Cultural Heritage of Ukpata community
Ukpata community, is richly endowed with cultural and traditional values. In the tradition of the town, for instance, sexual relationship or promiscuity with a married woman (whose husband is alive) is a taboo. Any woman found guilty of sexual promiscuity becomes a subject of public scorn. This is treated with serious attention to discourage others from toeing the same line.
Also, the tradition of the people forbids stealing. For instance, if a man or woman is caught in the act of stealing, he or she is kept at arm’s length. This is also done to serve as a deterrent to others and to publicly register the family of the suspect in the minds of the people, as one in which the act of stealing (probably) runs in their blood. Usually, people avoid such families while choosing someone for marriage to avoid marrying from a family of thieves. Stealing is, therefore, highly treated as a taboo among the people.
In the tradition of the people, though this is phasing out gradually, only mature men, who are old enough to keep secrets, are allowed to have knowledge of masquerades. It is believed that masquerades are spirits of dead people. Thus, when a masquerade is on public parade, it visits a woman who is believed to be the mother of the dead person who appears as a masquerade to visit the world of the living. Usually, the woman feels so happy that her dead child has come to see her and offers money, fowl or other items to the masquerade in appreciation and as a sign of welcome.
Some masquerades are male and more aggressive and dreadful while some are female. Female masquerades (‘mmanwu agbogho’) are very calm, beautiful, admirable and entertaining with the features of a mature woman in full display such as breast, wide waist, etc. However, apart from being made to know that she is the mother of a dead man-turned masquerade, a woman is not allowed to know what happens in the masquerade cult, as it is exclusively a men’s affair. There are particular occasions during which masquerades are seen. They are during a man’s traditional funeral ceremony or during some annual masquerade festivals such as ‘Ibono’, which usually holds between August and September.
Similarly, the tradition and culture of Ukpata community are observed during marriages. For a man to conclude and solemnize his traditional marriage rites, the women-folk, of his wife’s kindred and close relations, gather on the day of the traditional marriage ceremony to bid their sister farewell to her husband’s home. This is usually an enlarged occasion and is known as ‘Ije Oku’ or ‘Igba Nkwu Nwanyi’. It attracts friends, relations and well-wishers of both the bride and the groom and their families. Palm wine is readily made available for this occasion to welcome guests as they arrive.
The groom prepares elaborately for this occasion. A mountain-size of pounded yam, skillfully molded in a big bowl, is presented to the women-guests. Also, the accompanying soup is well stocked with assorted meat, such as goat-meat, grass-cutter meat (nchi), beef or any other meat which is acceptable.
If the women are not satisfied with the food or meat presented to them, it is traditionally permissible that they could reject it as a sign of protest. Their rejection is best interpreted as a way of telling the groom that their daughter or sister, being given to him in marriage is of a satisfactory standard; therefore, he should be cheerful and present something that matches the quality of the woman being given to him as wife.
Other aspects of the culture and tradition of the community are reflected and observed during funeral ceremonies, births and other prominent annual festivals.
