Most communities in Nigeria are unique because of their distinct culture, and this is true of the Qua’an Pan people of Plateau State whose sacred mountain, Pang Mat Long, is visited annually to seek divine intervention for a bountiful harvest.
Pang Mat Long is a 700-metre high mountain in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State. Climbing of the mountain is however, an annual festival that has been observed for more than a century, and it usually holds before the harvesting of farm produce like millet, yam, maize and many other food and cash crops.
The procession starts from Langkaku Road through the highway to Pang Mat Long mountain. Eligible persons must walk round the mountain wearing animal skin (without shirt or can only wear singlet) and barefooted. They put leaves in their mouths and are not allowed to talk to anyone until they are done with the traditional rituals on the mountain.
According to history, the mountain got its name from ‘Pang Dajan Goe Dajin’ – a mountain of the twins -Dajan and Dajin of Daffiar (the ancestral father), and any time a traditional ruler would been installed in Doemak or Jepjan, he is obligated to spend about seven days on the mountain before he would be qualified to be installed a traditional chief.
The people believe that the gods feed their traditional chiefs on this ancient mountain with honey and other kinds of foods for those numbers of days as part of coronation rites before their chieftaincy conferment.
At this year’s festival, the chief priest of Kopffir, Mr. Miskagam Dakwat Dapia, said, “Today, we are climbing the mountain which my forefathers handed over to me to honour, and you are aware that this has been the practice for more than 100 years.” He added that he swore to keep his father’s directives to preserve the rite and pass it unto generations to come.
While addressing those who were eligible to climb the mountain, the chief priest said, “As you are all set, I urge you to match to Pang Mat Long without any noise or conversation. And must I remind you all that if anyone among you is with evil intention, he shall not climb the mountain and come down safely. As I pour ‘Mous’ (a local drink) to our ancestors, upon departure from today’s festival, the blessings of our ancestors shall be with you and your families,” he concluded.
In his remarks, the Chairman Pan Community of Jepjan (Namu), Prince Jacob Dakyap, said the festival is slated to take place every October before farmers can properly embark on harvesting of farm produce.
He noted that, “This year’s festival is more colourful than the previous ones. However if you are not an indigenous Pan person, you cannot climb the mountain and come down safely because bees will sting you to death.”
He explained that the essence of the festival was to promote peace “And I assure you that peace and bountiful harvest will come unto everyone that participated in the festival.”
The spokesperson of Jepjan (Namu) Community, Barrister Albert Kopbe, urged government to develop scientific and technological studies to enhance Nigerian cultures.
“The preservation of every culture in Nigeria is contained in our constitution. If you look at Section 21 of the 1999 Nigeria’s constitution as amended, it stated that, “The State shall protect, preserve and promote Nigeria’s culture to enhance human dignity, which is consistent with the fundamental objectives.”
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