Don’t spend all you have for yourself

The following story from Daffo was recorded by Mr. Mafulul Lek in 1992. It warns people not to spend all they have just for themselves, but to think of the generations that follow them. In the time of global climate change and exploitation of natural resources, we should listen carefully.

The Christmas story in Ron (Bokkos dialect)

Christmas is close at hand. The following translation of the Christmas story in the Bokkos dialect of Ron was done by Rev. Benjamin Matawal during a translators workshop in Jos in 1998. Since then, Ben has been working with the Nigerian Bible Society  for many years and also helping to translate God’s word into the Ron language. Merry Christmas all!

Why we have house rats and bush rats

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I have collected a number of animal tales which are also etiological tales, i.e. which explain why certain things are the way they are. Here is one form Bokkos told by Rev. Benjamin Matawal. It explains why we have house rats and bush rats.

How the plaited penis sheath was invented

The following story by Mr. Lek provides an explanation how the plaited penis sheaths (masin) which in the past were used as pubic covers on the Jos Plateau and in other areas in Africa were invented.

Truth and lie don’t live together

Earning your living by honest work is much harder than being what is called a “419er” in Nigeria and cheating yourself  through life. This is what is shown in the following story by Mr. Lek from Daffo. It also talks about some rituals which were performed in ancient Ron culture to separate from one another.

What is the cure for hunger?

Here is another short story from Daffo by Mafulul Lek.  The people of Mayyi ward were looking for a cure for hunger. They decided to eat all their food at once and get done with hunger for ever. Unfortunately, this didn’t work …

When the sun eats the moon

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In former times, whenever an eclipse of the moon happened, there would be a panic. People (not only in Ron country) used to think that the “sun is eating the moon”. In the following text, Mr. Mafulul Lek, a former journalist who lives in Daffo, tells about some customs related to this cosmic phenomenon. He also provides some information about Ron words for heavenly bodies and seasons.

How tortoise and goat stopped being friends

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Here is another short  animal tale dealing with the tortoise in the Bokkos variety of Ron. It was written by Pastor Joseph M. Nggyak in 1998 during a workshop at Nigeria Bible Translation Trust (NBTT) in Jos. Usually, the tortoise is wiser than the other animals. In this story, the goat shows that it can be smart, too.

How the tortoise got its cracked back

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After having posted materials from Daffo for a while, it’s time to publish something in the Bokkos variety of Ron again. Here is a Ron version of the well known animal tale “How the tortoise got its cracked back”. It was written by Pastor Joseph M. Nggyak in 1998 during a workshop at Nigeria Bible Translation Trust (NBTT) in Jos.

How to become a “Makocok”

Prior to the influence of Christianity in Ron-Kulere country, which began in the 1930s, there existed hierarchically structured cult associations. Among the Ron, only males were allowed to take part in the rituals. Women were not allowed to see the masqueraders associated with it. At a certain age, boys were initiated into the lowest rank. In order to become a member (makocok) and ascend into higher ranks of the associations one had to feast their members. The following text by Mr. Mafulul Lek explains how this was done and some other traditions associated with the kocok.