by Okoi Obono-Obla
Leboku is dance, celebration, thanksgiving and drama all rolled into one. Kudos to the sophistication and ingenuity of our progenitors.
Surprisingly, the colonialists who came solely to exploit and extract African resources – to bail out the saturated markets of Europe, create new ones, and innovate in accordance with the principles of competition – lied that Africa had no history and civilization, when it was even the cradle of civilization. This is an illogical proposition, taking into account that Africa is the cradle of the human race and that in ancient times scholars came from Greece to study medicine, pharmacy, science and astronomy in ancient Egypt, which itself was an authentic African civilization, along with the Cushitic and Ethiopian regions from which the Yakurr trace their genealogy.
The intricately woven, well-planned ritualistic ceremonies, prayers and invocation of ancestral spirits and other elaborate events embedded in the Leboku festival of Ugep, Yakurr, Cross River State of Nigeria, is nothing but an octopus of celebration and is a pointer to a sophisticated culture which is second to none.
In conclusion, Leboku is more than a festival; it is a living archive of Yakurr history, spirituality and worldview. It affirms our identity, honors our ancestors, and reminds the world that African civilization did not begin with colonial contact. We must continue to preserve and celebrate it.
@ Okoi Obono-Obla
