YoruByte: BEBE, A CELEBRATION OF WONDERS
"o ga o, e n se bebe o" is an expression anyone who has lived in the Yoruba speaking southwestern part of Nigeria has heard at one time or the other. The expression, loosely translated means "wow, you are doing wonders". It is a phrase usually employed to show the achievement of a great feat. It is also usually used when a party is a big success with plenty food and booze. You would usually hear something like, "Ha, ee wa si inawo ana, won se bebe ni inawo yen o" ( Ha! You didn’t come for the party yesterday, the hosts did wonders).
Many people think the word "Bebe" is a slang, probably coined by the Isale Eko (Lagos Island) boys. But no! The word "Bebe" is a proper Yoruba word which has a proper meaning and origin.
The Bebe is the golden jubilee anniversary of the king's reign. That is, the 50th year celebration of a king being on the throne. There have been just a few Bebes celebrated in the history of the Yorubas. On some VERY rare occasions, a king may evoke the Bebe celebration without being the golden jubilee celebration, but for this to happen, a VERY significant event must have occurred in the Yoruba kingdom. ONLY the Alaafin can evoke a Bebe celebration of that kind, no other king in Yoruba land has the authority to do so.
Hmmm..... The Bebe Celebration..... A celebration like no other celebration ON EARTH! Mother of all celebrations, the envy of other nations, pride of the Yoruba nation, with plump and pageantry, experienced only by chosen generations. Indeed, the Bebe is a magnificient celebration.
A Bebe celebration lasts for 3 YEARS! Yes, 3 multiplied by 365 days! That alone tells you the kind of celebration i am talking about. During the 3 years period, liberty of speech and action is granted to everyone, high and low, rich and poor throughout the Yoruba nation, without the fear of being accused of sedition or treason. No riots or fights are to be heard of anywhere, all provocations or aggravations must be suppressed throughout the 3 years while the Bebe celebration lasts, for no one is to be prosecuted during the period. All is peace.
The King's Illaris (enforcers) are rarely seen around on duty during the 3 years of the Bebe festival. Even when seen, they do not enforce anything. See, the Bebe festival is a time to just enjoy and be pampered as citizens. No tolls or tributes are paid, no taxes are paid, everyone just mingles and enjoys unprecedented enjoyments. Country folks go to Oyo to enjoy themselves without fear. Feudatory kings and princes, and those of adjacent countries pay visits to Oyo to offer congratulations; Presents are given and received. Even King Solomon would be envious of the majesty and lavishness of a Bebe celebration.
There is however one dark blot on the Bebe festival, ….. It is always accompanied with human sacrifices offered to the memory of all preceding kings from ODUDUWA downwards. Two persons for each king! So, if a Bebe is to be celebrated today, we would require AT LEAST, 84 persons for sacrifice ( I have counted 42 Kings from Odudwa to the current Alaafin. The 42 i counted do not include the kings that i do not know of, and definitely there are many of them).
So, the people are slaughtered, alongside many other animals (goats, sheeps, cows, donkeys, e.t.c). The bloods are all mixed together and poured out on the ground of the village square for the king and his courtiers to have a religious dance on the red blood. Does anyone feel like they also now understand the origin of the English phrase "Painting the town red" used in connection to parties? Maybe the Oyinbos coined that phrase after watching our Bebe Celebrations. *Flees*.
Well, the part of the Bebe ceremony where the king dances on the blood of the humans and animals is regarded as the highest act of worship and of Thanksgiving. Again, does anyone feel like they have an idea of the English phrase "Blood on the dance floor"? erm... never mind jare.
The Bebe is sometimes termed the Iku or Funeral rites, as if intended to mark the close of a long reign. This is from the fact that the few kings who celebrated it died a short time after. *Sad Face*.
The current Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111 has spent 46 years on the throne. We wish Kabiyesi Long life in good health for him to be able to declare a Bebe Celebration (Baba, Please leave out the human sacrifice part o). And we wish he would break the record of living long after the Bebe celebrations.
So when next you see an “Agbero” in his “Abete” with his “fish” wrapped in his “Rizzla”, 3 “ogidigas”, 3 “Alomos”, and one “Olosho Pupa”. If he smiles at you and says awa n se Bebe n biyi with a husky voice, just smile knowing that what he uses as a slang has a deeper meaning.
- Till Next week Friday.
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YORUBYTE TOUR
The Yorubyte Tour would leave on the 25th of March 2016 (Good friday) and return on the 26th. We shall be visiting Igboho after Shaki to learn about Orompotonihun the "Female" king of the Yoruba empire and see her tomb. There is room only for 15 people.
Transport fare would be 4k per person. and hotel would be 4k per person too (2 people in a room). It is an adventure tour not a luxurious tour. Inbox me to get account details to pay into.
Olufemi fadairo can be reached on twitter using the handle @ffadairo
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