A Carnivorous Town...

On those days,fear griped  the minds of visitors and pass-a-by who always use the link roads through this carnivorous town to the city.

  Ugep, is a town in the southern part of a Nigerian state, Cross River. The inhabitants of this community believe that humans are the same as forest animals and were different from them(the community inhabitants).

  They saw the meats or will I say flesh of other humans as the same with the animals and thought it was wise if they eat from these new dairies rather than risking their lives in the bush trying to hunt for the day....

  They wore beads and rings on their noses and tongues. They were mostly nude without a cover clothe on. they behave differently from the other parts of the world I will say. They were living a stone age life style, like cracking two stones to make a fire and so on. 

   Visitors were scared of traveling along the linked roads to avoid untimely dead. with these kind of culture practice in that area, as a visitor, it can be easy to know whether one was close to dead than life. because the next thing that will happen, is dead.

  Their kings were celebrated or worshiped and compared with equals to God. They were served with fresh meats as diets and a cup of local palm wine. A local Nigerian wine drawn from palm trees. And fermented to taste properly. 

   Government could not interfer then becsuse it was a culture of that part of the world plus the lack of civilization then, brought no good results....

     Their youths were always on the battle or hunt field insearch of meats for the day....  They will return back to the village in a large escort with praises and chants from the observers and welcomers. Each good hunt, was first taken to the palace for the king to decide whether or not it should be eaten... They will sit around a large fire in fifties and thirdties,old and young children singing in the traditional ugep tongue and laughing rudely at their victims... They will slaughter their victims,separating the head from the other part of the body. Roasting them to a ready stage and then serve each person sitting by the fire side..... They will eat and drums will be played... Girls and mothers dancing to the amusement of their male counterpates....

    At the end of each meal, the king will arise and bless them all saying, your days will be compared to the earth. Were the earth is endless, so are you all. I your king reings favorably to you all and will continue to protect you all.  He will say to the warriors, you went, fought and conquered. Everyday you encounter your enermies, you will be victorious. I will be with you everyday of your life as worriors of this great kingdom. He will say to the women, you are the salt that brings forth taste. You will always be protected from dàngers. No voilent meted on you, old or young, will be welcomed... Women give birth to rulers, to kings and to gods... You are always our forerunners...

  Thanks to God almighty and to the British government who brought calm to the area. The British colonization and almagamation of the Southern and Nothern part of the Nigeria space in 1914, brought about new developements... And saw killings as murder and was able to deal with them...

  Even though civilization has taken over, this ancient community still practice a little of their old way of life... When a king dies, the head if a virgin is always accompanied to the grave with the lifeless body of the king.... These virgins, are usually the ones from the palace.. Who their parents handed over to the king as helpers or as a homage to a good reason...

   I was lucky to attend a festival in 2014, that is always celebrated in the state, known as NEW YAM FESTIVAL.... These festival was drawn from this ancient community which is always done to celebrate the harvest of a new yam in the months of August every year.... And now the  entire state has taken it to be a culture. Especially when the whole state produces yams and cassavas... Little by little, ugep which was known for their cruelty and eaters of humans, is now the most visited place in Africa.... Making the Nigerian tourism very attractive...

  Hope to hear words and comments from you all... Thanks a lot.... I love you all....