Mɨchi Əbeŋ: Clash of Mukonge Dance Groups in the Offing

Members of Organising Committee and Participating Dance Group Leaders Pose for a Family Picture after Meeting

The long awaited date for the pioneer clash of Mukonge Dance Groups in Meta has been made known. This was after a planning meeting recently held in the inner court of the Guneku palace last Saturday March 18 2023 between members of the organising committee and leaders of the various groups to partake in the competition. 

Before agreeing on the date, members first resolved on other practical modalities; that each participating group will be limited to a maximum of 20 and minimum of 15 members, that the duration per performance will be at most 7 minutes and that latest 10am on the day of the event, all the competing groups must have answered present on the event ground. 

Mukonge Dance Group of Barakwe

Mukonge Dance Group of Bome

After consulting the brain behind the event, it was finally agreed that Mɨchi Əbeŋ will take place on Saturday (Kwe) 15 April 2023 and will bring together six Mukonge dance groups in Meta to challenge each other for the first position. The groups are: Barakwe, Sang, Mbemi, Kai, Bome and Mbengwi. 

To ensure each group comes for the competition to showcase nothing but the best, they were all given financial assistance to subsidise their transportation, feeding and fortification of their instruments, costume in the build up to the D-day. Saturday 15 April 2023 will thus be a historic day in Meta after the winner would've been proclaimed. 

Mukonge Dance Group of Kai

Mukonge Dance Group of Sang

Mɨchi Əbeŋ is a cultural festival initiated by the Germany-based Dr. Fomuki W. Ticha, Fon of Guneku village. Worried about the brunt being borne by indigenes that have been living back home through out this Anglophone Crisis period coupled with the speedy disappearance of the Meta culture, His Royal Highness Fon Fomuki W. Ticha saw need to step in and do something to remedy the situation. 

Mɨchi Əbeŋ thus seeks revive the disappearing culture of the Meta people through dance, cuisine, language and costume. On the day of the festival, all attendees will only gain access to the ceremonial ground on condition that they're traditionally dressed, the lone language of communication throughout the event will only be Meta, only palm wine and traditional meals like porridge cocoyams (nang tari) will be consumed during refreshment only with fingers from wooden bowls or on plantain leaves. 

Mukonge Dance Group of Mbemi

Members of the Organising Committee

Prior to the upcoming event, a five-man delegation that was formed as organising committee had toured all the groups to lay down the modalities expected of them, some of which entail composing new songs with meaningful messages, dressing like it was in the yesteryears, avoiding the usage mystical powers to weaken the opponents and prioritise passion as main reason why they are in for the challenge not money. 

According to plans, after the festival, the mukonge dance should trend as phone ringtones, hit the airwaves of radio and TV stations plus online platforms, be danced and enjoyed in night clubs, at weddings and other such occasions. It is in this light that measures will be put in place to perfectly capture the performances both in audio and visual form for storage. 

H.R.H Dr. Fomuki W. Ticha, Germany-based Fon of Guneku, Initiator of Mɨchi Əbeŋ Receiving this Reporter in Bonn, Germany, June 2022

The Guneku Royal Family in Germany

Moreover, one unique Mukonge dance group made up dancers, xylophonists, singers and drummers selected from each of the groups that partook in the competition is expected to be formed plus another one comprised only of youths. Such a group will then be said to be the best of the best and will be representing Meta far and wide when it comes to traditional dance. 

According to the Fon of Guneku, Mɨchi Əbeŋ will be a yearly event and since the first edition has been reserved for Mukonge, subsequent editions will be reserved for Kwem or Samba, Mbaghalum, Mendere, Tiwara etc. Mɨchi Əbeŋ is the Meta appellation for culture. It'll soon be to the Metas like Lehla is to the Balis, Ngonso to the Nsos, Ngondo to the Sawas etc.