Mba pur: A day at Adamawa’s festival of horses

Mba pur Festival which is organised by the Mbula-speaking community of Borrong District in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa state, is one of such   festivals. It involves a lot of dances and traditional rites after which farmers are expected to sharpen their farm implements andsort seedlings typically and start between the months of March […]

Mba pur Festival which is organised by the Mbula-speaking community of Borrong District in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa state, is one of such   festivals. It involves a lot of dances and traditional rites after which farmers are expected to sharpen their farm implements andsort seedlings typically and start between the months of March to May in the various communities to return to their farms.

Mbula people are known to be great warriors and farmers and have rich cultural heritage that are reflected in their crafts, music, dances, dress patterns etc.

They do not want to be left out of the pre-rain jamboree as they recently marked Mbapur horse festival which officially “declares” the beginning of the rainy season.

This year’s celebration was held amid pomp and pageantry as sons and daughters of Mbula land and people from all walks of life trooped en masse to Mbula Kuli ancient settlement, venue of the Mba Pur festival to catch glimpses of the festivity.

Indeed, guests were thrilled much to their expectations as activities lined up for the festival were scintillating, thought-provoking, fascinating and richly show cased the cultural values of Mbula people.

The festival dates back to the days when Mbula people were said to be engaged in raiding activities and inter-tribal conflicts those activities were mainly to capture slaves and booties.

Other accounts suggest that there was a brilliant horse which brought success to the warriors when it was taken out for battle or raids. So at its death, the saddened chief priest of Mbula Kuli village and his warriors went into mourning.

According to this account, the chief priest brewed local alcohol (Mbah-Mbula) and invited both cavalry and infantry warriors to his arena, which in Mbula is known as “Tangun-la-mulah.” After that the warriors were said to have proceeded to the bush where they conducted a mock raid before returning to the arena.

The warriors were later led by “Kasilah” in a grand durbar to pay homage to the priest who entertained them with alcohol, while they responded with war dances before they were finally dispersed with words of blessings to health, strength and abundant rain for the cropping season.

The Mbapur festival has since become one of the most elaborate annual events whose celebration attracts sons and daughters of Mbula extraction as well as tourists and nomads who always waited to witness the celebration before proceeding with their cattle in search of grazing land.

The human existence, however, comes to bear in this festival as the role of the war captain, known as Kasilah, has now been replaced by the paramount ruler, known as Murum Mbula, a product of institutionalization of the centralized chieftaincy.

So, also is the injection of new activities to the festival. In the past the most brilliant horse, which is believed to bring good fortune for its master during wars and raids was rewarded. Nowadays a horse race is organized by the Murum Mbula and winners are rewarded accordingly.

Other contests which have become part of the Mba pur festival is that of the Best Groomed Horse, Best Attired horse man, while the horse racing is categorised into long and short distances; prizes such as motorcycles, power generating sets, television sets and cash prizes are usually won.

The  Mbula paramount ruler, Murum Mbula, Joram Joel Fwa says introduction of incentives became necessary to serve as an encouragement for horse men to be properly attired in the traditional way and be more interested in the show, all in a bid to uphold the culture to avoid extinction.

“Making the Mba Pur festival competitive is targeted at uplifting our children economically and encouraging them to take to horse breeding in line with our tradition. The horse is our identity and it helped us to defend our land,” the traditional ruler said.

The highpoint of the festival were dances, first from the priest’s lineage, followed by the Fwa royal family led by the incumbent Murum and the second royal clan of Muzong, after which the chief priest declared the season blessed.

The Murum Mbula whose speech is usually the last, marking the end of the festival, urged his subjects to send their wards to school as according to him, the world was changing and only the educated are relevant in the society.

At this juncture guests disperse, just as warriors converge on the chief priest’s compound where they would be treated to a reception. The Murum is expected to send emissaries with gifts and drinks to the chief priest.

Maidens of the land were also not left out. They also converge in front of the priest’s house the following day to perform a unique play, which is known as “Kpakyaru”.

This reporter observed that this year’s Mba Pur festival was unique and historic as it received a touch of modernity to make it more glamorous, entertaining and competitive. Against the usual old practice where warriors engage in mock raids, several categories of competition were introduced and prizes were awarded to gallant warriors.

There were 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for, Best Groomed Horse and the reward was a motorcycle for the winner; N30,000.00 for the 2nd placed horse while the 3rd position went home with a television set.

There was also Long Distance Racing contest for the horsemen and the prizes were motorcycle for the winner, TV set for 2nd horseman and a generating set for 3rd position.

Another category of the Mba Pur contest was the Short Distance Race with a motorcycle, as 1st prize, TV set for 2nd position and generating set as 3rd prize while prizes for the Best Traditionally Dressed Horseman were TV set for the winner, N20,000.00 for 2nd position and N15,000.00 for 3rd placed horseman. Other consolation prizes were doled out to the horsemen as a source of inspiration.