Yems Memoir

16/06/2024

To Every Father out there.

Obàse Woodén toh Okéhbá kebléng🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

10/06/2024

Yanenwen SalaSáh Wen 🎉🎉
Yanenwen Sugar Sugar

Otumanen Wéh Kekurr 💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾
Obàse Woodén toh Oyoonnoh Wen wéh Ekpon🎉🎉

08/06/2024

Yowonke 🙌🏾 🙌🏾 ❤️
Random thoughts 🤔💭

So my tap in the bathroom got bad, couldn't fix it because of some eluelus😂😂
But there's a bucket underneath the tap for the little water that drops..
Very tiny drops 💧 💧 💧 💧 💧

Before I wake up from sleep, that bucket is filled and it's overflowing 😂😂

This is to encourage us to take that step.
One step at a time, you'll get there.
Just be Sure you are moving forward not backwards.

Yowonke 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

04/06/2024

Woke up thinking about my late grandparents.

I was blessed with the sweetest of them.
My Maternal Grandfather and Paternal Grandmother showed us so much Love growing up.

Most of the things I know about Kekurr I learnt from my grandmother.
Arikpo Ebri Daniel... Such a sweet woman that had everyone at heart.
The way she comes back with parcels from any occasion she attends and how we struggle it gives her so much joy amidst the quarrel🤣🤣🤣
I will write a story about you Someday Wenammuka Kedeiya❣️
I miss her so much.
Wéh Ebri!!!!!!!!

Thomas Eteng.
Obongho Idu!!!!!!!
We didn't get to spend so much time with him but the little we did, we enjoyed it to the fullest 😊❣️
Sweet fine Man😊❣️
I miss you Uwou❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️
We miss all your tender Love and care 😘

Mmuka Kedei ❤️❣️❣️
Uwou Omón ❤️❣️

13/05/2024

Nnééh ateéh déh Kepâm, Náh Abláake Mbú💯

01/05/2024

Epé Epepé Utendala ❣️🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🥳🥳🥳🥳

30/04/2024

Iyéni obuwéh Jàng Odoóyi.

05/04/2024

Yooplokake 🤗🤗🤗

Again, learning our languages and passing it down to our generations yet unborn cannot be over emphasized. As an ambassador of Kekurr 😁🤗, I will stop at nothing than to teach and spread Lokaà.

Recently, an Igbo Man published a physics textbook in Igbo language that will help the Igbo people comprehend physics and its laws better than they used to. This and many more are things we can do to promote our languages in our different fields.

Today, we will learn some basic questions and answers in the Lokaà language. Hopefully 😁 Someday in the near future I'll write a book in Lokaà that will benefit the Yakurr people, those alive and yet unborn.
I mean, if a white Man can write a book about Kekurr why won't Efayemiode Lekam try too😁🤗 Omormor Yanenwen Poipoi wén 🤣
Language they say is POWER!!!

🌿.Q.
Ajike bóng - Have you eaten?
Yàjike bóng- Have you people eaten?

Ans.
Eiyaá njike bóng- Yes I have eaten.
Eiyaá Yojike bóng- Yes we have eaten.

🌿Q.
Akáábake- Have you had a bath?
Yààkabake- Have you people had your bath?

Ans.
Eiyaá Nkaàbake- Yes, I had a bath......... Yokaábake- Yes, we have had our bath.

🌿Q.
Awéeke- Are you done or have you finished?
Yawééke- Are you people done?

Ans.
Eiyaá Nwéeke- Yes, I am done........ Yowéeke- Yes, we are done.

🌿Q.
Akuyibóong- Where are you going to?
Yakuyibóong- Where are you people going to?

Ans.
Nkuyî Epla- I am going to the Market.
Nkuyî Ikobàse - I am going to church
Nkuyî Yoñoñong - I am going to Work
Nkuyî Etónwene- I am going to school

🌿Q.
Akpeyéyang- What is your name?

Ans.
Nkpeyé Efayemiode - My Name is Efayemiode.

🌿Q.
Ayà dénde- Where are you?

Ans.
Nyà deh Etó- I am at home.

Bàh Samkanni 🙌🏾- Together we can promote Kekurr and Lokaà side by side 😁🤗
Kekurr.Umor.Kedei.Nwene.🤗

21/02/2024

How well do you know your mother tongue??

Do you teach your children your language??

