Ebira Cultural Celebrations & Traditions

 By Aliyu Jemilat U18MM2013

Ebira means behavior when translated literally with ethics hospitality. The Ebira people are republican by nature, outspoken, and very hardworking. They are known for farming and cloth weaving as occupation. They are spread in five local government areas of Kogi state namely; Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ajaokuta and Ogori -mangongo. The paramount ruler of Ebira people is called OHINOYI. Their traditional attire is called " ita oku Eta". It is mostly in two different types which are the white and  black and white, Blue and Red Stripes. The Ebira people also have different festivals with different cultural significance

The ebira people are also known for their varieties of traditional foods which are served during weddings and festivity periods. Their traditional local foods are: Iya - Pounded Yam

Epeza  - Beans soup: Prepared with grinned fried black eye beans, beef, stock fish, dried fish, onion, pepper, locust beans salt and  maggi.

Apapa - Apapa is similar to moi- moi but has a distinctive features that makes it Unique and delicious. Unlike Moi-moi, Apapa is made with the coat of beans not removed which gives it a darker color, earthly taste and very rich in protein.

Apapa is prepared with beans, seasoning cubes, onion, grounded crayfish, pepper, salt to give taste, palm oil and uma leaves/ nylon. The unique distinction is that the coat of the beans is not removed.

Ireru - Scent-leaf soup

Ireru soup is made with grinned Scent-leaf, ground egusi seed, beef, smoked fish, pepper, salt to taste, onion, palm oil, maggi etc. 

Gorigo - Beniseed soup Beniseed soup is made from the same seeds which is very rich, healthy  and it  can be eaten with pounded yam, Eba, Fufu or semolina.

Ipapara -- Melon or Egusi soup