Lifestyle of the people of Ebiraland known as the ANEBIRA

Lifestyle of the people of Ebiraland known as the ANEBIRA

The Ebiras (Anebira) have been widely known, recognized, and revered for their outstanding nature. From the onset, their iconic nature is one too glaring to be blurry, for it speaks more volume even in its silence.

Culture Which is Denotatively equivalent to a person’s lifestyle has been tagged with a Beautiful look in Ebira land. They’ve powerfully gotten a well-designed lifestyle via their good and imparting way of life.

The lifestyle of the Ebiras can be segregated into different facets, which are;
•Social lifestyle
•Spiritual lifestyle/Political lifestyle
•Economic lifestyle/Feeding lifestyle
All these aforementioned lifestyles have been properly managed even before the inception of the activities induced in us by the colonial masters, and precisely before the creation of Kogi State where the most populated ebira group (the ebira tao) which is also the target of this piece belongs.

Now let’s properly consider the above-classified lifestyle of the Ebiras singly as they will elaborately aid our understanding of how the Ebiras have lived their life even down to date.

First and foremost, the social lifestyle: The Ebiras weren’t and are not antisocial even as they still hold on to morality, modesty, and decency.

They do not allow their Keenness and doggedness on that which they’ve known to be good to be derailed, water down, drown away nor to become deluded by their activeness and engagements in the social lifestyle. The aim and main pursuit of that kind of lifestyle are to in one way or the other instill unity among peers, harmony, joy, and utmost peace in society.

All these were done to create and preach activism among her members. Some of these social lifestyles they undergo are the likes of Echane festival in all the places where her citizens dwell, Same thing also affects Ekuechi festival, Ebe, and Echi Ori.

All these festivals were carefully held even to date for the purpose of harmonizing the Ebiras and curtailing hatred among her citizens.

To be clearer in my expositions,
~The Eche’ane was majorly a feast established purposefully for the feminine gender. Its aim was to create unity among them, joy among them, and peaceful coexistence among females that are from different homes and jurisdictions though they’re all Ebiras. Whenever it’s been done the young female adults, teenagers, and adolescents that are ripe for marriage will be brought forward before the elders to be strongly prayed for, and from there, the opportunity has been created to freely get married. Free in the sense that they’ve been privileged and not free without bride price.

At this festival, we have the presence of Masquerades in different forms (their attires precisely) to grace the occasion and to create more beautiful muses. There’s always the presence of some caliber of peoples(rulers and elders). That it’s specifically for the feminine gender does not exclude the presence of men from being in attendance, men too show up even as they host their masquerades, most often each clan.

~ The Eku”Echi is another expression of the social lifestyle of the Ebira’s. It can be transliterated as Masquerades’ Day. It’s a special day constituted for the showcasing of their beautiful Masquerades; both those that sing and the eku”echichi inclusive. It’s a sacred movement for the men, for on the day those big Masquerades that sing will be hosted, their females will be concretely instructed to stay indoors.

It’s termed a taboo both now and then and there’s always a consequence for any one of the females who trivialized that law by seeing those masquerades. They will be asked to apiece the gods. They are only permitted to see the Eku”echi chi, not those big ones that took place at night hours. It was a beautiful period for the Ebiras back in those days and presently.

~The Ebe period is a bit synonymous with that of Eku”echi. Some of the differences are; that it’s not the same night masquerades that will come to display, and also it’s not as broad as that of the Eku Echi period.

~The Echi Ori is mostly and to be strick only held by the part in the Ebira Land called Ihima, which is not seldom described as the “Ihima Ori”. It’s celebrated by them, both their men and women are both involved. None of the genders is excluded. There’s always the tagged “Onitu Ori” who stands in between the gods and the people to deliver the messages the gods have for its people even as they celebrated it annually.

The Ihima’s also believed a doctrine amongst them that except this festival is being celebrated, No single farmer is expected to celebrate the new yam talk more of having it for a meal. It’s to be eaten after the Echi Ori.
They are also socially inclined that they do not neglect the vitality and effect of education. The Ebira’s encourage and embrace it too and most of them to date are educated.

Furthermore, The Spiritual and Political Lifestyle of the Ebiras: The Ebiras believe in Ohomorihi even as some also believe in the gods of their forefathers. They strongly believe in the almighty God which they referred to as the Ohomorihi, they believe in the ground on which we daily walk our feet and gods. They believe in the powers of those aforementioned. They do not neglect one for the other. Neither the power of the gods nor the power of the almighty do they want to put aside.

They happily believe in both, tender their prayers to them, make supplications, and apiece them when needed. It was as a result of civilization and socialization that the Spiritual lifestyle of the Ebiras though not all began to receive some little changes and transformation. Some parts of Ebira now worship the God of the Muslims, some abide with the beliefs of the Christians while some still remain so strong in the lane or the track their ancestors followed.

~ Politically, The Ebiras from time memorial have a King ruling them which is “The Ohinoyi of Ebira Land”. He’s the Chief ruler of the Ebiras. The position of the Ohinoyi of Ebira land isn’t something done via election. It’s historically a zonal post; it’s back then being zoned it wasn’t a stagnant post nor was it historically an inheritance. But as time goes on after “Change” which is powerfully a constant proportionality set in, it’s presently seemingly becoming something hereditary.
The Ohinoyi isn’t the only ruler, as we also have the “Tarus” which looks after tribes, and parts of the lands.

The Concluding part of it is the Economic and Feeding Lifestyle of the Ebiras; Ebiras are naturally hardworking and productive. The major occupation of the Ebiras most often is Farming and Weaving Clothes(called the Uba, Ita oku eta, Opete and Idake).
They detest laziness to the core because they’re aware of its negativities.

~The Ebiras eat what they xall Apapa. Apapa is a delicious meal made from Beans. It’s a palatable meal cherished by her inheritance.
Pounded Yam is another meal they so cherish even as many homes use it to celebrate their annual Yam Festival. Amala with Beans soup isn’t excluded from their favorite meal too.

Ebira is such a beautiful tribe and beautiful land to the habit because their beauty is an absolute reflection of their outstanding and lovely lifestyle.