Jukun are an ethno-linguistic group or ethnic nation in West Africa. The Jukun are traditionally located in Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Adamawa, and Gombe States in Nigeria and parts of northwestern Cameroon. They are descendants of the people of Kwararafa. Most of the tribes in the north central of Nigeria trace their origin to the Jukun people and are related in one way or the other to the Jukuns. Until the coming of both Christianity and Islam, the Jukun people were followers of their own Traditional Religions, Most of the tribes, Alago, Agatu, Rendere, Gumai in Shendam, and others left Kwararafa when it disintegrated as a result of a power tussle. The Jukuns are divided into two major groups; the Jukun Wanu and Jukun Wapa. The Jukun Wanu are fishermen residing along the banks of the river Benue and Niger where they run through Taraba state, Benue state and Nasarawa state. The Wukari Federation, headed by the Aku Uka of Wukari, is now the main center of the Jukun people.
Regarded as descendants of the people of Kwararafa, the Kwararafa is a state, regarded as existent in Western Africa from the 14th through the 18th centuries. it is argued that most of the tribes in North Central Nigeria trace their origin to the Jukun people, and are related in one way or the other to the Jukuns. At the basest, the Jukuns are divided into two major groups namely: the Jukun Wanu and the Jukun Wapa. The Jukun Wanu are predominantly fishermen residing along the banks of the river Benue and Niger, where they run through Taraba, Benue and Nassarawa states.
The Jukun Wapa are predominantly farmers, found in the Plateau axis. In other words, the economy of the Jukun people revolves greatly around the fishing and farming activities. This is very predictable because of its proximity with the Benue River; which serves both as a water body for fishing, and for irrigation. It is also noteworthy that the Jukun tribe, though a peace-loving people, are also an unrelenting group of warriors.
The Traditional structure of the Jukun people comprises of a complex system of offices, with both political and religious aspects; the priesthood practiced and involved form of religion marked by diurnal and annual rounds of ritual and sacrifice. The central traditional head of the Jukun people is referred to as the Aku Uka of Wukari. Until his becoming a member of the Northern Nigeria’s house of chiefs in 1947, the Aku Uka was a typical example of a semi-divine priest-king. Summarily then, the Jukun society is governed by a Monarchical system. The main center of the Jukun people is called the Wukari Federation.
The Jukun people use dance as Therapy or for ritual purposes. (This is also common with a few other tribal groups). Amongst the Jukuns however, there is an organization called the The Ajun, whose Elders deal with hysterical disorders in women by exorcising evil spirits in initiation ceremonies. During a three-month period in the house-shrine, the sufferer is taught songs and dances that have a therapeutic function culminating in a ceremony in which the initiate d publicly joins the members of the Ajun-kpa society to perform the Ajun-Kpa dance.
The Jukun people with their rich Afro-Asiatic heritage adore marriage and posit it as an aspiration for all mature youths. Great increase of marriages contracted amongst the Jukun people especially in Wukari, the headquarters of the Jukun’s Kwararafa Kingdom. The reason simply ascribed; suffice to say the low rate of bride price a groom pays when a marriage is being contracted. However, this may be a mixed grill of traditional and western culture, I mean Payment of bride price traditionally and contracting the marriage in the western platform of the church. Meanwhile, aside ardent adherents of the Christian faith who are monogamous, the Jukun are polygamous and detest polyandry in all its ramifications.
Traditionally, before marriage can be contracted; the woman must attain the age of 18 years and consent to the marriage with same by her parents or guardian (except where the woman shall be married to a traditional title holder). Thus a marriage shall be contracted upon the presentation to the father or guardian of the woman a bride price and payment of customary gifts. But before then, during the courtship, the woman is entitled to Abegya (Betrothal Money) of N200, Abeben (Bride Price) of N500, Andu (Handbag or Handkerchief) unspecified, but the man’s financial capabilities can determine this.
Having paid all these during the traditional solemnization, which does not imply that the woman be taken to her ‘husband’s’ place, a pseudo marriage which stands to represent the couple is conducted between a male and a female child of primary school age (5-7 years), which also implies that the presence of the couple is not necessary during the traditional nuptial, except in a rare cases with the former gaining wider acceptance, and on the eve of the wedding proper, a cash amount of N100 shall be paid, 12 calabashes of Kola nuts, and a gallon of Kerosene which might be quantified in cash also. Moreover, on the wedding day, the bride’s grand-parents shall be paid the sum of N50, and same amount to her cousins, the groom’s younger relations (for mouth opening), and for the bride’s seat, to also include 4 basins of Burukutu (local liquor), and 3 basins of Kunun-zaki (Local guinea corn juice). And after the wedding, 2 more basins of the local liquor and a basin of Kunu shall be given to the bride’s family again.
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