THE MAYA PEOPLES’ ASSEMBLY

The just concluded Maya Cultural Day in Yola the Adamawa State
Capital is fast becoming a cultural reference in the mould of the
now nationalized Maya Peoples’ Assembly. The Maya People
Assembly is the gathering of all sundry of Maya origin nationwide
to discuss issues affecting and bordering Maya Community in all
facet of life and to proffer solutions to these issues ranging from
community development, unity and peace, political future of
Mayaland, education, and fight against poverty and HIV/AIDS
scourge in Mayaland etc.

Briefly, the Maya Community are also refer to as: Bibaali, Maya,
Ibaale, Abaali, Ibaale or Ibaali) is used to refer to the communities
that settled at these villages: Farabaune, Tashan Gurgu,
Geidam/Tamgum, Tagombali Center, Duwo, Tamwa, Badan,
Kwafara, Gidan-Rimi, Tamshe, Bali, and Bomni located on Numan-
Jalingo Highway about 20 km from Numan. Others who settled in
the interior are: Janawuri, Salem (Babgye), Tagombali Dutse,
Tangshi, Guri, Guri Kasuwa, Dingle, Kwabak, Ubgo (Dingle
Dutse), Kpasham, Bonanga, Bang, Dem, Dem Kaltanga, Dakkli,
Daklli 2, Yotti, Wakka, Bariki and surrounding who speak Congo-
Ubanpi language as classified by Blench and others. Presently,
Maya people are found in Demsa, Numan, Mayo Belwa Local
Government areas of Adamawa State and Lau Local Government
area of Taraba State. Majority of the people are agriculturalist,
though there are traders, politicians, herdsmen and civil servants
among them.

Like any other ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Bali claims that they
entered the Nigeria region from the east. The Bali, for example
claim that they entered the Nigerian region from the Republic of
Congo and through gradual process; they came and settled in their
present geographical location. The Yotti claim that they came into
the Nigerian region from Egypt. The Kpasham and Bomni denied
any knowledge of distance movement. They claim that they came
from Bachama land, probably from Lamurde to the area they are
now occupying. However, linguistics evidence suggests that the
people are of Bantu origin. The evidence points to Republic of
Congo as their original homeland.

It is not known when the people left their original settlement.

Probably, the people must have left their original settlement in the
17th Century by which time there was population movement in the
whole of the West, East and Central Africa as a result of famine,
fracidal wars and chieftaincy tussle. The Bali might have formed
part of the population that migrated to the Lake Chad basin area
and, later to the Upper Benue Valley. Before the declaration of the
Jihad in Fombina, in 1809, Bali had already settled in their various
communities and has developed village governments or better still,
community governments, independent of each other.

The event may had come and gone, but the impact it had left and
the memories will stick in the memories of every Mayan and all the
neighbouring communities that that witnessed the great occasion.
The festival which lasted for two days was hosted by the Maya
Community Development Association, Yola Chapter in
collaboration with all other chapters nationwide. After months of
adequate preparation, the event was held at the famous Mahmud
Ribadu’s Square, Yola between 27th and 28th November, 2009
which was attended by Mayans from all works of life, sons and
daughters of Maya origin and friends and associates of Maya
people. Also in attendance were many dignitaries, royal fathers
and top government officials among who was the Deputy Governor
of Adamawa State Barr. Bala James N., Hon Commissioner for
Culture and Tourism, Hon Commissioner for Local Government and
Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Wale Fwa Member Representing Demsa
Local Government Area in the Adamawa State House of Assembly.
The royal fathers include the representative from Hamma Batta, His
Royal Highness Hommon Saul Swade, the Kpai of Maya, His
Royal Highness Panic W, the Kpai of Bali, His Royal Highness Lefa
Ngalamba, the Kpai of Tagombali and the Kpai of Dakkli.

