Celebrating 18th Leboku International Festival In Style As Gov’t Promises to Build On Cultural Economy of Various Communities
Judex OKORO
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 will be a red letter day in the cultural history of Yakurr nation. It is a day set aside for the celebration of the 2024 Leboku New Yam festival. Leboku is celebrated to honor the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits of the land in Ugep, one of the five settlements of Yakurr.
The Leboku New Yam festival is peculiar to the core Yakạạ speaking communities: Ugep, Idomi,
It is a three-week festival which begins with the celebration of the Mblemi, the official commencement of harvest of new yams. On that day, beautifully women in native regalia from different farm-roads and groups later parade the town with their harvests.
The second day is the Janenboku, which literally translated means "women’s festival day" in which gifts are given to women by their loved ones and friends with a display of traditional dances and the traditional carnival-like drumming and dancing to the rhythm of the Ekoi drums to usher in the Ledemboku, held in the playground. Ledemboku is the modern-day Miss Leboku Beauty Pageant held in one of the hotels within the town.
The men’s festival, known as Ledemboku is celebrated on the day three and is filed with activities including exchange of gifts to males, performance by the male Ekoi dancers, a parade of the Obol Lopon and his Bi-Inah (council of chiefs), a parade and dances by leg-bangle-wearing Leboku maidens to the rhythm of the Ekoi drums, and a display by the Etangala masquerade, whose only outing yearlong is on this day.
The men’s festival is followed by Leteboku after two days of rest. The Leteboku is a performance poetry contest among Leboku maidens from each of the traditional Ugep wards. The songs danced to, and the rhythm produced by the leg-bangles worn by the maidens is a delight to watch.
It is followed by the Yekpi which is a day when boys and Leboku maidens parade the town in a ceremony believed to usher in peace and prosperity and is followed by the Yeponfawa. Yeponfawa is a ceremony for the initiates of the Libini group meant to declare the first phase of the Leboku over. Although this takes place during the night, it is also a day non-initiates stay awake to listen to the songs.
After the Yeponfawa, young boys and girls participate in a one-week music and festival through their dance ensembles known as Egbendum (for boys) and Oka (for girls). Every neighbourhood has its own group, which is directed by an adult, who also teaches them songs and dance steps.
The Leboku comes to an end with the exit of the Egbendum and Oka sessions. Children are normally hosted to a feast of yam porridge and palm wine. The yams and palm wine are collected from parents, relatives and farmers in farm-roads located in the children's neighbourhood
However the 2024 Leboku festival is no exception as the Yakuur towns and villages are all wearing new look ready to receive thousands of visitors that are coming in to celebrate the epoch-making event.
Speaking about the 2024 festival at Obol Opon's Palace in Ugep, Yakurr local government area during a press briefing, the Special Adviser on Events Management, Governor’s Office, Cross River state, Mr. Effiong Ekpenyong, said the Leboku International New Yam Festival would continue to build a cultural economy for Yakurr communities.
Speaking at a press briefing to herald this year's festivities with the theme “community mobilisation for sustainable growth” and held at Obol Opon 's Palace in Ugep, Yakurr local government area, Ekpenyong said the policy direction of Governor Bassey Edet Otu, is “people first”, whereby, making this the propeller for collective pursuit towards delivering a people-oriented projects and programs.
Acknowledging the effort of those who pioneered the event, the governor's aide promised to uphold the need for the sustainable development of Leboku for global appeal and expectations, Ekpenyong said his office will synergise with all concerned in terms of event management and production, as well as welcome any idea and innovations that will boost the annual festival.
He commanded members of the national and state assemblies and other stakeholders on their efforts at improving and seeing to the growth of the Leboku festival. "My special thanks to the Senator representing the central senatorial district, member House of Representative Abi/Yakurr, Members House of Assembly Yakurr 1 and 2, heads of the tourism clusters of Cross River State, HOLGA Yakurr, local organising committee of the Leboku International New Yam Festival 2024, Paramount Ruler of the Yakurr nation and his council of chiefs.
"We have indeed benefitted from shared knowledge and experience from series of meetings towards ensuring a very successful LEBOKU 2024. It has been a pleasure of working and planning together in the last few months with everyone, and answering key questions from our sponsors, this gives the assurances that the preparatory narratives has changed subsequently for the Leboku festival.
"Our amiable sponsors, stakeholders and well-wishers, your response, not minding the short notice, is highly commendable. Always hold this to heart, that we are into a trail blazing engagement, to add and give value for every single contribution and support, in brand image promotion, products and services marketing, even to return on investment and revenue generation for the state.
"The expectation this year is higher and will continue to grow, considering the wealth of resources in terms of intangible and tangible cultural heritage of the Yakurr nation and Leboku. On the 21st of August, 2024, we will be experiencing the evolution of the Leboku New Yam festival extending the socio-cultural value-chain onward to building a cultural economy for the people of Yakurr and Cross River State at large through the LEBOKU spirit.
"One thing is sure, our sponsors need value back for value added during LEBOKU and the people of Yakurr desire the preservation of their pristine practices. The confidence it shall be fair to all concerned, to profit and to prosper.
"We are giving the festival a brand identity and commercial worth; the logo and theme unveiling. Remember, nothing here will or can be achieved without having all hands-on deck, it is a call for unity of purpose, and it is a call for collective responsibility for sustainable growth.
It is the season of sweetness. "In his remark, Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, My Abubakar Ewa, represented by Mr. Dan Akeke, said: "We are on the same page. We promise to ensure that we have a better LEBOKU festival. Besides LEBOKU, they are other tourism attractions like Ugep stones and Water Falls that would help enhance our cultural economy."
Equally speaking, the Head of Local Government Administration, Mrs. Rita Egbe Ayuk, represented by Director, General Services and Administration, DGSA, Mr. Ndoma Francis, said:
"We have been working with Obol Lopons to ensure a smooth celebration. I enjoin all stakeholders to cooperate so we can have a memorable event on August 21. "The Council Commends Governor Otu for all he has done for Yakurr local government area in the last one year.
This year event is one of the best in terms of planning."
On his part, the Managing Director, Tourism Bureau, Prince Ojoi Ekpenyong, said: "We will on this year festival by working with hotels and hospitality providers to ensure standard and safety of guests.
"We will also take data of visitors and sons and daughters of Yakurr that will attend the annual festival. All we need from Yakurr during the celebration is peace from the eleven autonomous communities.
"This is the 18th LEBOKU and by end of the year, state government would have brought in 52 cars since inception for winners of Mr. and Miss Leboku."
Commending Governor Bassey Otu for his commitment to reviving LEBOKU, the Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr HRM OBOL (Dr) Obol Ofem Ubana, said: "Leboku is very important to Yakurr people because it is an opportunity to thank God for changing half yams they planted into a whole whole yam.
"It is an indication that God is with us and authority over all of us. Between February and July, there is usually hunger in our communities. So, in August as we celebrate Leboku, we celebrate with our family, friends and well-wishers who have survived the hunger period.
"This will be the best because all plans are going on well. Under this period, we observe a lot and would not see or eat new yam until Monday, August 19, 2024 when farmers come back from the bush."
