Culture is said to be the way of life of a group of people. Culture is a broad term encompassing every sphere of life ranging from the kinds of food we eat, belief system, greeting patterns and so on.

In Nigeria there are so many cultures but the one I'll like us to look at in this report is the Imo Awka festival of the people of Awka in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. Legends have it that during the long era of ravaging communal wars, the "Enwe Awka" (Awka Monkeys) came to inform the local deity of an oncoming onslaught on the people of Awka. The monkeys also told the villagers of the marauders? camp.

This helped the villagers to defeat the raiders. In appreciation, the deity and the monkeys struck a truce that no Awka indigene would ever kill a monkey and that in the event that this happens, the monkey would receive a befitting burial comparable to that of a human being.

Today, the brown monkeys move freely in Awka and sometimes enter residential houses without being disturbed. However, there have been no in-depth studies to verify the number of monkeys or the various species habiting the area. Isn't it wonderful how a legend that made its way into the culture of Awka people has helped to protect the monkey population of the area?

In my next post, I?ll be looking at another culture that has helped to preserve a reptile population and also helped to maintain ecological balance in the area.

Reference:

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2012/06/imo-awka-a-celebration-of-unity/