Before Civilization, the Gbagyi people were agriculturists, artistic, hunters, and fishermen. They were known to be the most peaceful, accommodating, honest and transparent people because of their belief about life, they predominantly live in FCT and Niger state. Culturally, the Gbagyi people(women) carry a load on their shoulders or back. As an ethnic group they respect the head, they believe that the head should be accorded a royal status of a king saddled with the responsibility of thinking for the entire body, as a result, it should not be burdened with a manual or pedestrian task like carrying a load from place to place. Men were forbidden from carrying a load as ordained by the gods, before now it was considered a taboo, so whatever had to do with the ferrying of the load was done by their women.
The Gbagyi people have respect for the elderly, even in meals, the selection of meat starts from the eldest down to the youngest. By so doing they believe the younger ones will understand the relevance of age among the family down to the community. The oldest child doesn't do any house chores as long as the younger ones are around, it's a stigma among our people if an older person does the chores while the younger one is doing nothing.
When it comes to inheritance, females before now do not have a part. The properties are shared among the man's family if he was unable to birth a male child while he was alive. In the case of a king, his brother or someone eligible for the throne succeeds him. This was because it was believed that the female child does not continue the family lineage since they're given out in marriage to a different clan.
Finally, the Gbagyi people before the introduction of Christianity and Islam believed in sacrificing animals to have abundant yield during the rainy season. Any year with low yield or large pests that eat up their crops was believed that the gods are angry with them which required more sacrifice. They carried out divination called "Zoku" to find answers to the current problems. Because they feared the wrath of the gods, most of their first harvest was given to the sorcerer for sacrifice.
But a lot of things had changed since civilization emerged. Few of the Gbagyi people still carry a load on their shoulders, to them, the load seems to be lighter compare to when carried on the head. Men and women both carry a load, no one considers a man carrying a load as a taboo anymore. The value of respect is still practiced among the Gbagyi people, younger ones still accord the elderly ones their due respect. The youngest among the group of people eating at the same table does not carry meat until everyone has selected or the eldest decides that the selection starts from the youngest among them.
Inheritance is shared to every child now whether the child is a male or female, education has helped enlightened the people and finally, Christianity and Islam have taken dominion, we no longer make a sacrifice for a bountiful harvest, though few persons who are still practicing the traditional worship do the sacrifice yearly, there has not been any noticeable abundance from their ends.
I invite @iyimoga @danladi and @zanoz
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It is easy to look at the customs of another culture and consider it peculiar. But, as I read your description, I thought of the way property was once passed down in most Western nations. Only the male offspring inherited. In some cases, only the oldest male offspring. All the rest of the children got nothing.
I found this article fascinating. I liked especially the custom of respecting the old. That would work out fine for me :))
I never would have thought even the western countries practiced it. It's nice learning this from you. Thank You for the comment, I'm happy you found the article fascinating
This is eye-popping. Primitivity here is a way to show how people have grown pass some stages of life. I am Nigerian too but am hearing of the ethnic group for the first time, thanks to this initiative.
Really? You don't know of the Gbagyi people? Wow, they're the most populated ethnic group in the country's capital. Yeah, a lot has indeed changed as civilization came and the change in revolution
Wow. There are other minor ethnic groups in Abuja. You know, I use to think that the Hausa-Fulani are more in Abuja. With this, I am now aware of the fact that the Agbayi ethnic group is about the largest.
It's good that you know
Wow so much to know about the culture of the Gbagyi people. You must be very knowledgeable about your culture, you gave a good read about them.
I think the respect of allowing the eldest take their shard before the youngest is in almost all the culture and its a cool one.
Carrying loads on the shoulder or back? That's new to me but it isn't that bad, I think it would really be easy as some of them said.
Girls not given the chance to share in inheritance, I'm really happy that has become a thing of the past. It isn't fair to treat the female like that in the first place.
Nice write up about your culture, I learned a lot. Thanks for sharing and all the best in the contest.
Thank You. The Gbagyi people are the one ethnic group that carry load on their back, it's good you've known about them now. Wishing You success in the contest as well
The coming of civilization has done a lot.
Yeah a lot has changed
I must say your article is impressive! Some of the cultural values the Gbagi practiced were predominant in other ethnic groups.
Same applies in the Yoruba culture till today. However, modernization has changed things. I was brought in a home where all hands are on deck and division of labor is practiced regardless of your status in the home.
This is the way life should be lived, in my humble opinion! Nicely done! Good luck in the contest. 🙂
Thank you @kemmyb, I know Yoruba culture with respect, this is seen even in their style of greeting.
Thanks for your comment
Haa! In fact, we take respect seriously ooo! 😄 But some of us take it to far sometimes. My own principle is - respect begets respect. It's that simple. 🙂
Yeah, haha, like someone kneeing or lying flat to accord Respect to someone on phone call right?, I think your principle for respect is just fine, a law of reciprocation
Gbayi people, I have of them and I love them. True they are majorly located in Abuja but their root was from Abuja. They practically own the state but has civilization came things change and still we have them in large percentage on Abuja.
One thing I love about the Gbayi culture is the fact that they treat the head with respect. Also I love their foods and farming activities.
With your article I got to know about the moral values and how the family operates.
Well done @dwixter. I wish you all the best in the contest.
Thank You, it seems you know to some extent about the Gbagyi people and I'm glad you know about their moral now. Thanks for your comment
Heheheh....this culture is very much funny. It means they forbid carrying loads on their heads.
This culture is so much good as the men and women can varey loads instead of leaving it for the women alone.
Yeah, we considered the head as a crown and a centre of all human thought. So it was seen as improper burdening it again with load. Thanks for reading through
How interesting to see how certain cultural values have been transcending and now there is an atmosphere of greater equality among all.
Very interesting post. Success in the contest
Thank You, truly a lot has changed.
Thanks for sharing about this beautiful culture.
Gbagyi culture is actually a culture to hold on to except of that half dress of the men on this post
Hahahaha, you're against it