๐๐๐๐๐ข: ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ/๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ก๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ช๐ก (๐ข๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐)
Yakurr as a nation has been blessed from genesis. She has been blessed to have had some people whom I term; โLovers of their pedigreeโ. Men who show utmost love for their provenance, without minding whose ox is gourd. Like in other Yakurr communities, we have such persons in Idomi. Idomi as a community is a place that Obase Ubulukpabi (God Almighty) has blessed beyond human comprehension. There are no calibre of people in all walks of life that you cannot find in Idomi. Sometimes I think her greatness is in pari pasu with her appellations; Ilomi Akpaetu; Onugha kayen; Kaezizi Duba-Duba; Kaesokaelikol keta'kaelopon; Ubuzukwa.
Furthermore, in Idomi, amongst the people I call โLovers of their pedigreeโ is a man who knew the land! He was also a man who loved his community! His heroic deeds makes his name become forever ineffaceable from the hearts of Idomians. As one of the most bravest, courageous, shrewd and resourceful traditionalist, he has mentored, lead, captained, fathered and above all; saved! He's no other person than Obol Bassey Okah Ubangha Aka, Bello.
Bello, as he was fondly and generally addressed, was an avid, resolute and enthusiastic traditionalist who hailed from Egbizum Compound, into the family of Tata Okaleta, of Yakoi-bol maternal bloc. Born on the 2nd of February, 1942, Late Chief Bello attended the then Christian Missionary School (CMS) in early 60s but later stopped at Standard four (Primary 4) due to an unprecedented anomaly between him and his class teacher.
Chief Bello was formerly and initially known as 504 and the appellation was earned as a result of his ability to sprint like a hyena, which made people liken him to the then โ504โ that was the first modern vehicle that was invented and used as a means of mobility, in Nigeria. He was regarded as the first choice in his school whenever there's a running competition due to his sprinting ability and that took him to places beyond his imagination, including the then regional competition which was staged in Obubra County Council (OCC).
More so, the name โBelloโ was regarded as a national honor that Obol Bello earned directly from the then Saudana Of Sokoto in person of Sir Ahmadu Bello. The title didn't come as a coincidence or one that can be said to have been brought upon himself for his likeness for the Saudana, as some people may think. He earned it. The scenario of how he earned the appellation was when he was chosen to represent the entire Obubra County Council in the competition that was planned to entertain the guest of honor in the national occasion in Abakiliki Province, at The Eastern Regional Headquarters, in 1964, that had the Emir Of Kano, Sir Ahmadu Bello, as the guest of honor had Sir M. I. Okpara, the Eastern Regional Premier, as the host.
While in the competition, Bello emerged the winner of the race and that paved way for an opportunity to shake hands with the Saudana Of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello. In his (Sir Ahmadu Bello) speech, while commending the racers, he personally commended the effort of the first runner up which was Chief Bello and automatically gave him the name; Bello, stating that he has great interest in his running prowess.
Belloโs running skills took him to many places and had him meet great men and women from all parts of Nigeria. His kind of running ability was one that can be likened to this generationโs Usain Bolt's. History has it that he received so many accolades, including varieties of gifts as well as certificates, showing how outstanding he is, in sportsmanship. More so, while being interviewed, he stated that he has never been outran. Before the sound was made for the race to begin, he was always the first to reach the other side of the race and that made him generally admired and liked for the outstanding and uneasy talent he portrayed.
It is noteworthy that Chief Bello was an all-round communitarian and traditionalist. Not only was he a talented runner. He was also a talented drummer. He started drumming while he was in Primary School. Those days, there was a particular dance called โparaventureโ. It was some sort of school games that required the beating of drums, especially for those that didn't have the urge to be in the classroom. He would drum and they'll dance along, including the women whose parents didn't know the importance female of education, then.
His drumming skills became known throughout the community when his predecessor; Tata Iferi Eyong Epe of Kekomkukuli (The father of the famous Chief Mitre of Kekomkukuli), died, in 1968. Note that Tata Iferi Eyong Epe was also a drummer and an ardent Obam dancer who took after Late Tata Apih (The father of Omini Apih of Mfut Compound). Chief Bello was a youngster who followed the steps of Tata Iferi Eyong Epe. He would drum alongside him, during every cultural function in the community.
Bello was following up the activities of the land, from the early 60s till the very day he went to be with his ancestors. He embraced the culture and tradition of the land, despite the incessant troubles he got from his father, he was an unapologetic traditionalist! His father would beat and scold him in other for him to desist from the things of the land but yet, his love for his community and her cultural heritage was uncannily different.
During the Festival Of Arts And Culture (FESTAC) in 1977 which was hosted in Idumota, Lagos, the then Capital of Nigeria and which had the attendance of all the African countries, with the first executive president of Nigeria; Alhaji Shehu Shagari, etc, Bello was taken to represent the South South Region and was made to appear in traditional attires where he wore masquerade (Eblami) with Mkpokaw on his legs. Bello displayed in an outstanding way, jiggling the Mkpokaw right in front of the president with his masquerade on. He was however, commended for displaying in such an amazing way.