My name is Efayemiodeodoyobase Lekam, I am a Yakurr ambassador.
I advocate for Lokaà language anytime,anyday.
I Love Yakurr and I Love Lokaà.
And I'll showcase Kekurr in this earth life because I believe there's a reason I found myself there.

It's international Mother language day ❤️❣️❤️
Amón Yakurr mbi Yowon!!!!!

Kekurr. Umoro.Kedei.Nwenne...

29/01/2024

Yooplokake...

Today let's talk about names...

Jéén-Name
Yéén-Names...

Names are a group of words by which a person or a thing is known for or addressed as..
Names comes in different languages and forms and as such come with different meanings.

As a Yakurr Royal princess, I love Lokaà names, I love native names not just in Lokaà. I call most of my friends by their native names.😁😊
In my family, my siblings and I have Lokaa names and my Dad has a way of putting all our names into a sentence "Obaseofawamke Oyenah-Efayemiode Oyoonnomke Koblewe Nsuwaake Leko Okamàh NenJesam.☺️☺️☺️ I Love my name, it has come through for me countless times.❤️❤️❤️

In our present society, most parents abandon our native names and give their children English names that most of our grandparents cannot pronounce 😁😂, don't get me wrong, I am not against English names, there are very nice ones too. I for one will love to adopt the Igbo, Yoruba naming method I even see it in some part of Cross River North.One English name, one native name and then the father's surname that's if my children will have English names 😁😁 Here are some of the names I Love and their meanings.
You can add yours❤️❤️☺️☺️

Efayemiodeodoyobase - Not my power but God's power😁

NyonnoyoObase- God's Blessings🥰

KobloObase,DodeyeObase- As God wills❤️

KeyusoObase- God's Treasure or Wealth😍

Mbasekei, KotonkoObase- God's gift😘

Obaseosuwake- God has won❣️

Ntonghai- Praise😊

Womi- My own-Mine🌹

Kedindino- Good deed🤗

Jesam- Say thank you🙏🏽

Obasesam- Thank God🙌🏾

Nneoyi Kowo - Who knows tomorrow😊

Kommonmo- Patience💕

KedeisoObase- God's Love💗

Ayei- Luck💞

KebeSoObase God's Time💙

Wofai- Peace💛

Etom- Life🧡

ObaseNwoyi- God Knows.💜

WoObaseOkeyim- The one God gave me.🖤

I Love Lokaà.😁☺️❤️❤️
What's your native name and what does it mean??
Bah Samkanni 🙌🏾
Kekurr.Umor.Kedei.Nwene🥰🥰

16/01/2024

Umorotutu jeehh 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

28/12/2023

Obeleh...

The refrigerator of our of our fathers.

My Late Grandmother never joked with her clay pot until she passed on, she will always send us to get water from it.

She specifically asked that we give it to her first daughter her demise as she wanted it to be passed on.
Ohh!! How I miss the good old days.
PC: Mfon Cyril Udoh

24/12/2023

Yooplokake 😍🥰🥰

It's that time of the year again...Leboku💃🏽🎊🎊

Leboku in Lokaa means celebration...We have Lekalang Boku (Christmas) and LemomorBoku (New Yam Festival).

It's Christmas Eve and I can't help but reminisce on what Christmas used to be growing up 😁😁
Oh how I loved and still love Christmas 🎁🎊💃🏽

The Joy of wearing New clothes that will make us not to sleep well at night 😂😂
The Joy that we will have money, money that our mothers borrow but never return 😞😂
The way we Joyfully seat in the Sun for our packing gel hair or Net hair to get dried😂
The parading of masquerades with children chanting Owurabo Legha Jana 😂
The sharing of food and gifts amongst neighbors, friends and family.
Christmas is always a joyful time.

It's interesting how things have evolved, some children don't do all of these things again. Some have grown more than their ages and feel they can't do certain things.
Some children are no longer children 🤦🏾‍♀️
All these was quite different in the time of our Father and mothers.

Kowo ode Elesi, Keplae kaseseng.
Akeyim Keplae Ne-ntoka Ataa😂😂
Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year in advance😍

What's your favorite childhood Christmas Memory?
Let's Share😍
Kekurr.Umor.Kedei.Nwene😍❣️
📷 Christmas 2007

12/12/2023

Yowonke!!😍❤️
It's that time of the year.

