. 24p/1916[JOS PROF NAK 473/1916], dated 15 August 1917,
the Resident at Bauchi Province was instructed to send potentials from various
native authorities including district and village heads to be elevated as
chieftains by the His Excellency the Governor General.
In response to the circular, the Resident wrote back to the secretary Northern
Province Kaduna via a memo No. 24/1916 [JOSPROF NAK 473/1916] dated 27 October
1917, recommended a paramount ruler to superintend the native areas.
In the pre-colonial period, the Berom were divided into autonomous political
groups based on regions, but the colonial authority merged them under the Gbong
Gwom in 1952 to help coordinate the activities of the natives.
Leaders
During this period, Da Gwom Dachung Gyang was the then supreme ruler of the
Berom at Riyom, reigning from 1935 to 1941. Under Dachung Gyang, the
traditional institution was designated as the Berom Tribal Council comprising
of local chiefs within the Jos Native Authority.
Its authority then only included mainly the Berom and excluded the chiefs of
Buji, Naraguta, Jos and Bukuru. However, the government, in a Gazette of 7
February 1918, modified the list to include the Buji, Naraguta, Jos and
Bukuru
The emergence of Da Rwang Pam (1947 to his death on 14th July 1969) saw the
elevation of the head of the Tribal Council to the stool of the Gbong Gwom
Jos.
He, along with a Catholic seminarian Da Patrick Dokotri and a Business-man from
Mangu/Panyam Mr. Sylvanus Lot founded the movement for the Middle-belt, which
later became the Middle-belt forum.
Da Rwang had 11 Children namely
1) Prince Bitrus Rwang Pam - He became Commissioner for Health Benue-Plateau
State and a strong driving force of the Middle-belt forum.
2) Princess Vou Rwang Pam - she became wife to one time COCIN
General-Secretary, Mr. Bitrus Pam
3) Princess Chundung Rwang Pam - She married Mr. Dung Ballang a tin miner
tycoon from Zawang
4) Princess Hwonghei Rwang Pam - She married Mr. Maurice P Davou ( of NTC
Zaria) from Gyel
5) Princess Kangyang Rwang Pam - she married Mr. Choji Zang Tot, a businessman
from Gyel.
6) Princess Yop Esther Rwang Pam - She married Mr. Bulus Gyang Botsha, a civil
servant from Kwang
7) Princess Kachollom Rwang-Pam – She married Mr. Gwom Tsok Reng, a customs
officer from Foron
8) Prince Pam Rwang-Pam - A Broadcast marketer/Businessman
9) Prince Davou Rwang Pam- A career Musician (one time leader of the CACTUS
BAND)
10) Princess Phwachom Rwang Pam- she married Mr. Adamu Zi from Heipwang, an SSS
officer
11) Prince Chwang Rwang Pam – A Businessman/ Pastor who now resides in the USA
Since 1969, the stool has been held by the following:
• Da Fom Bot, 19th August 1969 to his death on 1 December 2002
• Da Victor Dung Pam, 17 April 2004 to 7 March.
