..To be celebrated after six years break

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA.

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The Ham people of Southern Kaduna, have announced their preparedness to hold the TUK HAM 2024 cultural celebration, to resonate the essence of  their cherished cultural heritage.

The festival which was last celebrated six years ago is fixed for March 25 to March 30, with a  call for partnership with the Media, government, spirited non- governmental organisations and individuals to make the event a success.

The cultural fiesta is aimed at further  discovering and showcasing the rich cultural  endowments, heritage and pedigree of the Ham nation , mostly found in Jaba, Zango Kataf, Kachia and Kagarko among other Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Addressing a Press briefing at the NUJ Press centre, Kaduna, Friday, the Chairman of the 2024 Tuk-Ham Organizing Committee, Ambassador (Dr) Bulus Lolo, flanked by his team, said, the Ham people have been celebrating the Tuk-Ham festival ( HAM DAY) since inception in 1980.

” The Ham people have a history that goes back to antiquity; they are the custodians of the world renowned Nok Culture and famous Nok Terracotta which dates back to 500 BC. This is not to suggest that their  history began in 500 BC, but that as far back as 500 BC, archaeological findings show that they were well advanced in their civilization.

“This is borne out by the discovery of the Nok Terracotta in Nok, Jaba local government Area of Kaduna State, which is one of the oldest known historical sculptures ever discovered in Africa.

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 ” The discovery of the Nok Terracotta in the heart of Ham land bears eloquent testimony to the rich history and industry of the Ham people. Ham People are very cognizant of their common ancestry and heritage, that is why I opened my remarks by conveying the greetings of the number one Ham indigene, His Majesty Dr Danladi Gyet Maude, and I make bold to add the entire Ham community on the entire face of the earth” 

  He further said “according to Ham charter, the Ham People are committed ” To cherish and uphold or aspirations, ambitions, beliefs, hopes, values in common, and in this regard undertake to always exhibit courage, confidence, creativity, innovation, independence, industry, hardworking, resilience, trust, valor and vision in our endeavours, in the tradition of our forebears .The commitment does not stop at that, but the charter states” We further commit to keep alive the spirit and tradition of enterprise and excellence that made our forebears pacesetters and leaders of repute”

Speaking on the essence of the Ham week, ” you will argree with me that with a rich heritage and pedigree, it is not out of place for Ham people to celebrate their history, it is with immense pride and satisfaction that I would like to inform you that for several decades, Ham people have been holding an Annual cultural festival Called TUK- HAM Festival. In Ham dialect, called Hyam, ” Tuk Ham” simply means ” “Ham Day” from its inception in 1980.

He said the festival usually takes place during the Easter season and specifically, the Saturday following Good Friday, it used to be a One Day event, but in 2018, the format and duration were changed which gave rise to the present week long duration”

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” I am therefore delighted to announce that after a six year break necessitated by extenuating circumstances beyond our control, we shall be having the 2024 edition of Ham Week, which will start on March 25 and culminate with a grand finale on Saturday, March, 30, 2024, in KWAIN, although, most of you know the town KWOI, Jaba Local government area” he added.

 While describing the Ham people as ” deeply religious with belief and faith anchored on monotheism,  they are proud of their Christian, Muslim and traditionalists who affirm their belief in one God called in Hyam, Nom, said, their ancestors are predominantly farmers, with a larger majority, even today.

According to him,“ Tuk Ham, now Ham Week, is a period set aside for introspection on what God has done in the lives of the Ham people in the course of the year,, without  God, Ham people can do nothing. Offering gratitude to God is a way of recognizing and affirming the supremacy of God the Almighty Creator and the blessings He bestows. 

” The celebration of the Tuk Ham, in word and deed, has dual purposes. First, it is intended by the Ham People to thank God for the harvest of the immediate past farming season and the second, to pray for the next farming season,

” Every other thing in between is subsumed in the spirit of expressing gratitude for a successful harvest and supplication for a coming successful and bountiful farming season,” he stressed

As part of activities to mark TUK HAM, the group announced that ” on Friday, March 29, 2024 all Ham indigenes who are Muslims will offer special Juma’at prayers in the mosques where they may worship. In the same vein, Ham indigenes who are Christians will also offer special thanksgiving on Sunday, March 31, 2024 in the churches where they may worship”

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The Ham festival is expected to attract a large turnout of audiences and  participants cutting across tourists, government officials, historians, investors, local populace and many more from within and outside Nigeria.

 Other highpoints of  the landmark weeklong celebration will include free medical outreach, symposium, football tournament, beauty pageant, talent hunt, traditional dances, art and cultural displays, and site visits to historic places in Nok village, among others.

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