BY EZEKIEL DONTINNA
The speed at which the Ngas Village market around Jos Museum, Plateau State, moves week by week is becoming unprecedented and interestingly admissible to bring back the old Plateau.
It clearly demonstrated how eager Plateau people yearn for this sincere cohesion that would make them have a feel of the throw back historical practice of their forefathers.
The Ngas ethnic nationality decided to take a lead in bringing back those old good days where traditions and customs are highly appreciated or respected through such cultural avenues.
For younger ones who never set their eyes on these beautiful architectural traditional buildings, it is an opportunity for them to see how their ancestors used to live and begin to appreciate how nature has transformed itself into who they are today.
It also tells how this rich cultural heritage of the Plateau people interwoven, depicting the reason for their old ancestral exodus to settle here on the Plateau from a distant land.
No wonder, the Ngas Village market yesterday, gradually became a multiethnic cultural market with other friends from other ethnic nationalities like Gamai, Afizere, Berom, Irigwe, Tarok, Mwagavul, Igbos and many more were in attendance.
Unlike the previous market days where appreciable numbers of people trooped in, yesterday’s turn out was high especially with people who are friends of Ngas speaking people coming to enjoy with them.
Some came as far as Abuja and other States to witness this market which happened to be the first of its kind in the State. Apart from enjoying just the traditional dishes and drinks, many preferred to have snapshots using the beautiful architecturally designed traditional structures as their background.
In fact, it was quite thrilling and exciting as people were seen singing and dancing the Ngas musics shops owners played to attract their customers. The most interesting part of it was how peaceful the market was.
The fun in it all and the show of interests and attractions to this new innovation, saw many who came in not minding the comfort of having a good seat, but preferred to sit on the rocks just as been the practice in old days.
Although, the Ngas people were known for living in a topographically rocky and mountainous areas. To these young ones, it was replica of the ancient days for them to feel and know how their ancestors coped or lived in those days.
The market was really peaceful and entertaining with the traditional security personnel (Jep-Rit Mwa), strategically positioned at different points to monitor and control people who might wish to do funny things within or around the environment.
It was glaringly seen in the faces of these market men and women who came to sell in there that, “yes, we have good market today”. For those who tried selling honey and olive oil, the marketing mix was affordably attracted to many, but the quantity was not much.
The Management Committee led by the Chairman, Nde Chingdapba Ngop, as flagged by the Secretary, Nde Francis Kopdimma, were present with the NDA Chairman of Jos-North Local Government Area, Nde Bitrus Yeka, in attendance.
The highlight of the market day, was the planting of the ancestral economy tree, Ting-Pet (Olive tree) by the Nde Chingdapba Ngop. Some new sites were also demarcated to intending market men and women.
However, as always been the rule of the market, it was supposed to start by 8am and close 6:30pm, but yesterday’s case was quite different. People were probably carried away by the sweet traditional dishes and how entertaining it was and wished never to return home.
It took the efforts of the market Committee to keep announcing and forcing them to leave the market premises which they did reluctantly. It is our prayers that this market will unite the Plateau people as always wished.
Streetbell Online 