Bekwarra Proverbs, Oral Literature, Indigenous Knowledge and Culture Sustenance

Scientific Essay from the year 2017 in the subject African Studies - Linguistics, grade: A.1, , language: English, abstract: The place of proverbs and oral literature in the sustenance of a culture cannot be over-emphasised. It is quite regrettable and disheartening that these aspects of culture are grossly ignored and abused these days across many cultures, for which most contemporary members of such cultures know little or nothing in/about these indigenous knowledge and cultures. Bekwarra is one of those cultures, with the contemporary Bekwarra acting negatively towards their culture in almost all phases. This paper is intended to rouse the interest and attention of such peoples, not only the Bekwarra, to their proverbs, oral literature and indigenous cultures towards their sustenance. It concludes that it is imperative to sustain cultures like Bekwarra through these aspects of culture, which involves constant/sustained interest in, teaching and learning cum transmission of these invaluable aspects of culture across generations. They should be constantly preserved, and taught both at home and school.

Robert, Odey Simon holds BA (Hons) in Languages and Linguistics of the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. He is currently a Post-Graduate candidate. He has lectured on part-time basis in several higher institutions, with one of the recent ones being in the Consultancy Services Unit of the General Studies Department, Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia. He also taught English Language and Literature-in-English in several colleges, with Sandaji College, Lafia, Nasarawa, Nigeria being the most recent. He is also an external English Language subject Examiner to WAEC and NECO. He has been researching with several firms, including Bridge Gate Research Consult Ltd, Owerri, Abraka, Port-Harcourt, Lafia, Gboko and New Frontline Industries Research and Publications Ltd, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Robert is an erudite, versatile and experienced young promising and diligent linguist, scholar, researcher, writer and poet, with several works of both print and electronic versions to his credit- papers, international journals and poetry, prose and drama collections, some of which currently await publication, including two anthologies, two novels and a play. He has also attended several local and international conferences. He is of Utugbor royal blood- the family of Chief Robert Idachu Njor of Utugbor, Ika-Ichia, Bekwarra, Cross River State, Nigeria. He is so bent to Bekwarra/African Linguistics, Cultural/Gender Studies, Arts/Humanities, Education, Philosophy/Religion, Politics and Economy, besides general knowledge; writing, researching, travelling and community development/voluntary services.