1 Historical Context

The Berom people have always responded to challenging exigencies that threaten their socio-political and economic wellbeing, right from the pre-colonial days to the post-colonial period. This resilience and adaptability have been the hallmark of the Berom identity.

At the dawn of the 20th century, the British colonial administration brought in its wake profound changes that would forever alter the landscape of Beromland. The introduction of Tin and Columbite mining, new value systems, taxation, and sundry laws that were alien to the Berom people created unprecedented challenges.

The mining activities, in particular, had devastating effects on Berom communities. Traditional farmlands were destroyed, ancestral lands were appropriated, and the environmental degradation caused by mining operations left communities struggling to survive. The introduction of taxation without representation further alienated the Berom people from the colonial administration.

2 Colonial Era Challenges

The British colonial administration adopted several strategies to introduce the "indirect rule" system for smooth administration through the local chiefs. However, these efforts proved largely abortive among the Berom people.

Key Challenges Faced:

• ⛏️ Land Appropriation: Mining operations led to widespread destruction of farmlands and ancestral lands
• 💵 Taxation: Introduction of alien taxation systems without proper representation
• 📜 Alien Laws: Imposition of foreign legal systems that conflicted with traditional Berom customs
• 🏛️ Indirect Rule: British attempts to administer through local chiefs were largely unsuccessful
• 📚 Lack of Western Education: Traditional rulers lacked exposure to western education, making negotiations difficult
• 🌍 Forced Relocation: Beroms were asked to vacate their ancestral homeland to the Tsetse fly infested part of southern Kaduna, infamously known as Sabon Zawan

The few learned indigenes like Da Patrick Davou Fom of Kuru were engrossed in stiff anti-colonial activism alongside Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Da Patrick had to relocate to the Gold Coast (now Ghana) at one time to insulate himself from the colonial masters' hammer in Nigeria.

3 Early Resistance

The Berom people's resistance to colonial oppression took various forms, from passive resistance to active political activism. The emergence of a small but determined group of western-educated Berom indigenes marked a turning point in the struggle.

Key Figures in Early Resistance:

Da Patrick's activism and eventual return to Beromland galvanized the community. His experiences in the anti-colonial movement and his exposure to nationalist ideologies provided the intellectual foundation for the organized resistance that would follow.

Da Mallam Choji Lomak played a crucial role in educational development, training many notable Berom figures including Late Da Dr. Fom Bot, Da Dr. Jonah Madugu, and the Present Gbong Gwom, among others.

4 The Berom Progressive Union (BPU)

Few years later, as more Berom people acquired western education, Da Patrick Davou Fom returned home and together with other compatriots, birthed the Berom Progressive Union (BPU).

Founding Members of BPU:

The BPU's primary objectives included:

• 🌍 Land Rights: Fighting for increased compensation for Berom lands appropriated by mining companies
• 🔧 Land Rehabilitation: Advocating for the rehabilitation of land after mining operations had ceased
• 📚 Education: Promoting western education among Berom youth
• 🏛️ Political Representation: Advocating for Berom representation in colonial and later post-colonial governance structures
• 💪 Economic Empowerment: Creating economic opportunities for Berom communities

5 Key Founding Figures

The founding of the Berom Progressive Union was the result of collective effort by a group of dedicated Berom indigenes who had acquired western education and were determined to fight for their people's rights.

Da Patrick Davou Fom

• Anti-colonial activist who worked alongside Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
• Relocated to Gold Coast (Ghana) to escape colonial persecution
• Primary founder of BPU upon his return to Beromland
• Provided intellectual and ideological leadership

Da Moses Nyam Rwang

• World War II veteran with military experience
• Brought organizational discipline to the movement
• Valued advisor and strategist for BPU

Da Lawrence Fom

• Western-educated elite, brother of Da Patrick Fom
• Contributed administrative and organizational skills
• Helped establish the BPU's operational structure

John Dokotri

• Third sibling of Da Patrick Fom
• Studied Catholic priesthood
• Worked as a clerk with the forestry department
• Brought administrative and clerical skills to BPU

Da Rwang Pam

• Headmaster of Riyom Vocational School
• Brought educational expertise to the organization
• Helped champion the educational agenda of BPU
• Later became Gbong Gwom Jos in 1947

Da Mallam Choji Lomak

• Worked closely with late Da Rwang Pam in the establishment of primary educational institutions within Northern Nigeria in the 1940s
• Trained by the S.I.M (Sudan Interior Missionaries)
• First indigenous Sales Clerk at Challenge Bookshop Jos
• Mentored notable figures including Late Da Dr. Fom Bot, Da Dr. Jonah Madugu, and the Present Gbong Gwom

6 Achievements of BPU

The Berom Progressive Union (BPU) achieved remarkable milestones that laid the foundation for the Berom nation's socio-political and cultural advancement.

7 Post-Colonial Nigeria & The Emergence of BECO

Post-colonial Nigeria witnessed a temporary lull in the socio-cultural and political activism among the Beroms, especially during the military interregnum, until political activities of the Second Republic picked up.

