The beauty of Tiv culture

The crowd draped in black and white native attires trooping to Malabo Square could be mistaken for Dramatic Arts students who were going for rehearsal. However, it was not a drama; the programme was the annual cultural festival of the Community of Tiv Students (CTS) at the University of Calabar.

Tiv is one of the two largest ethnic groups in Benue State in the North Central region of Nigeria.

The event, which was organised to showcase the beauty of the Tiv rich heritage, was graced by lecturers and some elite of the ethnic group in Calabar. They included Prof D.I. Denga, who was the chief host and his wife, Prof Hana Denga, who was spiritual mother of the day.

Others were Chairman of the occasion Lieutenant Commander Aondowase Mnguve; President of Mzoughu TIV, Calabar chapter, Mr Emmanuel Apetagher; a senior lecturer in Sociology department, Dr Judith Otu; CTS Patron Dr Stanislaus Iyorza; Mr Michael Ingoh, Manager of New Nyanya Mass Transit, Calabar branch, Adaa Samuel Aondo and Prince Linus Sulumba, among others.

Mnguve, who spoke in Tiv dialect, emphasised the need for the students to unite and promote their language and cultural heritage wherever they may be.

According to him, Tiv culture is regarded as one of the richest heritage, adding that there is proper transfer of culture from parents to offspring. He said being together at the occasion was a pointer to the fact that Tiv people were always united wherever they were on earth.

He welcomed the lecturers and students who attended the event. He urged them to inculcate the ethnic morals and values in their wards, saying it would make them to remember where they started and think about their future. He stressed that it would be a death penalty if Tiv people did not hold on to their culture and values.

Prof Denga praised the student for turning out for the cultural fiesta. He said the future of the Tiv culture depended on the enthusiasm of the youths to propagate their custom.

In his address, the president of CTS, Joseph Atongo, thanked the participants for celebrating with Tiv people. In UNICAL, he said, Tiv students were known for academic excellence and love for unionism.

“We unite, promote and provide a forum for unity, peace and harmony among TIV students in particular and Nigeria at large,” he said, adding that the students also show equal enthusiasm to enhance welfare and socio-cultural life on the campus.

The feast featured a dancing session to highlight the rich culture of the Tiv people. Students-troupe, dressed to reflect the traditional Tiv style, doled out various dance steps such as Swange dance. The performance moved dignitaries and the students at the event into ecstasy; participants showered mint Naira notes on the traditional dancers.

The students also honour some of the guests including Mnguve, Prof Hana Denga and Dr Out, who were all decorated with Tiv traditional attires.

In Tiv tradition, three-prong iron staffs called anger and brownish leather bags called Kpaabor are used to honour individuals, who contribute to the ethnic’s cause. Mnguve was decorated for his contribution to the development of the Tiv culture in Cross River State.

There was an intermittent shout of Ayatutu Ka Uno, the motto of the Tiv students, as the programme progressed. The students responded Kase.

One of the students, Tersur Gyado, told CAMPUSLIFE that the display of Tiv attire and dance was to educate and entertain students from other ethnic stock.

When asked how Tiv culture enriched the heritage of Nigeria, Joseph said the people had made the country to be proud in a number of ways. “Benue State today can say it is the food basket of the nation because of the hard work of Tiv people to produce various food materials for export and local consumption,” he said.

A post-graduate student of Education Administration and Planning, Terfa Swem, who is an ex-president of the Tiv students, said the ethnic was unique, adding that the black and white attire Tiv people wear signified they were rich both in agriculture and culture. “We are generally kind and generous to people, especially the poor; we sympathise with empathy,” he added.