The bi-annual event was first celebrated and hosted by the Abuja
Chapter of Maya Community Development Association between 9th
and 10th November, 2007 at the Karu Cortland Park and Garden,
Abuja; witnessed by many Mayans across the nation. The Abuja
Chapter of the Maya Community who initiated the idea of Maya
Peoples’ Assembly years back foresaw it as a means of providing
opportunity for fellowship and unity among the Maya natives in
association with non-natives living together with Maya in general.
Significantly, the Maya Peoples’ Assembly has become a forum for
discussing many issues such as brainstorming ways and ideas for
achieving unity among Mayans and Mayaland in general, how to
bring about meaningful development in Mayaland, how to bring
about educational advancement in Mayaland, how to live in peace
with people and preaching peace in Mayaland, how to retained
and promote the culture of Maya, the aspiration and political future
of Mayaland, and the socio-economic development of Mayaland
among others.

The 2009 Maya Day which is the 2nd edition in the series of Maya
Peoples’ Assembly chaired by Mr. James Edwards Pamni saw
different scholars who presented seminar papers on important and
meaningful issues bordering and affecting Mayaland. One of such
papers was presented by Prof. Joel P Dada of the University of
Maiduguri, Borno State which captions the theme of the 2nd Maya
Peoples’ Assembly 2009 “The Essence of Unity and the Challenges
of 21st Century”. The university don who stated clearly in his
speech the essence of unity, posited that to achieve any meaningful
development and progress in Mayaland we must first of all
absorbed everybody and tolerate each other so as to unite
ourselves. Without unity, we cannot stand the test of time but when
we are united together nobody can break the bond of unity among
us and we can achieve great things and bring meaningful
development in every facet of life in Mayaland. The don later
rounded up his speech with the popular saying “United We Stand,
Divided We Fall”

The Maya Peoples’ Assembly 2009 was no doubt attended by

many Mayans and friends of Maya community comparing to the
first edition which witnessed a low turnout of Mayans based on the
fact it was hosted very far away Abuja which will cost a lot for one
to attend. The day was marked with different cultural displays from
various contingents that grace the occasion who came from
Mayaland. First among the contingents that presented their cultural
display was the cultural display from Tagombali contingent, Dakkli
and Dem contingent, Yotti contingent and finally it was rap up by
the cultural display from the Bali contingent. It was dances and
cheerfulness all the two days.

However, the event may had come and gone, but the impact it left
on the minds of people will forever in their memories. Therefore, to
make Maya Peoples’ Assembly impact positively on the people
and Mayaland in general, the followings should be considered
and put in place before the next edition which promises to the
biggest.
 · As it had been said, education is the backbone of any
meaningful development; likewise it can say of Mayaland that
to attain any meaning development or progress education
should be given priority. In so doing, Maya Education
Foundation should be established to provide
scholarship/bursary awards to Maya indigenes studying at
home and within the country, even overseas as it will
encourage hard work thereby promoting education in
Mayaland.
· In addition, Award of Fellows, Associates and Traditional
Titles should be initiated in order to honour any deserving
persons of Maya origin as well as friends of Maya who has
distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavor and
bringing about one development or the other in Mayaland
and community in general. This will in turn encourage and
promote hard work and development of Mayaland.
· The next Maya Peoples’ Assembly should be opened to
private and corporate bodies for sponsorship; by so doing the
culture of Maya Community will be greatly promoted.

Finally, I will like to authoritatively state it clearly that, the name

Maya has come to stay and equally the Maya Peoples’ Assembly
also has come to stay. Those that doubt and refused to board the
train/ship for this journey should do so because the door is still
widely opened for them and should desist from suppressing the
efforts of Maya leaders who are trying to bring Maya Community
as one big family. This is just the beginning and the tip of the
iceberg about what Maya Community will achieve in the near
future, they haven’t seen anything yet because more is still
underway. Maya to Bini! Maya di Wang Menang!! Maya
Forward Ever, Backward Never!

Written by:

ISAAC PAMNI

08058468918

pamni_pee@yahoo.com

MEMBER, MAYA YOUTH PROGRESSIVE

ASSOCIATION, YOLA CHAPTER.