10 Top Things To Know About Bekwarra People Of Cross River State

Top 10 things to know about the Bekwarra people of Cross River State.

By Ushie S. A

1. They have a unique language called Bekwarra. The word Bekwarra is both a name of a tribe, their language and a name of a local Government. Last time I checked there is nothing like Igbo or Hausa local Government. So this make the Bekwarra people unique.

2. They are descendant of Agba who is also the progenitor of Obudu and Bekwarra Agba. It is a very explicit history as they proudly refer to each others as brothers.

3. The Local government has produced a deputy senator, Commissioner of Justice, minister of Justice, House of representative members etc.

4. It has 10 political wards. Afrike 1, Afrike 2, Beten, Gakem, Ibiaragidi, Nyanya, Ugboro, Otukpuru, Ukpah and Abouchiche

5. It has annual cultural festival called the ipem ihihe (new yam) festival held every first Saturday of September.

6. It has five market days. Ugbada, uchaga, ugidi, udama and achaya.

7. It’s headquarters is in Abouchiche.

8. They people are Christians majorly Catholics with other predominant churches like Living faith, Redeem, Dunamis, Assemble of God and Indigenous churches like holiness and power church, Rapture power outreach ministry etc.

9. Their major occupation is farming and some pocket of them are civil servants. They farm crops like Groundnut in Gakem, Rice in Ugboro etc.

10. The Nigeria civil war of 1967-1970 began in Bekwarra local Government. The aftermath and devastating effect of the Biafra war cannot be over emphasized.

PROUDLY BEKWARRA.
USHIE S. A
Historian