I've had this Nostalgic feeling for days.
Oh how I love Leboku especially Lekalang Boku (Christmas)💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽
Await our Christmas post on Christmas as a child.

26/10/2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyDsnfuDMbg

The people of Okala kingdom has been in the worship of Okala for ages, but something strange is about to hit the land.Shot in Idomi Town, Yakurr Local Govern...

25/10/2023

DOUBLE DESCENT

My grandmother considered herself the wisest person on Earth.

Her role in the vital practice of double descent within my family's heritage is of utmost significance.

She examined the coexistence of Matrilineal and Patrilineal Systems her best ways.

Double decent allows inheritance and lineage tracing from both the Father's and Mother's side.

I'm profoundly grateful to have benefited from her guidance, especially given my lineage's connection to her dynasty.

She set off on a mission to arrange the perfect match that ultimately brought my parents together.

It might astonish you to learn that my father and mother are actually related.

Feeling surprised?

Well, keep a firm grip on your phone; I'll gladly explain how.

In my hometown of Ugep, we maintain connections with extended family members.

Typically, individuals are expected to have affiliations with both a maternal family, known as 'Lejimo,' and a paternal family, referred to as 'Kepón.' These dual family connections hold cultural and social significance, shaping one's identity and roles within the community.

The perception of double descent, where descent and inheritance are traced through the maternal line and that of paternal, can vary among different cultures and communities, including those in Ugep.

It's important to note that the view of double descent can differ even within a single community, depending on various factors like historical, cultural, and individual beliefs.

In Ugep, which is part of the Yakurr ethnic group in Cross River State, Nigeria, paternalineal practices have traditionally played a significant role in our social structure and inheritance systems.

Among the Yakurr people, children inherit certain rights and responsibilities from their father's family.

These practices often involve land rights, the passing down of certain titles, and other cultural traditions.

This is where the double descent resonates with the people of Ugep and other communities that constitutes kékurr.

Double descent is a theory that explores the Matrilineal and Patrilineal Systems. It suggests that some societies have a combination of both matrilineal and Patrilineal practices where descendants and inheritance can be traced to both Father's and Mother's lineage.

Identifying an individual in our community is often more associated with their 'lejomó' and 'kepón' than their personal identity. This practice has become even more crucial, especially in light of the significant population growth we've experienced.

The Yakurr people have and practice this unique system called the double descent, which means that both mother's and father's lineage are important. It is said to be a fascinating way to understand how societies organize their family structures.

Matrilineal System-Lejimo-Ajimo-Ase.

The matrilineal system of the double descent system is traced to the mother's side as the name implies.

Patrilineal system—Kepon-Yepon-Ndet.
The patrilineal system of the double descent system is traced to the father's side.

Each Lejimo has its “Yose” or “Ase”
Ase are fertility spirits associated with each matriclan which are at the center of the religious organization of the Yakurr people.

Each Yose is encompassed in a diverse set of objects which most times includes Skulls, Figurines, and various pots which are kept in a house in the compound of the priest in custody, the arrangements of these Ase vary from one Yose to another.

In 1930 Dayrll Forde sampled the marital histories of the Ugep women which confirmed the high incidence of sterility, miscarriages, and stillbirth. Also, the respect given to women either as a wife or a member of her matrilineage(Lejimo) and the respect given to a Man within his patrilineage (Kepon) and clan depended solely on having children. At the time, anxiety regarding the hazards of pregnancy and childbirth existed amongst the Yakurr people.

The frequent anxiety was said to have been the reason behind the “Ase”. The Oral tradition had suggested the felt need for fertility which warranted the search for spiritual solutions hence the “Ase”.

In Ugep, there are a total of 11 'Ase' and 22 'Ajimo.' It's worth noting that these 'Ajimo' extend beyond Ugep and are found throughout the Yakurr region. Some of these 'Ajimo,' like mine that has its roots in Ekori, have their origins in various Yakurr communities.

