Tiv oral literature from inception has been
a unique medium of communication in Tiv land, the oral poet stand to educate
the society with his song. He preaches for peace, unity, love, entertainment,
information, advice, and possible causes a change through his or her artistic
oral song that encompasses many issues affecting the society he lives in. He is
just like a writer who uses his creative skills to inform, educate, and entertain
the society with his pen, either in drama, prose, or poetry. He uses his spoken
words to pass a message to the society but unfortunately this form of unique
communication is no more active in Tiv land. Those days, Tiv oral poets like
Hemen Dondo Guda, Tondo Kumbur, Iyoughul Ute, Agugu Igbakumbur, Tarkar Golozo, Kuje Yum, Tamen Begh, Oliver
Aye, Baba Ache,Terry Mbajor, orkov
Ubadiah , Aggrabye Shomkye Avur, Agbadi Ikpem Bende, etc were good in this act
and they positively help many people who listens to there advice.
A look at Kuje Yum from onmbakor, Kyonov
Council Ward of Gwer local government, he motivated some people on the benefit
of western education, that those who passed through school can never be
humiliated anyhow, as he was humiliated by police in Makurdi because he was
not educated enough to read the road signs.
The song goes like this in Tiv:
Kwagh u makaranta u mbagenden nen ka u
se gba weh ga, ka wea fa tarkerada
ugeren ya, ulukpose kengkeng, eku u ger
sha gbyudu juu! Gber kpa tile zamber, or ngue fa takerada ga cii man nan
mor yan mator nan nahan mator u nan sha gbudu, aza geren Go slow kpa na fa ityo kya sum ga, tsa nan hemba nahan mator
u nan cii a za nyor he double kwana u zigiza la kpa nan fa kwagh sum ga
cii, nan kar a mator nan ubububububu kyuuu nan er accident.
Wen nan tese ikya sha na, yange wen yarn
agugu saam wen yor shange wen wuhar Suit and Suit u Yemen shin Makurdi
a Agugu na, wen za nyorum round about, Udasinda daga hand kpa wen toor Udasinda suum a sur, man wen lu Agugu na
uuuu... wen za ta sha or Igbo kyuur, udasinda man korun shin Makurdi be gbidion
kpishi sha cii u fan road safety traffic ga...
The above is an extraction from his song
that he encouraged people to acquire education, that education will help us to
even know road signs when driving, if not there is danger driving on a road as
uneducated person. You will see " Go Slow" but you will not know even
Zigza and double conner you will not know base on your inability to read and
dictate road signs. He show example of him, how he bought his Motorbike, he
dress in Suit going to Makurdi, when he reach Wurukum round about, the Police
officer was waving him to slow down but he did not know, he thought the police
officer was greeting him, he ride his motorbike careless and he caused a
serious accident that almost killed him and the Igbo man.
Kuje Yum with his dexterity in singing,
inform the Tiv people with his song not to take education for granted because
it has many benefits.
Kuje Yum, a traditional poet in Masev Land
in his another song warm the Tiv people to always be their brothers’ keeper
and endeavour to appreciate their fellow
brothers, he show example that he sings but his people say he don't know how to
sing: " Mbachongo ma veren mama wan be a mon, kpa be kenden ke jime er mon
nana se" What means is that
he was less appreciated by his immediate brothers.
Masev people should value all his songs,
rather than criticize him.
Also
the Number one famous oral poet of those days was admired by all was Tarkaa
Golozo from Mbatiav Gboko area of Benue state, he always inform and educate the
Tiv people on the trend of the society both in government and all aspect of
human ramifications.
The introduction of Fertilizer in Tiv land
was something that many farmers vow that they will never apply it to their farm
land, that it will not help them. For someone to used NPK, UREA, fertilizer in
farm Land was like an abomination.
So Golozo was given a task to compose a
song after the Civil War of 1967-1970 to enlightens and educate the Tiv people
on Fertilizer, because few people were positively harvesting plenty after the
application of fertilizer. Golozo further came with a song entitled
"Agrocoture", where farmers like Ityover Ninga Biam and Nyakume
Amenga Listened to him and harvested good quality from the Fertilizer. He talk
of Chief Atim Zungwe, Amase Timing Bai from Gboko were excelling in farming
based on farming.
In fact, history shows that in my Village
Mbakine, the late father of Former Leader Gwer Local government legislative
house Agbatse Peter Iorumbur his late father after listening to the song also
follow the instruction and his application of fertilizer makes him to harvest
plenty and was rated one among the great farmers of those days of 1970s to 80s,
and 90s for the use of NPK and UREA.
The impact of Oral poets is very unique,
people feel excited with the message they got through Tiv oral songs.
Furthermore, Agra-byer popularly known as Tor Jor,
if one listens carefully to his songs will concludes that he came out to attack
Witchcrafts in Tiv land. There is no game in practicing Tsav and Akombo but
people should praised Jesus Christ and served him. He was in the game but he
achieved nothing rather his only son was killed through Akombo Achivi.
In his song, he cited names of those who
were known in to witchcraft activities in Tiv land could not live forever.
Those who listen to his songs took caution not to practice Akombo and Ajoor
achivir.
THE ABSENCE OF TIV ORAL POET.
A wide research in Tiv land shows that year
2000 to 2016, oral poets are not effective like those days.
They come only on political campaigns,
after election, they are no more to be found.
Of recent, Gaybones Akuhe from Tyoshin was
the composer of PDP songs.
His songs are quite impressive with deep
meaning.
He once appealed in one of his songs that
MINDA is worth for governor, and many issues.
Apart from political poets we have now, you
can't talk of another oral poet that is eager to enlightened the Tiv people on
economic situations in the country, issues like Cultism, bribery, corruption,
Jealousy, Pulled him down, and so many negative issues, they should compose
songs that will enlightens the younger ones.
Also, our Brothers and Sisters should
appreciate Tiv oral poets as many lessons are in it.
In conclusion, the Tiv oral literature in
general is fallen, language and culture cannot be hide, it is identity, our Tiv brothers and Sisters who
cannot read a written Literature in print media, can get it through Spoken
words of the poets where he is educated, informed , entertain, of what is going
on in the 21st century.
Henry Kwaghkule is a Short Story Writer and
a critic.
Kwaghkulehenry@gmail.com
08064705340.
Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria.