✍🏾 *Madalla Kadiri, Zaar Activist*.
*Introduction*:
Evidence of religious practice has been traced to
the Stone Age during the time of the Neanderthal man. In Africa, religion as a
fundamental aspect of peoples’ culture permeates every aspect of life . Indeed, festivals are among the essential liturgical
components of all religions. In the cosmological system of the Zaar North East and Ngas land North Central Nigeria, festivity is an integral aspect of religious practices.
Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) cultural festival are important religious festival that were annually
celebrated to reverence the spirit of there ancestors. In the olden days celebrated Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) cultural festival was celebrated by Zaar and Angas acknowledging the gods, deities and their ancestors.
*Historical Jocking Relationship Between Zaar and Ngas People*:
Zaar land of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government which whole area used to be known as Lere District shares an ancient boundaries with Angas land Dawaki and Kabwir in the southern part of Plateau State. The Zaar and Angas are neighbours. They often engage in a joking relationship, each claiming to be the “master” while the other a “slave”, there is no historical record of when this joking relationship started, but it is believe that the joking relationship can be traced to
the Stone Age.
Historically, Zaar and Angas migrated together as neighbors with other tribes from Far East to Chad Area headquarter of the defunct ancient Kanem Borno Empire and to Ngazargamu and settle permanently as neighbors in Southern Bauchi and Plateau State, currently Zaar and Angas tribe lives as neighbors and the months which they celebrate there major cultural festival Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar)cultural festival are neighbors. Lepm Zaar cultural festival is celebrated before Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar). Lepm Zaar is celebrated in October, while Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) in November, both Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) are cultural festival of harvest.
*Here's what I found out about this two fascinating Cultural Festivals (Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar)*:
*What is the Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) cultural Festival?*
Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) cultural festival also known as festival of harvest were celebration of the harvest season and the abundance of new crops in Zaar and Ngas land. Crops are a staple food in West Africa and are considered a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
In the olden days both in Zaar and Ngas communities. The wealth, riches of a typical wealthy Man in Zaar land and Ngas land was measured by number of traditional storage facility (Fung) full of grain especially guinea corn, wives and the number of Children he has.
*When is the Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) Cultural Festival celebrated?*
Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) cultural festivals were usually celebrated at the end of the rainy season. Lepm Zaar was celebrated in October after sighting moon.
The Angas celebrate Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar in November during the celebration, a brief event called ‘Shooting the Moon’ takes places to mark the end season and the beginning of a new season. The festival is usually celebrated during the time of harvest around November after sighting moon. Both festivals normally last for more than two weeks.
*What happens during Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) Cultural Festivals?*
Both Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar Cultural festival was a time for feasting, merrymaking, and thanksgiving in all Zaar and Ngas villages. Food was prepared in abundance and taken to designated areas, where people had gathered.
Here are some of the activities that take place during the festival:
- *new harvest offerings*:
New harvest such as crops were offered to the gods and ancestors during the two cultural festivals. In Zaar land before a new crops is consume by Zaar communities Lepm must be done first.
- *Rituals*:
Certain rituals were performed in both Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) cultural festivals to express gratitude to the gods for the harvest and to ensure a bountiful harvest in the future, a lot of masquerades come out during the festival,different cultural performances were done from morning till the next day such as singing, dancing and moving from house to house. The festival normally last for more than two weeks. Youth could move to another village singing and dancing for a week.
- *Cultural performances*:
There was a cultural performances, a lot of masquerades come out during the festival,different cultural performances were done from morning till the next day such as singing, dancing and moving from house to house. The festival normally last for more than two weeks. Youth could move to another village singing and dancing for a week.
*Where is the Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) Cultural Festivals celebrated?*
The Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) cultural festivals was celebrated in all both Zaar and Ngas villages.
*What is the significant of the Lepm Zaar Festival?*
The Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) Festival was significant because it symbolizes bumper harvest and the gratitude of the Zaar community for the harvest . It is also a time for Zaar, Ngas communities bonding and cultural expression.
*Conclusion*:
There are many benefits of (Lepm Zaar and Lepm Ngas (Tsafi Tar or Mos Tar) ) cultural festivals summarize as follows:
I. The festivals has helped immensely in sustaining the peace and unity in both Zaar and Ngas land.
II. It has create a good platform for the sustenance of Zaar and Ngas cultural heritage and makes it easier for it to be passed on to the younger generation.
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