Ajimo————Ase
1. Yabol———Odjokobi
2. Yakunkunebol—Odjokobi
3. Yakpolo———Odjokobi
4. Yabaye————Otalikumo
5. Yabono————Otalikumo
6. Yanali————— Otalikumo
7. Yakamafe———Ntankakotan
8. Yayali————— Atewa
9. Yatiyomo———-Atewa
10. Yakangkang———Atewa
11. Yaboletete———-Esukpa
12. Yatebo————-Esukpa
13. Yasenibol———Okalefon
14. Yakobol————Kukpatu
15. Yakpambol——— Obol Ene
16. Yawambol——— Obol Ene
17. Yajenibol——————Obol Ene
18. Yapuni—————Otabelusana
19. Yajokpolo————Otabelusana
20. Yabong——Osengawekakong
21. Yakumiko—Osengawekakong
22. Yanyor———Obete Edet

Each child automatically becomes his mother’s Lejimo except in cases where the mother in question is an Osen (not from Yakurr), the child becomes the father's Lejimo. People from the same Lejimo can get married but not the same kepon.

The factors that led to the successful matchmaking of my parents by my late Mma Arikpo Ebri Daniel.

Conversely, when it comes to 'Kepón,' the concept of intermarriage is strictly avoided and considered sacrilegious. Those sharing the same 'Kepón' do not engage in any form of relationship that could lead to marriage under any circumstances.

However, it's important to understand that perceptions of matrilineality can evolve over time due to various factors, including exposure to other cultures, education, and changing societal norms. Some people may embrace matrilineal practices as an integral part of their cultural identity, while others may have different perspectives or may not adhere to these traditions.

The perception of matrilineality, where descent and inheritance are traced through the maternal line, can vary among different cultures and communities, including those in Ugep. It's important to note that the view of matrilineality can differ even within a single community, depending on various factors like historical, cultural, and individual beliefs.

In Ugep, which is part of the Yakurr ethnic group in Cross River State, Nigeria, matrilineal practices have traditionally played a significant role in their social structure and inheritance systems. Among the Yakurr people, children inherit certain rights and responsibilities from their mother's family. These practices often involve land rights, the passing down of certain titles, and other cultural traditions.

However, it's important to understand that perceptions of double descent can evolve over time due to various factors, including exposure to other cultures, education, and changing societal norms.

One thing remain, it can never go extinct. Some people may embrace matrilineal practices as an integral part of their cultural identity, while others may have different perspectives or may not adhere to these traditions.

In essence, the perception of double descent among the people of Ugep can never go extinct, and it's crucial to teach the young generation the concept and perspectives of the double descent.

Ami nde Ojeni
Yajeni bol, Bah sämkanni🙏🏾🙏🏾
Bah säm

18/10/2023

The Migration Story

History has it that the Umor (Ugep)people migrated from Akpa, which is their ancestral home about 1617 AD. Akpa is in the central part of Cross River State.

The migration happened as a result of the conflict between the Umor people and the Akpa people. There was an agreement that when an Akpa person passes on, the Umor people will perform the burial rites of the person and bury the person and Vice Versa. The Akpa people kept to their own side of the agreement but the Umor people didn't. Instead, they ate the bodies given to them.

This went on for a long time until it was discovered by one of the women from Akpa who had lost her child. The discovery caused a great fight and killing of the Umor people which led to the pursuit of the Umor people out of Akpa.

They pursued them to a point close to the present settlement where they were trying to climb a hill to save themselves, a man called Edem Omilakpa who was with his pregnant wife got tired and decided to lean on a stone, the stone rolled and crushed all the Akpa warriors who were down the hill and landed on the last man which ended the war with the Akpa people. They continued their journey to the present-day Umor where they met the ancestral mother ( Mma Esekpa)

This stone has since been referred to as the Ancient stone(Omilakpa), the Stone has a custodian in the person of Obol Ebri who does all the traditional rites that are needed on the stone at the right time.

14/10/2023

Yowonnke🤗🤗

LEKO (WAR)

In the past few weeks, reports have been made about war break out between Israelites and Palestinians which is lead by Hamas. A song writer once said that War can never end where inequality rules.

War has never been the solution to a problem. Stories have been told about wars the Ugep people fought, their victories, and also the trauma that came with it, from the Ugep massacre in December 1975 to the Ugep-Idomi war in 1992, the Ugep-Adim war and the rest of the wars. In all of these, lives were lost as well as properties that took a fortune to regain, never witnessed one since I was born and I pray I don't, we are glad they have long gotten over war and we pray it remains so.

Last year, there was a serious war between Nko people in Yakurr and Oyadama people in Obubra, this rendered so many people homeless as lots of properties were lost, all these would not have happened if we had our brothers at heart and we love our neighbors as ourselves. A lot of wars have happened in Cross River State, not just in the state, in Nigeria and the world at large. Most times all of these things happen because of land dispute or disagreement.

