THE MAYA PEOPLES’ ASSEMBLY The just concluded Maya Cultural Day in Yola the Adamawa State Capital is fast becoming a cultural reference in the mould of the now nationalized Maya Peoples’ Assembly. The Maya People Assembly is the gathering of all sundry of Maya origin nationwide to discuss issues affecting and bordering Maya Community in all facet of life and to proffer solutions to these issues ranging from community development, unity and peace, political future of Mayaland, education, and fight against poverty and HIV/AIDS scourge in Mayaland etc.

Briefly, the Maya Community are also refer to as: Bibaali, Maya, Ibaale, Abaali, Ibaale or Ibaali) is used to refer to the communities that settled at these villages: Farabaune, Tashan Gurgu, Geidam/Tamgum, Tagombali Center, Duwo, Tamwa, Badan, Kwafara, Gidan-Rimi, Tamshe, Bali, and Bomni located on Numan-Jalingo Highway about 20 km from Numan. Others who settled in the interior are: Janawuri, Salem (Babgye), Tagombali Dutse, Tangshi, Guri, Guri Kasuwa, Dingle, Kwabak, Ubgo (Dingle Dutse), Kpasham, Bonanga, Bang, Dem, Dem Kaltanga, Dakkli, Daklli 2, Yotti, Wakka, Bariki and surrounding who speak Congo-Ubanpi language as classified by Blench and others. Presently, Maya people are found in Demsa, Numan, Mayo Belwa Local Government areas of Adamawa State and Lau Local Government area of Taraba State. Majority of the people are agriculturalist,

though there are traders, politicians, herdsmen and civil servants among them.

Like any other ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Bali claims that they entered the Nigeria region from the east. The Bali, for example claim that they entered the Nigerian region from the Republic of Congo and through gradual process; they came and settled in their present geographical location. The Yotti claim that they came into the Nigerian region from Egypt. The Kpasham and Bomni denied any knowledge of distance movement. They claim that they came from Bachama land, probably from Lamurde to the area they are now occupying. However, linguistics evidence suggests that the people are of Bantu origin. The evidence points to Republic of Congo as their original homeland.

It is not known when the people left their original settlement. Probably, the people must have left their original settlement in the 17th Century by which time there was population movement in the whole of the West, East and Central Africa as a result of famine, fracidal wars and chieftaincy tussle. The Bali might have formed part of the population that migrated to the Lake Chad basin area and, later to the Upper Benue Valley. Before the declaration of the Jihad in Fombina, in 1809, Bali had already settled in their various communities and has developed village governments or better still, community governments, independent of each other.

The event may had come and gone, but the impact it had left and the memories will stick in the memories of every Mayan and all the neighbouring communities that that witnessed the great occasion.

The festival which lasted for two days was hosted by the Maya Community Development Association, Yola Chapter in collaboration with all other chapters nationwide. After months of adequate preparation, the event was held at the famous Mahmud Ribadu’s Square, Yola between 27th and 28th November, 2009 which was attended by Mayans from all works of life, sons and daughters of Maya origin and friends and associates of Maya people. Also in attendance were many dignitaries, royal fathers and top government officials among who was the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State Barr. Bala James N., Hon Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Wale Fwa Member Representing Demsa Local Government Area in the Adamawa State House of Assembly. The royal fathers include the representative from Hamma Batta, His Royal Highness Hommon Saul Swade, the Kpai of Maya, His Royal Highness Panic W, the Kpai of Bali, His Royal Highness Lefa Ngalamba, the Kpai of Tagombali and the Kpai of Dakkli.

The bi-annual event was first celebrated and hosted by the Abuja Chapter of Maya Community Development Association between 9th and 10th November, 2007 at the Karu Cortland Park and Garden, Abuja; witnessed by many Mayans across the nation. The Abuja Chapter of the Maya Community who initiated the idea of Maya Peoples’ Assembly years back foresaw it as a means of providing opportunity for fellowship and unity among the Maya natives in association with non-natives living together with Maya in general.

Significantly, the Maya Peoples’ Assembly has become a forum for discussing many issues such as brainstorming ways and ideas for achieving unity among Mayans and Mayaland in general, how to bring about meaningful development in Mayaland, how to bring about educational advancement in Mayaland, how to live in peace with people and preaching peace in Mayaland, how to retained and promote the culture of Maya, the aspiration and political future of Mayaland, and the socio-economic development of Mayaland among others.

The 2009 Maya Day which is the 2nd edition in the series of Maya Peoples’ Assembly chaired by Mr. James Edwards Pamni saw different scholars who presented seminar papers on important and meaningful issues bordering and affecting Mayaland. One of such papers was presented by Prof. Joel P Dada of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State which captions the theme of the 2nd Maya Peoples’ Assembly 2009 “The Essence of Unity and the Challenges of 21st Century”. The university don who stated clearly in his speech the essence of unity, posited that to achieve any meaningful development and progress in Mayaland we must first of all absorbed everybody and tolerate each other so as to unite ourselves. Without unity, we cannot stand the test of time but when we are united together nobody can break the bond of unity among us and we can achieve great things and bring meaningful

development in every facet of life in Mayaland. The don later rounded up his speech with the popular saying “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”

The Maya Peoples’ Assembly 2009 was no doubt attended by many Mayans and friends of Maya community comparing to the first edition which witnessed a low turnout of Mayans based on the fact it was hosted very far away Abuja which will cost a lot for one to attend. The day was marked with different cultural displays from various contingents that grace the occasion who came from Mayaland. First among the contingents that presented their cultural display was the cultural display from Tagombali contingent, Dakkli and Dem contingent, Yotti contingent and finally it was rap up by the cultural display from the Bali contingent. It was dances and cheerfulness all the two days.

However, the event may had come and gone, but the impact it left on the minds of people will forever in their memories. Therefore, to make Maya Peoples’ Assembly impact positively on the people and Mayaland in general, the followings should be considered and put in place before the next edition which promises to the biggest.

• As it had been said, education is the backbone of any meaningful development; likewise it can say of Mayaland that to attain any meaning development or progress education should be given priority. In so doing, Maya Education Foundation should be established to provide scholarship/bursary awards to Maya indigenes studying at home and within the country, even overseas as it will encourage hard work thereby promoting education in Mayaland.

• In addition, Award of Fellows, Associates and Traditional Titles should be initiated in order to honour any deserving persons of Maya origin as well as friends of Maya who has distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavor and bringing about one development or the other in Mayaland and community in general. This will in turn encourage and promote hard work and development of Mayaland.

• The next Maya Peoples’ Assembly should be opened to private and corporate bodies for sponsorship; by so doing the culture of Maya Community will be greatly promoted.

Finally, I will like to authoritatively state it clearly that, the name Maya has come to stay and equally the Maya Peoples’ Assembly also has come to stay. Those that doubt and refused to board the train/ship for this journey should do so because the door is still widely opened for them and should desist from suppressing the efforts of Maya leaders who are trying to bring Maya Community

as one big family. This is just the beginning and the tip of the iceberg about what Maya Community will achieve in the near future, they haven’t seen anything yet because more is still underway. Maya to Bini! Maya di Wang Menang!! Maya Forward Ever, Backward Never!

Written by:

ISAAC PAMNI

08058468918

pamni_pee@yahoo.com

MEMBER, MAYA YOUTH PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION, YOLA CHAPTER.