Nzem Berom 2019, the Celebration of Berom Rich Culture

2019 Nzem Berom may has come and gone, but its impact cannot be forgotten in a hurry.

The Festival with the theme “celebrating the Berom Prowess in Science and Technology” was not only historic but educative, rich, informative, entertaining and mind blowing as it was the celebration and display of the culture of the Berom people.

The event started on Friday 10^th May, 2019 with Muslim Prayers which took place in some designated Mosques within and outside Plateau State. Church Prayer to herald the event was also held at the Church of Immaculate Conception (CIC) Zarmaganda, Jos South LGA. Za’ang and Kuru District held their Beauty Pageant simultaneously same day.

Tuesday the 14^th of May, 2019 was the day the Nzem Berom 2019 Symposium was held in which a paper titled “The Development Question and the of History” was presented by the National Secretary of Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO), Da Gyang Chollom Logwong. The event took place at Langfield Leisure Park Little Rayfield Jos South LGA and was well attended by the Gbong Gwom Jos, HRM Da Jacob Gyang Buba, CON, Traditional Leaders, Religious Leaders, great Personalities from the Academia, illustrious Sons and Daughters of the Berom Nation.

Women’s Special Day and Young Dyara which was followed by Zere Berom (Berom Beauty Pageant) held on Wednesday 15^th May, 2019 at Langfield Leisure Park Little Rayfield Jos South LGA. Miss Catherine Yeipeng emerged winner of the Zere Berom (Miss Berom) 2019 and was crowned.

The royal banquet held at the Gbong Gwom Palace Jishe Jos North LGA on Thursday 16th May, 2019 where invited Guests were given royal treat.

The grand finale (Nzem Berom) held on Friday 17^th May, 2019 at Rwang Pam Township Stadium. The event was colorful and started with royal procession from the Gbong Gwom Palace Jishe to Rwang Pam Township in which Berom Warriors, Traditional Leaders, Illustrious Sons and Daughter accompanied the Paramount Ruler to the venue of the event.

The Gbong Gwom was given a colorful welcome by the people who were already at the venue to receive him.

Each District of the Berom Nation led by its District Head known in Berom as ‘Gwom Rwey’ paid homage to the Gbong Gwom Jos.

Chairman of the 2019 Nzem Berom, Da Builder Dachollom Jambol in his address thanked all those who graced the occasion and gave brief history of the Nzem Berom.

Chairman of the occasion and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara described the Berom Nation as peaceful, hospitable and industrious. Speaker Dogara stressed the need to promote peace and unity through culture. He thanked the Berom Nation for finding him worthy to chair and auspicious event such as the Nzem Berom.

Senator Plateau North and former Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Da Sen. Jonah Jang, CON described the event as historic and said the Berom have held to her culture and tradition which they inherited from their forefathers.

National President of Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO), Da AC (Rtr) Gyang Dudu Dalyop spoke on the need to preserve culture and the sustainability of the event. Da Dudu said the Berom have contributed and still contributing immensely to National peace, unity, progress and development.

The Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emir, HRM Da Jacob Gyang Buba commended the Berom Nation for the wonderful ceremony and said no amount of provocation will make them not to honor the Nzem Berom again in the future.

The Gbong Gwom Jos while responding to the circular released by the State Government on Thursday 16^th May, 2019 establishing Jos North and Riyom Traditional Councils said Governors do not have the authority to redefine traditional boundaries.

In his words, the Gbong Gwom Jos said “I am not aware of any authority by a Governor to redefine traditional boundaries. Government cannot redefine boundaries where there is no problem”

“There has been government pronouncement and actions to do with traditional institution even when there was no problem. We have no problems with our neighbours and we have been in peace with one another”

“The traditional boundaries existed even before the existence of Nigeria as a Country and every tribe on the Plateau has a defined territory” he said.

The Gbong Gwom Jos appealed to politician to respect the territories. He said the Country had Land Use Act with the customary rights of land ownership contained in it.

“All over Nigeria, land belongs to communities, families and individuals. We want to appeal that government must not take actions capable of bringing security challenges to Plateau” the Gbong Gwom Jos said.

He said he had to talk to the Berom Nation and its youth to calm down after the Press release.

He said as sensitive as the matter may be, it is not beyond the Berom Traditional institution to handle as they are doing everything possible to sit with government to educate it on what the issue is. He said he hope to have the audience of the Governor to make amends where they may have made errors.

He said he wrote a letter last year to the Governor requesting him to allow traditional rulers of the tribes involved to sit with the State Boundary Commission to determine everybody’s boundary.

He said he doesn’t want a situation where government policy will bring chaos between neighbors, brothers and sisters that have lived together in peace over the years.

Representative of the Governor of Plateau State and Commissioner of Water Resources and Energy, Engr. Ja’afaru Wuyep promised to convey the Monarch’s Message to the Governor.

He said cultural festival remains unifying force that bring about peaceful coexistence saying it is a platform to project the Berom cultural identity, attract tourist and promote socioeconomic activities.

Cultural displays by various tribes and group, as well as exhibition of Berom technology were featured during the festival.

The Gbong Gwom Jos awarded two personalities who had done the Berom Nation proud among them was Late Da Barnabas Dusu who was given a posthumous award for being instrumental to the successful translation of the Holy Bible to Berom dialect and Ngo Maria Nyam was also awarded as someone who has contributed immensely to the educational development of sons and daughters of the Berom Nation.

Spicing the event was the cultural display by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barr. Solomon Selcap Dalung who thrilled the audience.

The event was well attended by traditional leaders, religious leaders, political leaders, captains of industries, illustrious sons and daughters of the Berom Nation, Friends and well wishers of the Berom.