Wars can be avoided, the pain that comes with it, the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that comes with it, the shame, the guilt and all may never be recovered from.
We pray for Kekurr
We pray for Cross River
We pray for Nigeria
We pray for the world
Lekô Lehyiyi( War is not good)
Wofai nwoh amon woyii( it's peace we want)
Bah Samkanni🙌🏾

11/10/2023

Yanenwen( The girl child)

It's International Day of the girl child and I want to celebrate all the girls in the world.
Yanenwen Sugar
Yanenwen Oyi Keyeni
In years past, the girl child was almost not regarded, they said her role ends in the kitchen.
She's not supposed to go to school, and all manner of things.
But today, the girl child has gotten a voice and can speak at almost every gathering.
We can make the world beautiful with our thoughts.
With our words❤️❤️
With our deeds❤️❤️❤️
With our warmth❤️❤️
Happy International Day of the girl child❤️🥰

08/10/2023

What’s your favorite line in this video 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Check comment for seocnd clip😂

08/10/2023

Yoplokake🥰

Today, let us celebrate an illustrious son of Yakurr being the occasion of his birthday.
Hon. Cyril Omini, the member representing Yakurr 1 constituency in the house of assembly.

Cyril has done alot for the Yakurr people, right from his time of being Mr Leboku up untill this moment, he has empowered youth and helped many that has ever come to him in their time of distress.
Today we celebrate him, we pray the Almighty gives him the grace to do his work effectively and impact more lives in Yakurr.
Happy Birthday Essien Ekpe Wana🙌🏾🙌
Obase Wooden toh oyoonoh Oyowo etom🙏🏾🙌🏾

07/10/2023

The Koteni Jegeh( Yakurr Traditional Cap)

The Koteni jegeh is the traditional cap of the yakurr man, Although some part of Abi local government wear it, it is peculiar to the Yakurr man.
In those days, the cap was only worn by Yabol( Chiefs) but in recent times, most young men of the yakurr nation wear this beautifully crafted cap. The cap is made from Etenteni which is harvested from the farm in mostly swampy areas and dried for some days before it used and to craft this beautiful piece.

It is said that its sacriligious for a woman to wear the cap as it is only peculiar to the male folk .
Today, the cap is not only worn by yakurr men, but also men who are not from yakurr but has impacted on one way to the other to the growth of kekurr and most times earn themselves tittles. This cap can only be worn on traditional attire or the western attire. My love for this cap as a yakurr maiden is second to none, if I were a man I would own more than one😁

Asides the koteni Jegeh, the yakurr man has a thing for hand crafting,art generally, that help to portray the beauty of yakurr and also sells out our culture and tradition.
PS: The cap is available on pre-order.
Bah Samkanni🙌🏾
Kekurr. Umor.Kedei.Nwene

01/10/2023

The 1st day of October always brings memories like the 27th day of May.

Moments we don't even want to know what is going on all we want is to go to match past at the Presbyterian field with our uniforms ironed and ready for the next big day, we lose sleep as we await this day😂😁

Mum said she was so excited one time, that she didn't mind going with her elder sister's oversized shoes that pulled out in the field while she was matching😂 it's always like that you know.

For the first time at All Saints International Nursery and Primary School, Ugep. I was chosen to be among the front-line girls, but there was a problem 🥹It was prompt and I didn't have the uniform, after so much trekking around Ikpakapit, we finally found one to borrow. Then I remembered I didn't have Sneakers 🥹 and I started crying but the Lord came through, and I found Sneakers without lace, had to Devise another means, and finally got ready.

It's the first day of October again, sweet memories, and sad memories all in one as Nigeria becomes tough by day. In a few days, most of the sectors will be embarking on a strike.
It is disheartening 🥹
Wake up giant of Africa!!
Wake up Nigeria!!
It's Dew for a real and positive change!!
Enough is Enough!!

What's your experience on Independence day?

Happy Independence Day.
Nigeria @ 63
Memoir

29/09/2023

Yoplokakae🫠🤗

Today, let’s talk about Lekaponta/Ebibil.