The emergence of a vibrant umbrella body like the BPU, according to many political actors from the land, contributed immensely to the inability of the Berom to produce a 2nd Republic Governor for old Plateau State. There was a divided house during the NPP Gubernatorial primaries in 1979, where the candidate earlier endorsed by elders from the eleven districts in the person of Da John Wash Pam surprisingly had another Berom rival to contend with right at the venue of primary election in the person of Da John Chuwang. This confusion and contradictory development led to the victory of Chief Solomon Lar, who no doubt benefited from the ensuing imbroglio.

After a careful post-mortem of this debacle, some prominent Berom elders like DB Zang, Barnabas Dusu, Dung Balang, PD Pwajok, and a host of others met and resolved to reenact or reinvent an umbrella body—a BPU hybrid of some sort—that would be all-encompassing with an emphasis on educational and cultural reawakening. A body that would consolidate the achievements of BPU in line with present-day challenges and/or exigencies.

This vestigial concept would reunite the people though it may not be completely divorced from political interest, as politics is part and parcel of every mortal being. In other words, the primary objective was to tickle the educational and cultural trajectory, which in itself is a veritable panacea for strengthening our identity and sense of nationalism for overall progress of the land.

The new-born baby was named BECO, acronym for Berom Educational and Cultural Organization, in 1981. In order to uphold the emphasis on the educational component, the person who had the highest educational qualification in the entire land then, with a PhD, Dr. Sambo Daju from Riyom, was elected as BECO's pioneer President.

No sooner had the Sambo Daju-led EXCO mounted the saddle than they got cracking. It constituted a high-powered committee made up of representatives from the districts and headed by Da Yusufu Pwol (Pioneer Chairman of B/Ladi LGC). Some of the prominent committee members were Da Barnabas Dusu, Da Bature Dangyang, with Da Yusufu Dawang (erstwhile Chairman B/Ladi LGC) as secretary, among others.

This important committee was saddled with the responsibility of touring all the Berom districts and interfacing with the people and the respective district heads in order to study and streamline all the cultural festivals into one.

Secondly, the committee was also mandated to explore the possibility of establishing BECO Community Secondary Schools—one in each district. As resources were being pulled together by illustrious sons and daughters in this direction, the Solomon Lar government preemptively opened new government secondary schools in all the Local Government Areas of old Plateau State. GSS Sho and B/Ladi are examples. This move to a great extent hampered the emergence of the stillborn BECO district schools, as the new government secondary schools were already absorbing the potential BECO Community Secondary School students.

It was as a result of this that BECO shelved the initial plan and opted to build one community secondary school at Kwi village, a location considered as strategically central as far as the entire Beromland is concerned. These two factors were considered very vital ingredients to consolidate the unity and progress of the Berom nation.

After accomplishing its assignment, the committee recommended the harmonization of all cultural festivals into one to be known as Nzem Berom. This was necessitated by the fact that all the festivals—Mandieng, Bunah, Vwana, Nshok, Badu—were nomenclatures with the same objectives. This committee worked assiduously in tandem with Da Chollom Jack (a cultural officer) who also did a lot of valuable work on these festivals.

No sooner had the Da Yusufu Pwol committee concluded work than the first-ever Nzem Berom festival was organized by BECO on the 4th of April 1981, with pomp and pageantry. The spacious Polo field venue was filled to the brim. The maiden festival, which had Dr. Alexander Fom as Chairman Organizing Committee, also had the first civilian Governor of old Kano State, Abubakar Rimi, as Guest Speaker. As if in agreement with the long-awaited Berom fraternity, the dark clouds that hovered over the venue, midway into the festival, soon translated into rainfall to the appreciation of many who considered it as showers of blessings from God above and a good omen for the Berom nation.

8 Achievements of BECO

The achievements of BECO are numerous and impactful, spanning cultural preservation, educational advancement, and community development.

9 The Berom Elders Council (BEC)

Prior to the formation of BEC in 1993, Da Choji Kim from Gassa had organized an elders' council with members from the districts who had at least attained the age of 80. The group was christened "Bemakuk Re To Chwei". Its membership was not based on any educational attainment, and they sought to provide a nexus between the young and the old. They also sought to play an advisory role not only to the Berom organizations but also to the traditional institution on matters that bothered on culture and traditions of the Berom people.

Berom Elders Council (BEC) was formed by some elderly members of the Berom nation who might not have necessarily reached the age of 80 and cannot be classified as youthful either. Their membership was dominated by mostly retired Civil Servants, Retired Security Officers, Businessmen and Women, Retired Clergymen, etc. Their primary objective was to play an advisory role to BECO and other affiliate bodies.

BEC Leadership Timeline:

• Pioneer Chairman: Dalo DB Zang
• Second Chairman: Da Victor Pam
• Third Chairman: Rtd. Gen. Peter Gyang Sha
• Fourth Chairman: Da Yusuf Dawang

BEC Board of Trustees (from all districts):

• Da Barnabas Dusu
• Da YN Dang
• Dalo DB Zang
• Ngwo Elizabeth Pam
• Da Bature Dangyang
• Rtd. Rev. Deme Bot
• Rtd. Rev. Musa Lenge

BEC has played an advisory role not only to BECO and other affiliate bodies but has also spelt out their resolutions on key issues that affect the traditional and other matters that concern the socio-cultural, political, and economic life of the Berom nation.

10 Historical Timeline