Dafara, A City Behind Hills

By: Precious Anslem

Dafara was first settled with only one family in the year 1746 with a person named Magyegba who lived very close to the forest. Not quite long another a man settled closely to Magyegba named Fittopy, immediately when he came, he looked at the environment and choose a place that was favorable for him and settle with his family, they were residing opposite each other.

In the year 1756, Magyegba transferred his family to Fittopy's resident and they lived together and formed the little village called Dafara. Due to the good relationship between each other, the character they possess attracted people to come and live with them. Through marriages the village (Dafara) expanded.

Then there was no Chief (Esu) in the community, the village affairs was ruled by person referred to as The Village Head (Mai Anguwa) usually an elderly person. On 7th April 2009, Chief (Esu) Joseph Makeri was installed as the Chief of Dafara by his Royal Highness the Gomo of Kuje.

Konfam Magazine had a chat with the Esu of Dafara, Esu Joseph Makeri and the Secretary Mr. Danjuma.

What is the major occupation of the people of Dafara?

People of Dafara are predominantly farmers. Almost everyone in Dafara farms.

Do You Have Streams In Dafara?

Yes, we have about three major streams which we also drink from.

According to tradition, any Woman on her monthly circle must not enter the river. Also, any woman who is not on her monthly circle must remove her shoes before entering the river.

 What are the procedures in marrying a Dafara lady?

Firstly, the person who wants to marry any of our daughters should go and greet the parent of the lady.

Secondly, the person should tell the parent that he would want to marry their daughter.

Thirdly, after the parent has accepted the man's request, he has to go and find a very small money which is not specific so that he can give the parent to support them financially. According to our tradition the first thing you have to buy is plate and after accepting the plate with gladness. You will have to find at least ten people who would farm with the father of the lady on his farm on a scheduled date but if the man cannot provide ten people then he has to calculate the exact sum of money that can pay ten people who will work on the farm and send it to the parent of the wife to be.

Fourthly, the husband to be would go and bargain with the father of the wife to be on how much he is to pay as a dowry. The dowry is not a fixed amount it should be something the father and the proposed groom should accept on without any kind of commotion. No matter how big or small the dowry seems to be it must be taken so that the bride's family can use it to take care of themselves.

Are there any forbidden acts in Dafara that no one should ever involve himself or herself in?

In Dafara, an indigene or a stranger is not expected to fight, no matter what the problem might be it should be reported to the elders to make the judgment themselves. If there is a general activity in the community it is expected that everyone should participate, no one should give a reason for exemption.

The act of adultery is highly forbidden. On no account should a man who is married be found having an affair with a married woman. If an individual is caught doing this act then, a judgment will be passed to the individual by the Esu and the elders of the community.

What skills do the Dafara women engage in as a major handwork?

Dafara is dominated by the Gbagyi Genge. Most of our women involve in the making of basket, they also make traps in catching toads.

How is an Esu (Chief) elected?

Firstly, we the residents of Dafara play our roles by appointing who we would love to be the Esu then, the elders will take the Esu to be to the GOMO of KUJE. The present Esu of Dafara has been in position since 2007. Anyone who is to be the next Esu should be from the family of the present Esu. That is a brother to the present Esu or one of his children.

How many Esu's have been in since its existence?

Precisely, the present Esu Mr. Joseph Makali has been the first Esu of Dafara. Usually we do have Mai Anguwa which is the Head of the village. We have had a lot of Mai Anguwas since the establishment of this community and I cannot refer you to one because they have already joined their fore fathers. Mai Anguwa are always old in age and that is the major reason why they are always the Head of the Village.

Dafara is a town surrounded by hills, are there any significant roles these hills play in Dafara?

Many years ago during the time of our fore fathers, they believed that the hills are used for protection against invaders. According to history, our founding fathers kept something on top of the hills that serve as protection device for them, it sees any form of attack coming in to the community and reports them immediately. It serves as the eyes that sees everything happening in and around the community.

What are the expectations of the people of Dafara from the government?

Water: This is the major problem we are faced with in the community. A steady source of water is needed the type that operates uninterruptible which will serve the whole community.

Road: While driving into the community you realized that the roads are not good, we wish the government should consider improving our roads to standard.

Electricity: The issue of electricity cannot be over emphasized, we really don't always enjoy the power supply others enjoy. We are always in darkness we would love it if electricity should be taken seriously.

Hospital: We already have a hospital (Health Center) but the problem here is that the staff, starts late (around 9am – 10am) and closes before the closing hours (around 2pm – 3pm). All the staffs in the hospital do not stay in Dafara. They always come from places outside Dafara community.

What is the immediate problem you would want the Government to take care of?

The major problem is a senior secondary school. When our children are done with their junior secondary school here in Dafara they have to move to Gaube which is the nearby village for their senior secondary. And it's really giving the parents problem, most of our children who study there always transport their selves to the community and some who choose to be stay there have to pay for accommodation. Also lack of senior secondary school in the community makes some of our children to start farming or learn a trade to enable them gather some money for their education after they are done with the junior secondary school education.

Also, a staff quarters is essential for most of the staff in the Health Center come from far, if the Government can provide us with a staff quarters for them it will really help bring the staff close to the community and it will make them to always stay around to attend to a patient when the need arise.

For instance, if a pregnant woman is about to deliver, since the staff of the health center don't work at night there is a nurse who really helps when it comes to that. Whenever any woman is in labour especially at night, they come to the nurse. Usually because of some security reasons the nurse would always want to inform me as the chief so that I can go with her using my car or my motorcycle as a means of transportation, and once I cannot go or assign someone to go with her (nurse) she will not go. 

Is there any form of security in place in the Health Centre?

Since am not always buoyant financially, I can't always pay boys to safe guard the health center, but whenever am with a little cash I would pay some boys to look after the place just to make sure everything there is kept intact and nothing will be found wanting.

Do you get any form of allocation from the government?

To be honest, Government does not pay me a dime, whatever I do in keeping the community is from my personal earning.