Lekaponta is a sharp survival aid for swallow mostly in times of sapa. The exact translation of Lekaponta is Pepper Stone, in those days stones were used for grinding and this was made on the stone with pepper. Our forefathers sure had sense😂

It is a mixture of either Atabase(crayfish) or Esàu(Fish)Yonung( Salt) and Ekapong(pepper). All these things are blended on the stone or mortar. Most times, the ekapong is not freshly added, it might be the remnants on the mortar from the last meal made🫠

Lekaponta has been saving lives since 16BC.
🌿It has helped parents groom children (Opehnebeh kowou) and saved many from ulcer.
🌿It is also very nutritional as we all know the benefits of fish to our health.
🌿It is vey affordable, with a little fish or crayfish, a little pepper, a little salt and water, you can swallow as long as you have garri or fufu.

As a child in nursery school, there was this woman that sold rice and stew at ebgizum market ( Mma Jenny John) mum will send us to buy fish and beg her to add enough stew because we had already made cold Eba and kept in the house. Myself and siblings will relish this meal with so much joy in our hearts and off we go to School, without snacks or snack money🤦🏾‍♀️😁the swallow will sustain us till close of school, little wonder why I cannot survive two days without swallow 😫I grew up with it back to back.Mum said I started swallowing at 3 months 😂

In time past, up until now my people, people have been going through things and things have gone through them. For me, I learnt contentment, bravery, gratitude, Love and More.
It’s a good weather for lekaponta😂

Bah Samkanni 🙏🏾❤️
Kekurr.Umor.Kedei.Nwene.

26/09/2023

Lebenbeh, Kepam (Open Defecation)

Growing up, Our neighborhood was filled with children, each compound had a pit toilet for children, some had two or more.

We used these pits untill we got to like 4-5 years old and we will then have to join our neighbor Madam Chief to “One time Copoôla” now Yakurr Local Government guest house. This was about 10 minutes walk from our house which was close to Lebgizum kà( Ebgizum market) you will see us hold each other’s hands as we try to meet up with her, we walk like soldiers 😂😂 to One time every morning.

This went on for years, we practiced open defecation for a long time 🤦🏾‍♀️ from the pit in the compound , to Owituen, to one time, to Ewa driver’s ebala, when they send us away from a particular location we will find another one😂One time Environmental health workers caught us on the spot and asked that we take them to our house😂🫣5 of us and our father had to pay money before they let us go😂😂

There was also a popular public toilet in Ebgizum we used to call Kebgizum beti but because we were many, we couldn’t not afford to pay for everyone hence the One time movement with Madam chief.

As time past, some NGO’s came to talk to us about open defecation and it’s harmful effects, gradually Madam Chief’s children (Squad) grew and we no longer went to One time. Then this man opened another public toilet at Lebolkom where we will go and pay #10. But do not try yourself and ask for #10 twice except you have a runny stomach.

Open defecation has devastating consequences, it contaminates the environment.
*It can cause serious health problems like kidney and bladder infections.
* It causes environmental pollution
*Hookworm infections.
* It also causes Malaria as it attracts flies that will perch and contaminate our food and water.

We should also have in mind that, in homes where there are toilets without proper sanitation of these facilities by the individuals, there will be increase in the rate of these infections. In other words, proper waste disposal can slow the infection cycle of many disease causing agents.

Then, most families built their toilets and these NGO’s kept coming to sensitize us about the harmful effects of open defecation and sharing public toilets.
Ours was built in 2014 and it was a breathe of relief and fresh air I must confess.
Open defecation was indeed an unhealthy practice we had engaged in.😁
Kekurr.Umor.Kedei.Nwene.

What’s your story on this??🤗😁

25/09/2023

Yoplokakae 🥰🤗🫠🤗
It’s a bright and beautiful Monday morning,today we want to celebrate one of our past heroes, a renowned king and a great man.

Late Obol Ubi Ujong Inah, the immediate past Obol Lopon of Ugep (Umor)and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr.
Born in 1930, the young Police officer of Yakunkunebol maternal family ascended the throne in 1986 after the sudden death of Obol Enang Obeten.

In his almost 30 years of been King, he was a noble king, his reign witnessed the tremendous social,Political, Constitutional and historic transformation of the Umor people that we had never witnessed in more than 500 years since the migration from our ancestral home “Akpa Kingdom”.

It was in his reign that ugep became the headquarters of Yakurr Local Government Area, he was the first Paramount Ruler of Yakurr. In his reign also, Yakurr sons and daughters made tremendous advancements in the state and federal public service.

