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Tribe Snapshots Mumuye |
| Location: |
Eastern Nigeria |
| Population: |
70,000 |
| Language: |
Mumuye (Jukun) |
| Neighboring
Peoples: |
Chamba, Mama, Bata |
| Types
of Art: |
Until the 1970s most Mumuye sculpture was misattributed
to their neighbors the Chamba. Their style is
distinctive, assuming a long narrow pole-like
style. They also use bush cow masks like those
of their neighbors. |
| History: |
The Mumuye were pushed into their current locale
during the Fulani holy wars, which extended from
the 17th century into the early 19th century.
Along with their neighbors, with whom they have
much in common, they fled southwards into the
hills of eastern Nigeria where they divided into
small communities that remained relatively isolated
from one another. The Benue River Valley had very
little to offer to Europeans in terms of natural
resources, and so they remained relatively isolated
from colonialist enterprise. |
| Economy: |
Mumuye are farmers, although the soil in this
area is not exceptionally fertile. During the
dry season from October to March nothing can be
grown on the desolate scrub-like land. Millet
is the staple crop in the region and is used to
make flour and beer. The uncertainty of harvests
in this region have led to the development of
various prayers and offerings that are made during
both planting and harvesting cycles in hopes of
increasing the annual yield. Hunting is widely
practiced to augment the local diet, and game
is generally abundant. Each village has its own
hunting lands, and permission is required for
an outsider to hunt on these lands. |
| Political
Systems: |
The relative isolation of individual communities
remains today. For the most part, small villages
are made up of one or two extended families and
the spouses who have married into those families.
Individual lineages identify with a totemic spirit
that is metaphorically embodied in certain animals.
Families that might otherwise be unrelated may
develop political ties because they both belong
the the same spirit. The result of this sort of
relationship is a somewhat decentralized power
structure that permits the members of each totem
group to retain a degree of power. |
| Religion: |
The totemic groups mentioned above are of primary
importance in Mama religion, for a lineage's membership
in a certain group is defined by the group to
which their ancestors belonged. Offerings and
sacrifices are made to the family ancestors to
appease them and to thank them, especially during
harvest times. The dancing of bush cow masks is
known to be a part of a secret society whose main
purpose is to ask the ancestors who are associated
with the bush cow for abundance and agricultural
fertility. The skulls of ancestors are considered
the resting place of their souls. Wooden statues
that are carved to represent the dead are placed
near the skull of the deceased person. It is believed
that the spirit is then able to enter the statue
which can be transported into the house where
it is involved in the daily lives of the living.
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