By Odey Ojeka
Lobo or yekpi is special day that comes up six days after the Ekoi day.
Lobo is part of the Leboku Festival.
The celebrants are usually males and are called Yabongha in singular. During Lobo day,the celebrants usually go to the forest as early as 6 am to 7am to uproot trees with their bare hands.
The trees uprooted are specific,not just any kind. On return,they would parade the town with the uprooted trees on their shoulders, while they shout in loud in loud voice “Has Lobo” people who are found within their reach are either flogged with the roots of trees or a serious or simple pat on the back using their hands.
The flogging could be intense, especially on the girls who did not wear the bronze leg bangles locally called “liman”. In the afternoon of the lobo day,the Yabongha would take their baths,costumed with a white native chalk designs on their chest, a yellowish native substance gotten from grinding some roots locally called ‘ejongha’ is used on their legs,and red chalky substance called ‘ekalang ko’ is used round their feet and toes,then dress in white wrappers.
They would pour powders over their body,and parade the town with their maidens who wear the liman . Happy Lobo celebration to all my brothers, sisters and friends in Ugep.
Odey Ojeka is a Pedagogue, Historian,Media Savvy, Blogger, Egalitarian.
