I know we are 14 days into the year already, posting this may seem late but I felt the need to share about my experience.
1st of January was a memorable day, I had fun, got to reconnect with friends and families I've lost touch with in a long time. Meeting them took me back to memory lane, I remembered when my best friend and I will go from house to house in the neighborhood wishing them happy Christmas and new year while holding out our small pouch to the person standing in front of us or to whomsoever comes to answer the door to drop a penny inside.
Me getting ready for Duya day.
Me and my sister getting ready for Duya day
After we must have exhausted almost every house in the neighborhood, we empty our pouch count the money and use it to buy sweets and biscuits, sometimes we buy knockouts and fire works. We wait till in the night then we lit them up and throw them into the air while closing our ears instantaneously as though we are scared of the sound.
We always volunteer to be the ones to take food to other neighbors, we knock kon! kon! Still holding out our pouch at the same time patiently waiting for the person who will answer the door to drop money inside and take the food. As soon as the door opens we say "A juye a bamu kwano" this is a phrase in hausa language peculiar to the northern part of Nigeria which translates "Empty the plates and give us back" lol we do that because we need the plates to serve food to other neighbors too.
While I woke up this morning I sat down and thought about all of these childhood memories and the fun things we did as kids, l wished it will last forever. Phewww...how time flies.
The most significant aspect of the new year was the event that took place, DUYA day. Duya is a Nigerian tribe perculiar to the Northern part of Nigeria precisely Kaduna State which happens to be my tribe.
We have annual cultural celebrations every new year where all other duya speaking communities come together to showcase their customs, tradition, dance, food and artifacts. Although we speak the same language but there is a little difference as to certain words, phrases and other cultural differences. This happened because our ancestors who where all duya, some migrated to arable lands to find greener pastures thereby forming a new community and people there. It is as a result we have different communities but speak the same language though there are slight differences in certain pronunciation, use of some phrases and customs.
The communities under duya are: Memdor, Ankung, Taime, Indofa, Kpurum, Ramindop, Gora, chigwa, Anwi, lol funny names isn't it? I know right, it's funny even for me. I'm proud of my cultural heritage. I used to hear stories about this cultural festival, this new year was my first time to ever attend it. Although I went a bit late I missed the welcoming speech delivered by the duya community head himself, other dignitaries present also gave their speeches.
After their speech the procession began. Each community will dance in their attire and showcase their food. The procession first began with Taime, followed by Memdor, then Ankung, Indofa, Ramindop, Gora Kpurum down to the last community. I didn't really understand what they were singing, but the melodies was sweet in my ears.
Taime cultural group
Ankung cultural group
Some cultural dishes were displayed such as: Acha, wawan wake, achishuru, roasted bitter yam, karkashi, gigah. Who came up with all this names! whooosh.....lol names like wawan wake, Wawa means "foolish", wake means "beans" if you put them together it simply means "Foolish Beans". For achishuru, achi means "to eat" while shuru means "quiet or quitely" that is to say achishuru means "eat quitely" lol on hearing that l just gave up on knowing the meaning of the rest.
An artifact was unveiled, 'Gbere'. Gbere is an ancient relic that has been there for a very long time. I have only heard the stories but that day was the first time seeing it. It is believed to have been the protector of the communities and it has been passed down from generations to generations.
The other aspects of duya cultural day was really fun, masquerades were parading the field with their masks on and covered in leaves to avoid been seen and identified.
Hunters were also present, they tested their aiming ability to hit a target. They used locally made guns Called 'Adaka', this is a locally made gun which uses gun powder and ball bearing as bullets. Plastic bottles filled halfway with sand were placed at a distance, Any hunter who is able to hit a bottle by firing their loaded guns(only loaded with gun power without bullets) becomes the winner.
The force propelled by the gun powder is meant to throw the bottle down. I stood there wanting to see wonders, I thought to myself is that even possible? Well after a few failed attempts by the , one was able to hit the target.
The rest of the events was dancing, crowds joined in and the dancing continued. By now people were already packing up and exiting the field.
Pheww.....what an experience I will never forget. I'm definitely attending the next Duya cultural day next year.
All pictures are mine.