BOKI VOICE MAGAZINE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BOKI PEOPLE OF CROSS RIVER STATE

Monday, 26 September 2016

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BOKI PEOPLE OF CROSS RIVER STATE

Boki Local Government Area which was created on August 28, 1991 is a geographical territory in Cross River State of Nigeria. It has a population of about 300,000 and a contiguous territories border with the Republic of Cameroun. Boki bears a national and international reputation for being a major commercial centre where forest and internationally quoted agricultural commodities such as cocoa, coffee, timber, palm products, etc. are sourced and supplied for international consumption.

Boki Local Government Area is bounded in the west by Ogoja, north by Obudu, south by Ikom Local Government Areas while in the west, it is bounded by the Republic of Cameroun. With Boje its headquarters, Boki has about fourteen major communities including Iso-Bendeghe, Bansan-Osokom, Nsadop Abo, Okundi, Iman, Bateriko, Bumaji, Orimekpang, Wula, Buardwr, Natamarte and Kakwagom.

Like other local government areas, Boki has its own culture and tradition which distinguishes it from others. As regards dressing, men use loin clothes upon a white long sleeve shirt and a broad to match with a walking stick, while women tie two wrappers upon a blouse and head scale.

Its major cultural and traditional festival include Boki new yam festival, Irruan Boki Local Government Area, Edien festival, Borum and cassava festival. During these festivals and other social occasions, some popular music including Obam, Mgbe, Atam, Obon, Bekarim, Awaribo, Obashi and Enya-Atu are played.

And characteristics of any African society, Boki has a social life-style which was handed down from generation to generation include inter-village cultural dance, age grade meetings, circumcision festivals, burial ceremonies and communal farming.

Traditional market days in Boki include Okundi market day, Ntamarte market day, Kakwagom market day and Wula market day. The ubiquity of habitat for wild life as represented by the thickly forested vegetation and unique topology of Boki continues to be a delight for Environmental Action Groups and conservationists. No wonder Okwargwo Division of the Cross River Park, a brain child of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) was established in Boki, it provides a spectacular opportunity to witness wildlife in their natural habitat.

Boki Tribal Mask

Boki (Bokyi, Nfua, Nki, Okii, Osikom, Osukam, Uki, Vaaneroki) is a regionally important language spoken by the Bokyi people of northern Cross River State, Nigeria. It is ranked amongst the first fifteen languages of the about 505 living languages in Nigeria, with a few thousand speakers in Cameroon.

The district has many settlements including: