THE HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT OF EKUECHI FESTIVAL FROM PRE-COLONIAL ERA TO DATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of study
The human society is as old as the universe itself. Society consists of people who interact with one another in such a way to share common culture. Culture according to Edward Brunett Taylor in one of his renowned work titled “Primitive Culture”1 which was published in 1871 is “a complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and many other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society”. In other words, culture consists of the beliefs, behaviours, objects, technology and other characteristics common to the members of a particular group or society. Through culture, people and groups define themselves, conform to society’s shared values and contribute to society. Thus, culture includes many societal aspects: language, customs, mores, rules, products, organization and institutions. The term institution in this study refers to conglomeration of rules and cultural meaning associated with specific social activities such as family, political, religion, marriage among others. In a nut shell, culture is total way of life. In view of the foregoing, the study intends to look into historical assessment of Ekuechi festival in Ebiraland which is usually celebrated by Ebira-Tao people of Kogi state from pre-colonial era to 2015.
The Ebira (also spelt Igbira or Igbirra) are an ethno-linguistic group of Nigeria. Ebira (Tao) is a tribe in Kogi state in the Northern part of Nigeria with a population of 1.5milllions inhabitants. Many Ebira people are from Kogi State, Kwara State, Nasarawa State, Federal Capital Territory – Abuja, Edo, Okene, Okehi, Adavi and Ajaokuta. Okene is said to be the administrative centre of the Ebira-speaking people in Kogi state, not far from the Niger-Benue confluence. The word Ebira means behavior when translated literally, with ethics and hospitality as compliments1.