CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL BACKGROUND
1.1 Introduction
This research is aimed at describing aspects of negation in
Koenoem language. Koenoem language is a language spoken in Shendam
Local Government Area of Plateau State of Nigeria.
In this
chapter, we discussed the general background and socio - cultural
profile of the Koenoem people. The genetic classification of
Koenoem language as well
as the aim and objectives of the research is discussed. We also included the
scope and organization of the study.
1.2 Historical Background of
Koenoem People
A popular
legend of the Koenoem claimed that they were influenced by the
attempt to link their
origin to the universal respective and centers of old civilization.
This legend claimed that
they migrated from France to their present location for
economic reason.
Koenoem
means “to refuse”, the reason why this utterance was rendered by
the Koenoem speaking people
was that there was a
river dividing them with their
neighbouring
village, and the river belonged to them i.e. the Koenoem. Inspite of
that their neighbouring
villages were claming ownership because of the immense
benefit from the
river.
The Koenoem
people because of this mess said they would not fold their arms
and watched them; they presented all their problems to their ancestors to fight
for them. As a result of this new born babies immediately after given
birth to, will be strike to death by
thunder from no where. When the villagers got to realized that all
the happenings was
as a result of their selfish interest, they call a meeting and
resolve the issue immediately and handed
over the land to the Koenoem people and that is why in both
Shendam and Mikang land, today don’t take this Koenoem for
granted.
1.3 Geographical Location of
Koenoem People
Koenoem
people are located in northern part of Shendam Local Government
Areas of Plateau State and Eastern
part of Mikang Local Government Area of
Plateau State. The
Koenoem village was formally a ward under shendam province
and later relocated to Mikang Local
Government Area. The major towns around
Koenoem are:
Doka, Zomo and Piapun.
1.4 Socio - Cultural Profile
of Koenoem People
Cultural is
defined as a total way of life of a group of people in a
geographical setting. Keonoem people have their district cultural and
traditional beliefs which are expressed in their
mode of dressing, occupation, religion, festivals
and marriage
system.
2
Marriage System in Koenoem
The Koenoem people have their culture, norms, and values. When it comes to
marriage the person who wants to
marry pay a specific amount of money and some
traditional items for the kinsmen before
contacting the father of the girl for bride
price. The amount paid for bride price is not always much that is why they
marry many wives.
The first
step to marriage is to pay some certain amount of money and some
items, other material things such as
rappers shingginda, millet for local brint beer
to the elders of the family. The second step is the bride going to the groom’s
farm to check his capability whether is
capable of taking care of the wife he intends
to marry. If the
groom is capable they move to the third step which is the introduction
of the two families to each other and after that the proper marriage.
In Koenoem
land divorce does not take much time, they believe if a woman
leaves a man the more he
brings in another one to replace her. Some divorce are
made in the court of law through the
chief judge
pronouncement and others in a traditional way, where the two
families come together and settle amicably by paying back
what they collected from the grooms family.
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Occupation of Koenoem People
The major
occupation of Koenoem people is farming. Majority of the people
are subsistence farmers though
commercial farming is also practiced. They cultivate
crops like maize, millet, guinea com,
groundnut and rice as well. After harvesting all
these crops, buyers come from urban
centre and buy at the cheapest price and take it
to the city.
Religion of Koenoem People
In Koenoem
land the three (3) religions are observed i.e. Christianity,
Traditional and Islamic religions.
Christianity dominates followed by traditional
religion then Islamic religion. Most of the people practicing Islamic religion
are
indigenes of the land. The general language use in the place of worship is
Hausa except the traditional worshipers who used the local dialect to make
their incantation.
Festivals of Koenoem Language
Festivals
are organized to unite their kinsmen from far and near. The chief priest is
regarded as the ruler of the tribe only, but without defined territory. There
is a particular festival
celebrated to commemorate the death of their heroes who had
fought tirelessly to emancipate them from the shackles
of invaders and other form of
oppressions. Their
annual festival is celebrated on the 12th December, for this
festival an Antelope must be casted
to appease the gods.
4
Educational Background of Koenoem people
The Level of
Education in Koeneom village is very low, because most of them
believe that farming is the best way to make money.
Education as
defined by one philosopher popularly known as Plato who said
education is the production of
sound mind to a sand body. In this definition we are
made to understand that
the Koenoem people were not aware of the positive impact
of education, but
now they
have realize the positive impact of education and they
now send their children to school, so as to take active part in politics.
Administration in Koenoem Land
Koenoem
people’s administration is more or less a traditional system of
administration. The people of Koenoem take orders from
their chiefs. The chief is the
administrative and ceremonial leader in the village.
There, chief
who is called long Koenoem dictate some certain things for
them, and any other information which is to be relay to the
people must past through
the chief before disseminating it to the
masses.
After the
chief the second in command is referred to as angwa meaning
halmet, he takes directives from the chief to the
people.