Face of Bakor Nation Beauty Pageant/Bakor Pillars and Legends Awards 2019 To set a pace for cultural development. Read top highlights

By Bella Khobe
Coneri Magazine


The maiden edition of Face of Bakor Nation Beauty pageant/Bakor Pillars and Legends Award event promises to be the best ever. FBNBP/BPLA is prepared to light up Bakor Nation with the best that Africa has to offer in culture and entertainment to bring together Bakor sons and daughters for the purpose of unity, peace and beauty of the rich cultural heritage of the people. According to a statement by the organizer of FBNBP/BPLA 2019, Kingsley Agbor, the event will redefine the future of culture and entertainment in Bakor Nation. He also added that all hands must be on deck if the world must come to the knowledge of the people’s rich cultural heritage, and if they must make any meaningful progress in overcoming underdevelopment. According to him, the promotion of cultural heritage is one way people can get exposure and attract development and that is what the event is all about. Agbor said the event promises to boost the region _socially, educationally, economically, politically and also help to project not only the youths but make the world know that the people have notable values and rich cultural heritage. This will attract tourists to the land. He called on all sons and daughters of the Bakor nation to support the event with all they can to ensure the Bakor beauty is seen and her voice heard all over the world. Speaking on the area of the award, the Bakor born award winning creative writer cum movie producer and CEO of SOULTIDE MEDIA and also the organizer of FBNBP/BPLA, Mr. Kingsley Agbor, said BPLA is going to be the world leading, and most glamorous awards event that will recognize and reward excellence in leaderships and creativity in Bakor Nation especially those who have done so well for the development of the nation. *' Successful entrepreneurs are going to be available to train Bakor son and daughters on business establishment, skills development and also how to scale through to achieving financial freedom in the Nigerian society.*"
 on the origin and what he described as ‘brief background of the people’, he said,  the Bakor people are a branch of the larger Ejagham tribe of the Bantu (actually Abonintui) race of west central Africa. The name Bantu was shortened by non indigenes who couldn't pronounce "Abon ntui" meaning children of God.
Today, the Bakor people, a sub group of Ejagham  tribe are found in two Local Givernment Areas of Ogoja and Ikom. The nine Bakor clans share deep cultural ties with many of the tribes in the eastern part of Nigeria up to southern areas  of Kaduna, Bauchi, Plateau, and Adamawa states.
Most of the tribes in these eastrn flank of Nigeria were the fallouts of the great Bantu trek which mass movement took them fron west central Africa through present day Cameron into south eastern Nigeria where they moved northwards until they encountered the Tuaregs and retreated southwards. As they retreated, small groups began go settle as they found safety and comfort. Thus,  the nine clans of Bakor, namely, Abanyum, Ekajuk, Nde, Nta, Nselle, Nkim, Nkum, Nnam and Ofutop , are neighbours to many other Ejagham, Boki, Tiv, Yalla and Bette, Mbube, subgroups. The matrilineal family system of inheritance gives priority of relationship through the  maternal lineage. Consequently, the practice what is called Akwansi accords the oldest male of the maternal family the headship and custodian of family administration and wealth. This is why every head in time is represented by a stone carving (Akwanse)  There are many of these collection of stones representing different maternal lineages in Bakor.
 It is however believed that at the death of the current Akwansi in the lineage, another stone is   added to the collection and passed on to the next heir. There are also carved wooden sculptures and masks, which are called "Nnereh’ (plural in NDE dialect ) The date for the celebration of the yearly New Yam Festival of the Bakor people is 15th September.
The highlights of this year's event includes;

*Interschool competition that cuts across all the Bakor nation

*Enterpreneurship Lectures and empowerment

 Nomination, voting and decision on the awardees

 Language application

 Exporting of the cultural heritage of Bakor to the world including traditional dance display

 Profiling and appreciation of successful Bakor son and daughters for emulation by the younger generation and lots more. Tentative date for the event is 13th – 15th September, 2019.
The Bakor people are kind and hospitable, come and have a glimpse of their rich heritage come September, 2019," he concluded with smile of high expectation