In the same vein, in 1981, when Shagari showed interest to re-contest for the position of the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, he came to Ugep, at Prepsco (Presbyterian Primary School, Ugep) and was welcomed by the Obam Society, where Bello displayed as the only masquerade. It is however, pertinent to note that the occasion was graced with so many top and reputable politicians in persons of the then House Of Assembly Member; Eteng Ekpe, The then senate president; Joseph Wayas, The then national president of NPN; Mr. Ugba Akinloye, The then vice president of Nigeria; Alex Ekueme, The then deputy governor of the old Cross River State; Mr. Mathias Oboche and Dr. Clement Nyong Isong; The then governor of Cross River State. All these people were in attendance, to imagine how honorary the occasion was. History has it that the person who gave the opening prayer before the commencement of the occasion was Reverend Abam Ekubi (The first ordained reverend in Yakurr).
Chief Bello was very tender when he delved into the traditional affairs of the land. As someone who had Tata Iferi Eyong Epe as his mentor, he made sure to teach and also show him the entire traditional activities of the land including the phenomenal ways of each of the activities of the land, including the Obam, Kozaw, etc. Bello was given an in-depth details of how the spirituality of the culture of the land works and how to deal with them. He learnt from great traditionalists and that was why, until his death, he was always teaching and showing the younger generation how to deal with the spirituality of the land, to avoid discrepancies that may lead to death or other disasters.
Chief Bello was an enthusiastic and inbuilt professional drummer. There was no single traditional activity in the land of Idomi that was devoid of the membership of Bello. His proficiency in the world of drumming earned him the โObol Kokpaโ title, meaning; King of Drumming, thereby making him the first coronated Obol Kokpa 1 of Idomi. His drumming prowess was undeniably enviable and admirable and it cut across the annals of Idomi to other neighboring communities where he'd go and help beat their drums during their New Yam Festival or other cultural functions. Bello played the Obam Drums, the Kozaw Drums, the Ekoi Drums, the Obon Drums, the Mgbeligbeh Drums, etc.
Aside the aforementioned drums he played, Bello also played the โLokpan-kumoโ. The Lokpan-kumo is like a gong that is made and calved from iroko tree. Myths have it that if you're not a strong man (Odaemae-daemae) you dare not touch on that traditionally made gong. Also, it takes a great drummer to be able to play the gong. More so, the only time one can be seen playing the Lokpan-kumo is when there's an impending war; presage; when a member of the hierarchy goes to be with his ancestors, etc..
Moreso, due to the sincerity, bravery and open-mindedness of Bello, he was given the opportunity to head so many traditional activities such as Eblabu, Kรฆpu (wrestling) and was a one-time youth president of Idomi. He was a fierce leader who stood in the truth and made sure it prevailed over uncertainties and irregularities. He was a blunt leader. Pious in his ways and made sure to eschew evil, lies, pretence, and irresponsibility. Whichever activity he headed, he made sure he carried out his duties to the extreme and he did it without minding whose ox is gourd.
This article would be absolutely incomplete without the narration of the lifetime of Bello as the Oblamidaem of Idomi (Chief Masquerade of the Obam Society). Due to his running ability and how fast he was, his masquerade was the most rallied. Where there are three or four masquerades, Belloโs masquerade always had mammoth crowd behind it. I could remember a particular song the Obam Society used in welcoming or addressing him whenever he approaches them. They would sing โNnen ten kana, Nnen ten gwohโ... As they sang, they played the Obam drums to make the sound resonate with the song. His masquerade was the most intriguing, fascinating and interesting and had most adult rallying with it because of the way it was organized and coordinated.
Among the achievements he attained, Late Chief Bello was an agriculturist who farmed, garnered, tied and celebrated 200 sticks of yam (A'zo) in the year 1977. He was the Obonka of Rainbow Age Grade and a custodian the Age Gradeโs traditional drinking pot, dialectically known as โYiko-so-worโ. This pot was in his custody until his death, before it was given to his Age Grade by his children.
Conclusively, as an outspoken and blunt man, Chief Bello was undeniably and irrefutably a hero in the land of Idomi. He was an embodiment of piousness, truthfulness, honesty, sincerity and boldness. A refined man who abstained from whatever stood as inimical to the tradition of Idomi, always putting his community first, not minding the opinions of the world, including his family. He, among few others devoted everything they had for Idomi and that was why he was seen as a great teacher of the tradition of the land because he had the entire ethics of the tradition of Idomi at his finger tips. His name rang a bell and still rings a bell even after his demise, in all the ends of Yakurr as a local government and Cross River State. Truly and indubitably, Idomi Hall Of Fame will remain incomplete forever, without him. On the fateful and glorious day of 28th October, 2019, Chief Bello, went to be with his ancestors, after a short and unyielding ailment.
