Koma is a relatively primitive hill-dwelling ethnic group in northern Adamawa, in the Atlantika Mountains, which shares a border with southern Cameroun. Hill-dwellers are spread through the south and southwest of these mountains, including many on the Cameroun side. There are 21 Koma villages in the Cameroonian side of the Alantika Mountains and 17 villages on the Nigerian side.
The largest towns in the Koma area include:
- Tantille
- Chonha
- Mani
- Nassaraw Koma
- Ba-Usmanu
History
The Koma people became recognized as Nigerians in 1961, a year after independence, along with the old provinces of Cameroun. Today, Koma is part of the seven districts of Jada Local Government in Adamawa State.
A group of missionaries led by Blessing Jibuike discovered the hill on their visit in 1997.
Description
- The Koma have their own language, known as Koma, with an estimated 61,000 speakers.
- It is a member of the Niger–Congo language family.
- The Koma people are divided into three main groups:
- Hill-dwelling: Beya and Ndamti
- Lowlanders: Vomni and Verre
They are committed to their traditional culture:
- Men wear loincloths, and women wear fresh leaves.
- Koma men are more receptive to wearing modern clothing than the women.
- Inheritance is traditionally matrilineal.
- As a mark of acceptance and friendship, a Koma man may share his wife with friends, especially visitors.
- Villages average around 400 people, and many engage in animal rearing.
The late Colonel Yohanna Madaki visited the mountains in 1989, at the insistence of the first set of corps members posted to the lowlands.
Culture
- Among the Komas, a twin birth is regarded as evil, and twins are considered abominable.
- Until recently, babies of multiple births were buried alive, along with the mother.
- This practice has been abandoned by the Komas in the plains, but still persists in remote hill settlements.
Farting Rituals
- Koma medicine men engage in extended farting sessions during public dancing ceremonies.
- They train with a master and can fart for hours.
- When irritation occurs, a healing powder is applied.
- The tradition is thought to mock puritanical Muslims, who formerly enslaved the Komas, prompting their migration into the hills.
This ritual was famously documented in a documentary by Alain Baptizet.
References
- Ancient DNA Recovered from Clay Statues Reveal Secrets of Mysterious African Culture(http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/ancient-dna-recovered-from-clay-statues-reveal-secrets-of-mysterious-african-culture/)