Enough of the anti-Ugep Sentiments

Every year at this time (August), the anti-Ugep sentiment within a cross section of fellow Yakurr people from other Yakurr communities rises to a crescendo and then falls as the Government-declared Yakurr New Yam Festival ends. I had opted not to comment on this issue, but a fellow Ugep man asked me what we can do about this situation, which he believes and I rightly agree bores no one any good. Two major reasons for this anti-Ugep sentiments have been given by those who are able to put their thoughts together: 1. Why it should be called the Yakurr New Yam Festival, when it is strictly an Ugep affair. 2. Why people from other Yakurr communities have so far not won the Mr. and Mrs Leboku titles.

I appreciate the anger of some in relationship to the above two reasons. What I do not understand is how the Ugep people are responsible for this predicament. Why are our brothers and sisters filled with so much hate for us over things we do not control? Long before this era- I think around the 90s, I and my friends in the SOF family had organized a Miss Leboku. Later on I and my friends- Sebastine Eko, and late Sammy Okoi (Possible) had organized another Miss Leboku. These were followed by several other Miss and Mr. Leboku competitions organized by other Ugep sons and Daughters. Mr. and Mrs Leboku competition has therefore always been part of the Ugep New Yam Festival, and will continue to be, with or without the Government.

How did the Ugep New Yam Festival suddently become the Yakurr Festival? We as Ugep people were not consulted for this to happen. The State Government saw the festival as a tourist opportunity and decided to partner with the owners. In the process, they decided to call it the Yakurr New Yam Festival- a title that really makes no sense because at the core of the Leboku is the Ekoi dance. Is it possible for anybody who is not from Ugep to beat the Ugep Ekoi drums? If it were, then we could bring together Ekoi or Leboku drummers from the whole Yakurr to beat the drums in Ugep on Ekoi day. Then perhaps, we could have a Yakurr New Yam Festival in the real sense of the word.

The questions Yakurr youth should ask and try to answer are the following:
1. Are other Yakurr communities participating in these competitions?
2. Why are they not winning? Have they really been cheated or they just didn't make it?
3. Who are the judges? What are the criteria they use?
4. How can we translate Government' s participation in the Ugep Leboku into more substantial gains for the Yakurr LGA?
5. How can we pressure Government to pay the same attention to the respective Leboku's in Ekori, Idomi, Nko, Assiga, Inyima, Mkpani and Agoi?

Blaming it on the Ugep man is a total waste of time. In the past, such reasoning had led to the formation of divisive groups like EMIN (Ekori, Mpkani, Idomi and Nko) and EMINAA (Agoi and Assiga added). Nothing came out of such groups. This generation cannot allow itself to tow that line. ENOUGH OF THE ANTI-UGEP SENTIMENT.

August, 2013.