‘THE BEROM AND NZEM’

The Berom people are found in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria with an estimated population of 1.6 million (National Census, 2006). Their homeland covers Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas with pockets of their population found in Jos East, Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas of Plateau State and Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The following ethnic groups are neighbours to the Berom. To the North are the Anaguta and Anabuze (Buji), the Afizere to the North East, Bacce (Rukuba) and Irigwe (Miango) to the North West, to the South West, the Aten and Takad, to the South are the Ron and the Kulere while to the South-East are the Mwaghavul.

Some versions of Berom history hold that the Berom are autochthonous to the Plateau area, implying that there is no known migration of the Berom from anywhere. However, some versions believe that some migration occurred from the North African Sub-region through Niger Republic, Sokoto and subsequently to the Jos Plateau.

Another narration of the migration school believes that the Berom migrated from somewhere in the Central African area and are linked to the Bantu civilization. In this regard, Bernard Fagg, points out that the Berom double human headed earthen pot (rweytoh) usually associated with royalty and kept in the custody of a ritual priest (Gwom kwit) is a clear evidence that the Berom belong not only to the Nok Terracotta ancestry but to the Bantu civilization that dates back 2000 B.C.

Historical accounts have documented the somewhat invincibility of the Berom territory and indeed that of the Anaguta, Buji and Rukuba areas against the jihadist expeditions of Usman Dan Fodio, Queen Amina of Zazzau and Yakubu I and II of Bauchi. Oral tradition celebrates this fact, that the Berom have never been conquered by any external force. Therefore, the Berom today; whether Christians or Muslims were never coerced into embracing their chosen faiths and religion.

The Berom people are predominantly agrarian, cultivating crops such as Fonio (Acha), Maize, Millet, Guinea Corn, Kpana (Tamba), Irish/Sweet Potatoes, Bekyi  (Berom yams), Vaat as their foods. They also cultivate in commercial quantities a wide variety of vegetables including cabbage, carrots, green beans, pumpkins, garden egg, roussel just to mention a few. Some of the most popular delicacies of the Berom include  tere (gwote), tuk  - chun and nama dyara (garnished beef, chicken and game with black power). Today, these dishes are known and patronized nationally and internationally. Acha for one is a preferred cereal for diabetics all over the world. In addition, a significant number of Berom households also practice animal husbandry.

The Common animals they keep include nyi (Dwarf cattle), sheep and goats, pigs and a wide variety of birds.

Furthermore, Berom land for several decades (1909 – 1975) sustained a booming Tin Mining Industry on the Jos Plateau. This industry attracted a large population of West Africans and expatriates. These mines and the corresponding attraction of diverse people gradually transformed Jos from a Tin City into a city widely referred to a miniature Nigeria with at least fifty ethnic groups resident and coexisting peacefully in Jos.

On the whole, Tin mining activities impacted Beromland in several ways including devastation of farmlands and alienation, introduction of wage labour, colonial taxation and other urban processes. During this period, the Berom started   to relegated their traditional art and craft such weaving, pottery and iron smelting in favour of labour in the paddocks, workshops and offices of mining Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria (ATMN), Kaduna Prospectors, DB Zang Limited and also on. A positive result however, is that a lot of the Berom are inventors, technicians, engineers, mechanics, carpenters, Masons, Plumbers and electricians serving and working all over Nigeria.

Nzem Berom: the influx of Christianity and Western Education paved way for a lot of socio-cultural changes into Berom land. 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 Mandyeng, Nshok, Worom Chun, Vwana, ceremonies were brought into a single umbrella festival called Nzem Berom.

The Berom people have a rich cultural heritage. Among the popular festiva;l and rites are Mandyeng, Vwana, Badu, Nshok and Ngasang. To a large extent, these festivals celebrate crop harvest, hunting expeditions, circumcision and the onset of the rains. These festivals are usually celebrated between November and April every year.

Berom Educational and Cultural Organization, BECO, instituted Nzem Berom in 1981 as a unifying cultural festival of the Berom to be celebrated centrally in Jos and this festal has been held in April of every year. The major features of Nzem festival in clued a Gbong Gwom Jos and his Begwom usually dressed in an array of traditional regalia mounted on horse backs. There is also the deployment of well kitted Berom Traditional Warriors (Besuga) a colourful parade of traditional dance groups and musicians, the Zere Beauty Pageant, presentation of a detachment of professional and brave Berom hunters and the exhibition of Berom cuisine, artifacts, mineral resources, raw materials e.t.c. Nzem Berom is today the most popular festival that unites the people and provides a platform for cultural celebration and development.

          All the Da-Gwom Rwey, Be-Gwom Rwey, Be Dagwom and Begwom and their subjects had to pay homage to his majesty, the Gbong Gwom Jos at his palace where they had accompanied him on a carnival like royal horse-ride procession round his land from the palace to the festival venue. The audiences are thrilled with various dances, songs and cultural acts from across Berom land and some neigbouring cultures. His majesty, the Gbong Gwom Jos gives the people his royal blessing through the traditional prayer rite of cleansing as well as blessings performed by him or the chief priest. Prominent among other acts that were performed is the toh chun (Acha pounding) competition undertaken between 14 virtuous women, one each selected from the major traditional domains of Berom land, the Zere beauty pageant, presentation of a detachment of professional and brave Berom hunters and the exhibition of Berom cuisine, artifacts, mineral resources, raw materials etc. Nzem Berom is today the most popular festival that unites the people and provides a platform for cultural celebration and development. The tok chun (Acha) today is highly recommended for people who are diabetic, the tereh (gwote) served by the  Berom people is also nourish able to the body.

          By and large, the main aim of the festival is to protect a tradition from being extinct and also to promote unity among the diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria and the world at large.

 

 A cross section of the Festival.

 'The Berom and Nzem'