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The Uneme Noun Phrase
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1.2.1 Sociolinguistic Background
The Uneme language is used
in trading with the neighboring communities. For example, the Uzanu’s
share the same boundary with Edo and Igbirra, so, the language serves as
a means of trading between them.
1.2.2 Culture
The Uneme’s
dressing is some how different. They use Tusks, Beads (for women, the
tusks for the legs and for bangles on hands). In those days, they
believed that a girl must be a virgin before she got married, as a
result, when a lady is ready to get married she will not wear any cloth
but will use a lot of beads to cover her private parts and almost naked
round the town. They also use “Ashid†gotten from the bush to decorate
the girl and a lot of beads on the hand, just as the Benin dresses.
Also the Olofu who is the Prime minister has a drum called “Ukpaagbaâ€.
This Ukpaagba is beaten when there is an emergency or a conflict in the
king’s family so as to draw the attention of the people. The drum is
being beaten four times representing the four pillars of Uneme that is,
it represents Uzanu, Anegbete, Udochi and Ologua.
1.2.3 Festival
Some of the festivals of Uneme community are connected with their
religious believes while others are linked to their socio-economic
activities.
There is a festival named “Ukpe†which means
end of the year celebration. It is celebrated between August and
September of every year. The people of Uneme are virtually known to be
farmers; so therefore, this celebration precedes the coming of new yam.
The festival serves as a major communication channel to bid good bye to
the outgoing year and to welcome the coming year whereby every family
have to participate in one way or the other.
Another
festival in the Uneme community is named Ogun festival. Ogun festival
is associated with, and devoted to the propitiation and veneration of
god of iron. This festival is usually organized only by iron melting
societies. The festival is organized by allocation certain spots in the
community to the propitiation of Ogun. They make use of certain animal
named ‘dog’ and the whole of the community takes part in singing,
dancing and drumming to appease Ogun ‘the god of iron’.
Another festival of Uneme people is known as ‘Second Burial Ceremony’
which can only be done for a dead father. It is still valid to be done
after several years of the father’s demise. Any one that has not done
the second burial is not entitled to the title “Orinitome†in the Uneme
community.
1.2.4 Religion
As we have it in the Nigeria
system, the Uneme people are also recognized with three (3) main
religions these are Christianity, Islam and Traditional Religion.
1.2.4.1 Christianity
Christianity was not the indigenous religion in Nigeria but was
introduced to Nigeria by the Missionaries. This begin to spread in
Nigeria to different community. Hakeem asserted that Christianity was
introduced to the Uneme communities in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s
respectively by Christian missionaries like Ogidan of the Anglican
Community. The introduction of Christianity religion was done by some
Yoruba missionaries who visited Akoko-Edo frequently and it gradually
extend to the Etsako local government Area. The first church of the
missionaries in Uneme Akpama was named St’ Luke Anglican church and it
was built in 1922.
Chief Ezekiel Adeleye Igenuma Uduak
Peghemehe from the Enivbosu area of Uneme Erhurun was the one that build
the first church in Uneme Erhurun in 1923. This is also an Anglican
church.
Another missionary behind the spread of
Christianity in Uneme community was Rev. Oyebode, a Yoruba Christian
priest who was based in Auchi. He was the first Anglican Missionary to
influence the spread of the religion in Uneme Aki-Osu in Akoko-Edo Area
in the 1920s. He found the St. Johns Church which was the first of its
kind in that environment.
1.2.4.2. Islam
The Islamic
religion was introduced during the time when the Nupes were involved in
the Uneme activities. This was in the time of military and colonizing
activities in Akoko-Edo in the 19th century. The Islamic religion has
been in existence before the Christian religion was introduced. It was
only few of Uneme people that are been converted because they sees the
Nupes as invaders and people were not encouraged to accept their offer.
1.2.4.3 Traditional Religion
Ever before the introduction of Islam and Christianity, the people of
Uneme so much belief in the Traditional Religion.The people of Uneme
believes in Osanobula, Ogbene and Osi which are Supreme Beings.
Osanobula is believed to have had heavenly aids who were appointed by
him. Among such aids were the local divinities or deities, Ilisa which
is referred to as the gods and goddesses, and the spirits (especially
Esi). The people of Uneme young and old usually call on him through his
various aides for protection and extrication from the hands of
perpetrators of evil.
According to Pastor Patrick who is
the language informant, he says the religion is still very prominent in
the Uneme community due to their cultural and festival activities.
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