Nzem Berom Founding Fathers

He was approached by late Da Musa Bagos Dalyop, the then Chairman Jos Local Government Council and told him that His Majesty the Gbong Gwom Jos, Berom Traditional Council, Berom Elders Council and BECO had accepted the idea of hosting a Berom Cultural Festival. And that his advice was being sought for in order to see how possible the festival would look like. Da Jack told him that he should give him tow weeks to find out.

Da Jack then traveled the length and breadth of Beromland to find out the different festivals and ceremonies that were practiced. He discovered several/ festivals and ceremonies vis; Mandyeng, Nshok, Badu or Madu, Tyi, Ngasang etc. But the first three were festivals which had the same concept. And they used to take place between March and April each year. It is these festivals that brought the Berom together under Nzem Berom in 1981. Da Jack remains the researcher, Producer, Director and name giver of NZEM BEROM. He was also the Nzem Berom Chairman Central Planning Committee 1996 when for the first time, introduced the culture of THEME to the festival. He has been the Concept Designer/Consultant to Nzem Berom 2016, 2017 and 2018.

In early February, 1981, Da Dudu Dalyop met Da Joseph Chollom Jack at the Jos Cultural Centre. And Suggested to him that it would be a good idea whenever all Berom Districts celebrate thier cultural festivals, there should be an all-embracing one to take place in Jos town. Da Jack, advised him to approach His Majesty Da Dr. Fom Bot with such a beautiful idea. It is understood that he actually wrote a letter to that effect to His Majesty the Gbong Gwom Jos, this led to the mobilization of Berom Traditional Council, Berom Elders Council and BECO, for the endorsement of the idea for the first Nzem Berom of 1981 to take place.

He was the then Chairman Jos Local Government Council. He acted as the linkman or liaison official between Da Joseph Chollom Jack and the body of apporoval; His Majesty the Gbong Gwom, Jos late Da Dr. Fom Bot and his traditional Council, Berom Elders Council (BEC) and Berom Educational and CUltural Organization (BECO) within the period of Mr. Jack’s research, production naming and the actual directing of the presentation of the first Nzem Berom on the 4th April, 1981. Late Da Musa Bagos Dalyop , should be remembered as the first Berom man to broadcast news in Berom language on both radio and Television, between the late 1960s and 1980s.

He was the President Berom Educational and Cultural Organization (BECO) who mobilized his members and duly accepted the idea of the proposed Cultural festival for the entire Berom. During the period of planning, he showed so much interest and to some extent assisted in supervising the process particularly during deliberation with the approval body.

Da Dr, Sambo Daju, a renowned academician and one of the first croop of Nigerians who earned a Doctorate (Phd) Degree in Physics parted from this sinful world on the 19^th January, 1986, leaving behind a diligent and humble wife, Ngow Chundung Lucy Sambo-Daju and Children.

He was the chairman of Berom Elders Council (BEC). And his usual quest and commitment for the Berom unity and identity, endorsed the idea of staging the Nzem Berom festival. He mobilized his council members to give their cooperation and support to the hosting of the festival. And this he demonstrated during the several meetings that took place in the process of planning. Dalo Da D.B. Zang is be remembered for his outstanding contribution in the area of education. He has Zang Commercial Secondary area of education. He has Zang Commercial Secondary School to his credit. He was a great investor and one-time member of the World Tin Council, member Northern Nigeria House of Assembly, representing the Tin miners and held so many responsibilities. Dalo Da D. B. Zang was also into politics where he became the chairman of Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP). He passed away on the 29^th May, 2008 at the age of 81 years.

He was the Master of ceremony (MC) otherwise the Anchorman during the first Nzem Berom on the 4^th April, 1981. His Oratory and eloquence as he painted situations and circumstances in Berom, Hausa and English languages added so much colour and beauty to the whole festival scenario of Berom Culture and Tradition. The Distinguished Senator is to be remembered as one of Nigeria’s top elder statesmen, a one-time Deputy Senate President of Nigeria. He held so many position and offices during his life time. He passed on, on the 1^st May, 2014, leaving behind a humble and responsible family.

He was the founder of the Berom Educational and Cultural Organization (BECO) at Kaduna in 1966, with the strong support of people like Da Air Commodore I. D. Mwadkwon (Rtd), Late Lt. Pam Mwadkon (not brothers), late Distinguished Senator John Wash Pam, one Mr. Mandyeng and a host of others. In the same year, Dr. Alex Fom was transferred to General Hospital Barkin Ladi. This actually gave him the opportunity to from the Beromland and he became its first leader. He was a famous medical practitioner and great statesman having played national politics to a reasonable extent. He passed away on the 27^th May, 1993 at the age of 58 years.

Apart from the support for the 1^st Nzem Berom to take place, he became a very resourceful base for information as he was able to provide such to Da Joseph Chollom Jack on Berom Festivals and ceremonies towards the hosting of the maiden Nzem Berom in 1981. He and Da Dalyop Pam, the District Head of Vwang contributed immensely in the recreation of the Berom Royal Traditional Hat for the outing of the late Gbong Gwom, Jos Da Dr. Fom Bot during the first Nzem Berom in 1961.

She was the then Presidnt Berom Women Association (BWA). She actively mobilize Berom Women by using heer Exco members and her Mandyeng women dance group. As the leader, she also introduced a dimension in Berom Women accompanying or form of Vanguard that led His Majesty the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Dr. Fom Bot from his palace to the Nzem Berom arena at the Polo Ground. The present Gbong Gwom Procession or carnival took its roots from the initiative of Ngwo Na’omi Jugu and Berom Women generally.

He was the brain behind the artistic recreation of the typical Berom Royal Hat for the late Gbong Gwom, Jos, Da Dr. Fom Bot for his outing during the 1982 Nzem Berom. He did this in collaboration with Da Dr. Nga Dangyang Pam was then not just the longest reigning traditional ruler in Berom land, but more of an encyclopedia on Berom Culture and Tradition, He is said to have been born in 1890 and became the District Head of Vwang in 1954. He passed away on the 29^th June, 2015 at the age of 125 years.

Da Joseph Chollom Jack and Vwana Dance group at the background during the 1^st Nzem Berom outing. He was directing the presentation of the festival events on the day f the Nzem Berom. And mysteriously there came rain, it only fell around the arena of the festival at the Jos Cultural Centre. It was a big miracle to find that the rest of Jos town did not experience the rain.

He was the chairman of the 1^st Planning Committee of Nzem Berom, 1982. His committee set the stage for the planning of Nzem Berom in line with popular events management of public affairs. The committee brought in new innovations in terms of set standard in Arts exhibitions and artistic performing groups, especially the Berom Women Dance Group. This is the group that led or accompanied His Majesty the Gbong Gwom Jos late Da Dr. Fom Bot from his palace to the Nxem Berom arena, in 1982.

A strong member of the first Nzem Berom Planning Committee of 1982. Ever since then, has been constant and indeed consistent in participating in the planning of Nzem Berom. Over the years, he has been noted primarily with the anchoring or presentation of the festival activities. He now counted as one of the forefront Masters of Ceremonies (MCs) during Nzem Berom and other public functions both within and outside Berom Community. He is also the first coordinator of Besuga from Nxem Berom participations.

He was the 1^st Berom Youth Movement (BYM) President. He got actively involved in the mobilization of Berom Youth and other interest groups to give the 1982 Nzem Berom a befitting outing. His contribution endeared in particular the youth who actively participated in different festival events in addition to the overall moral support to the entire Nzem Berom festive mood in 1982.