Undoubtedly, his reign was golden, Umor witnessed a massive expansion. He was a wise, diplomatic, just and penetrating king.

In as much as he did great things, his reign also witnessed troubling times as disputes happened between the Umor people and her neighboring communities mostly about lands. But he was always able to settle these arguments and bring peace.
Obol Ubi Ujong Inah was a great king untill he passed on in 2015, he will always be remembered. On that note the Tuesday Main market in Umor which is a major commercial hub for not only Umor people but also people outside Umor was named after him.(Epla ye Ubi Ujong). He was also named after the the conference center in Umor , Obol Ubi Ujong Conference Center. He was a remarkable King who wrote his name boldly in the sands of time.

Bah Samkanni
Kekurr. Umor.Kedei. Nwene.

23/09/2023

Yowiloh 🤗🤗🤗

Eto eteti ( Thatch house)

Growing up, our house was made of thatch, clay and bamboo.These houses were what was obtainable at the time, only rich and affluent families lived in block houses at the time. I remember how my parents will always renew our house, especially the walls behind as the easily fall because of the cold nature of the house.

We will always help in sticking the clay(àsepi) to the already tied bamboo. Then it was just myself, my mum, my little sister and grandma.Dad was not always in town.

Families lived closely those days and it was always fun, I remember that my extended family lived in the same compound as we were before they moved to a new house.
Although the thatch houses are sometimes time consuming, there were affordable as bamboo could be easily cut from the farm and clay gotten from around the neighborhood, they usually dig holes to extract the clay and use for the house. These holes were mostly turned into toilets (lebenbeh)as open defecation was a common thing.They only needed to get the thatch (Kitong) for those people who couldn’t make it.
Over time, things have evolved and thatch houses can only be found in the the interior of the town.

For our house, it was later changed to block house after many years of sticking clay to bamboo. ‎
Bah Samkanni!!
Kekurr.Umor.Kedei.Nwene.

What’s your story in a thatch house??

22/09/2023

Yowiloh 🤗🫠🫠

Again, the need for us to preserve our language and understand it so it can be passed on to the next generation and the generation yet inborn cannot be over emphasized. It is undoubtably for our good and the good of our children.
Today, we will learn some parts of the body in Lokaa. It will surprise you to know that most of us do not know our parts of the body.
We will not only learn the parts, we will also learn how to use these words to make sentences.

🌿Letu- Head

Atu- Heads

🌿Jen-Eye

Yen-Eyes

🌿Emà- Mouth
Mmah- Mouths

🌿Kemakpang-Lip
Yemakpang- Lips

🌿Kotung-Ear
Litung-Ears

🌿Jumma-Nose
Jummamah- Nostrils

🌿Lebem- chin

🌿Kubem-cheek
Mbaem- cheeks

🌿Kofe- Leg
Mfe- Legs

🌿Koboh- Hand, Arm
Mbooh-Hands
Kpaboh- Left Hand
Kodemboh- Right Hand

🌿Kefal- Stomach

🌿Egaen- Waist

🌿Ntensi- Chest

🌿Lega- Tooth
Aga- Teeth

🌿Lekol- Neck
Akol- Necks

🌿Kekokowa- Shoulder
Yekokowa- Shoulders

🌿Leboose- Palm
Aboose- Palms

🌿Ledudungi- Knee
Adudungi- knees

Learning these words and being conversant with them is beautiful. But knowing how to put these words into sentences will be amazing .

🌿Letu Lepumim- My head aches

🌿Mfe Nniniom- My legs hurts

🌿Yen awu atum ayi- Your eyes are beautiful.

🌿Atum ayi mfe- Your legs are beautiful

🌿Kefal kewu Ketum kedoom-Your stomach is too big.

🌿Kalang Kotung- Listen to me

🌿Mbem nwu ntum ndaem- Your cheeks are too big.

🌿Kaem Kodemboh- Give me your right hand.

We will stop here today on learning Lokaa with Yems Memoir🤗🤗🤗
Hope you were able to learn two or three things from this post??
Together we can take kekurr out there and put Lokaa out there too, that way we can preserve our language, our culture and traditions for ourselves, our children and the ones yet unborn

Bah Samkanni!
Kekurr.Umor. Kedei. Nwene.