Ufa atianghini ké Bekwarra.
A unique Culture of the Bekwarra people.

By Ushie S. A

Bekwarra practice a very unique culture which through my research and academic voyage I discovered that the Bekwarra people practice a culture which is still in place till present.

"Ufa atianghini" This is a very long time practice engaged by the Bekwarra people. This culture is as old as man itself. It majorly involves families, friends, neighbor etc giving out their animals especially birds, poultry, goat, sheep, etc out to their trusted friends, neighbors, family etc for them to rear those birds until it reproduces and becomes much.

This practice has strengthen a lot of inter group and inter family relations in Bekwarra today. It has also created wealth between these parties.

In the aspect of inter ward relationship, it has made possibe the interaction of people from all part of Bekwarra. For instance, it has made it easy for all the wards in Bekwarra to be integrated as one. You will see Ukpah woman travelling all the way to a places as far as Beten, Gakem, Otukpuru, Nyanya, etc only to check her hen and how there are fairing.

How is it done, a friend to a mother can decide to give out her small hen to a friend's child and the child will be nurturing the hen until the hen grow and starts reproducing. Most times, when the child nurse these hen well and they reproduced, the family and the owner will attribute such to be a responsible individual in the society.

Most times, if the hen produces up to 10 chicks, the child will rear them and give half of it to owner, this will continue in each hatching until the owner will decide and say that you have clear your payment and the mother hen will automatically become yours.

But recently, the culture is gradually dying due to lack of trust, as to if you give out your hen before you know, you will hear the hen was stolen or the hen is too stubborn and can't heat her eggs for them to hatch. Sometimes you will bring the hen and maybe because of the lack of adaptation the new hen will be stolen or might lost her way to find home.

But the importance of this culture cannot be over emphasis because it has given rise to rich fellow in Bekwarra today and top agriculturalist in Bekwarra today.

Ufa atianghini in Bekwarra is a very unique culture of the Bekwarra people and it must be preserved.

From
Ushie Sunday A.