PROMINENT DISH IN EGGON CULTURE:
"Ebiekpemre"
The Eggon culture is one of the prominent culture in the middle-belt, the Northern part of Nigeria, Nasarawa State.it has about twenty two clans, with three clans(Anzo, Eholo and Ero or Anro) consider to be the major clans as divided by the Eggon National President (His Highness, Chief Bala Lazarus Angbazo).But the focus of this article is not about the history of the Eggons, but the special attention given to the food in the culture call "ebiekpemre" the prominent food in eggon culture.
Let me introduced myself first, that my name is "Ibrahim Allu Joseph"." Allu is my triber name, meaning someone who talk alot".My both parent (My Dad and mom) are Eggon.Meaning, am a full indigent and citizen of Eggons.
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###That's my sister, mom and Dad, in whom "ebiekpemre" is well please.But not with Allu!!!
My Dad and mon both has their triber name, but in the case of my Dad, he choose to use Ibrahim rather than the triber name given to him by his father... That one is another story of itself!.
Growing in the Eggon land, am privilege to know many things about the culture, especially "the Eggon prominent dish call ebiekpemre".
My first experience with "ebiekpemre"
I can't forget this experience. Mommy is back from one of our cousin (maternal cousin) traditional wedding, which i was not privilege to go with her, because i was still tender in age then. As i cheerfully welcome mommy, home, i knew well that must have brought something for us the children, that is her normal custom, anytime she goes out like that.
No quite long, when she change her dress, she brought out the meat(raw one) and the food ( The ebiekpemre).
Since the meat is a raw one, no need to talk about it, but "ebiekpemre" oh my God!
###How the food looks like.
The food glitter due to the excess Palm oil, use in preparing the food, it also has some black things, know as black beniseed).i can't wait to have a taste of the food, but i have to.My mom have to share the food in proportion to our numbers and ages.Then i received my own portion. Looking at the food alone, i was already salivating, because i so much love food with plenty oil(Palm oil).
Just the first spoon taste i couldn't swallowed everything, then i look at my mom, she said what!.I said is this the food! I can't eat this, it is not sweet at all!!!
My mom look at me and smile, saying this is how the prominent food of your culture taste like, and i added:No Maggi, no pepper, no onions....She laughs added, we don't add any spices to the food, and i added, then your cultural food i don't like it!.
My mom use to prepared the food at home, and because we the children(not all,) don't really like the food, my mom prepared the food occasionally at home, since her husband and our younger sister like the food...I only like the food when it's spice with peppers, onions, maggi and the likes😃😃.
"Ebiekpemre" is one of the most prominent food in Eggon culture.To understand the extent to which this food is so much cherished, you will know bettee when it comes to giving out their daughters in hand for marriage. One of the clear evidence that a groom is accepted to be their in-law, is only when this traditional food is made as stipulated by the Bride family.And if at all, this food is not accepted by any reasons, even if the groom married the girl, he should be ready for the impending danger: It is believed that the wife may not give birth, and even if she does, the children will be dying one after another, until all the children dies. This is how serious and valuable this food is so consider in Eggon culture.