YULETIDE: Nku Nn-Upfu Practice In NGBOEJEOGU Ebonyi State

BY NWEDE CHINOSO MARTIN-EDE

One of the significant practice in Ngboejeogu during yuletide season is what is called “Nku Nne-Upfu”. A typical Ngboejeogu person knows what this practice is all about except the Indomie generation and our Brothers and Sisters raised outside Ngbo whose parents repudiate to inculcate in them the nitty gritty in Ngboejeogu.

Nke Nne-Upfu is an aged long practice that comes with special joy during Xmas. In Ngboejeogu, married women have few maiden’s or single maiden they mentors. They call them “Nwagboo Ibem”, while the maiden’s or maiden call the person “Nne-upfu m). Emphatically, a maiden who admires the character of a certain woman within his community or village can decides to regard such woman whose character is virtuous and exemplary m as her Nne-Upfu.

A woman who also found special interest in a particular maiden probably because of her respect to the elders, humility, industrious etc can decides to take such lady as her Nwagboo Ibe and serve as her mentor. However, during Xmas, Nwagboo Ibe would tie long firewood like Achi, Alung, Akpurata, Inyi, etc and deliver to her mentor or madam known as Nne-Upfu. You would see maiden’s with firewood going to their mentors or madam house with excitement. Some do send their sister to deliver it on their behalf and it usually happens before, during and after Xmas day.

This is done to reiterate their love, loyalty, and respect to their Nne-Upfu. On reaching their Nne-Upfu abode, the Nne-Upfu and her family use to be filled with joy laced with encomiums on the maiden and would call on neighbors to come and see what her Nwagboo Ibe brought for Xmas. In appreciation for this, the Nne-Upfu will give a pack of soap, perfume, oil, clothes, money and other valuable things to the maiden for the year, wish her well in her endeavor and pray for her.

This is done annually. Sometimes, even without the Nwagboo Ibe delivering Firewood to her Nne-Upfu, the Nne-Upfu would buy some items and deliver to her, reaffirming her love, and penchant to mentor her. This practice has strengthened relationship, peace, love and understanding among families in Ngboejeogu.

It unites families together and gives room for kindred to kindred, linage to lineage, village to village harmonious relationship devoid of acrimony, bitterness or rancor. Nne-Upfu plays essential role in the life and upbringing of her Nwagboo Ibe. She mentors her, groom her in character, knowledge and prepares for her marriage.

Sometimes, Nne-Upfu recommends someone proven to be responsible with good background to marry her Nwagboo Ibe whom she had mentored. She can as well recommend her son to her Nwagboo Ibe for marriage if she is from a good background with criminal tendency, industrious, respectful, intelligent and presentable. Nwagboo Ibe use to help her Nne-Upfu in farm during farming and harvesting season vis-a-vis, Ija ogodo, iku ugu, ogolonu, ikpa ji and ivu Ogodo. Plausibly, aside this relationship between Married women and maiden’s, such equally exists between Married Women and young boys.

The young boys would call such woman their Nne-Upfu, while the woman calls the person, Nwokoro Ibem. The only difference is that, Nwokoro Ibe doesn’t give firewood to their Nne-Upfu (Foster Mother) but rather, wrapper etc. The relationship with married women and young boys suffered set back recently because of the evil omen emanating from the practice where Nwokoro ibe are alleged to be sleeping with his Nne-Upfu and many other evil act coming as a result of this practice which is contrary to the belief and norms of Ngboejeogu.

This Nne Upfu practice has been in existence for years in Ngboejeogu but gradually snowballing to extinction. Some maiden’s now uses kerosene or other items in exchange of firewood, while some no longer maintain the practice totally.

Nwede Chinonso Martin-Ede

Cultural Enthusiast

nwedechinonsom@gmail.com.