EYN: The Death of Culture and Tradition in Bura-land  

EYN: The Death of Culture and Tradition in Bura-land  

By: Balami Lazarus     

Whenever an individual expresses his views or opinion on issues or matters arising from reality of life people must find fault and pick offence with you. This article is yet another gallows for my crucifixion. Therefore, this will not be comfortable with some people. However, I have no regret and owe no one any apology.     

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Assuming this is on All Progressive Congress, (APC) or on Mr. President Muhammed Buhari readers would hailed me with loud applause but since is on a religious organization known, called and addressed as Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeriya (EYN) formerly known as Church of Brethren Mission (CBM) faces will be frown to an extent that some will call me names and make me their devotion prayer item.     

Man, his activities and ways of life are the subject matter of history. As a student of history and a Bura man it pains me to see my culture, tradition and its source materials eroding away aided by EYN and her churches in some part of the Northeast. Cultures are activities involving music, oral literature, arts or sets of ideas, beliefs, and ways of behavior. While traditions are custom or activity that happens regularly in the life of a group of people- ways of greetings, food, dressing etc.

These make them unique in every shape and dimension.    The transformation of CBM to EYN began the gradual disintegration and destruction of some cultures and traditions of some indigenous ethnic groups where EYN is a czar dictating what to do and what not to regarding the peoples’ culture or tradition that has been with them as their cultural identity long before the coming of Stover Kulp and Albert Heiser into the region.

I believed these two gentlemen never interfered or tempered with the culture of the people they met in 1923, the Buras, Higgis, Marghis among others.     The EYN through her churches has created an in- road to having control over the people and their cultural life. When I asked some individuals including members of the church, most have shown their desertification on these issues especially the rich culture of the Buras.

“While Bura hastily abandoned their tradition, the Marghis though part of EYN never did.” A member of the Church had told me. “My worries are our children. They will grow not knowing their culture and this cannot happen in Yoruba or Igbo land where cultures are still intact and cherished”. He emphasized.

I am a champion of the revival of Bura culture which used to be a strong meeting and rallying point for us in the good old days. As more people speak out, I hope that they will be able to face the reality about the diminishing cultures and traditions of our people. For me, if not for Marama and Garkida, the Bura culture and tradition should have long been forgotten a long time ago. I therefore, urged our Bura historians to rise up to this occasion and save our cultures and tradition as they ebb away under a religious guise.   

Balami, a Publisher/ Columnist     08036779290

Note: This is not the opinion of News Net Global Ltd. But that of the writer please.