Berom people

The Berom (sometimes also spelt as Birom) are the largest autochthonous ethnic group in Plateau state, Nigeria. A state that has been jocularly described by Nengel as being ‘...notorious for its extreme diversity of cultural and linguistic groups.’ Covering about four local government areas, which include; Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi (Gwol) and Riyom, Berom are also found in southern Kaduna local governments in Kaduna state. The Berom speak the Berom language, which belongs to the large Niger-Congo family of languages. It is not related to the Hausa language (which belongs to the Afro-Asiatic family), or most other Plateau languages, which are Chadic languages (Fwatshak 2002). Interestingly, the Berom, Fulani and Tarok, are linguistically more similar to each other than other groups. In fact, Farooq Kperogi (2016) notes that '...although the Fulani and the Berom of Plateau State see themselves as belonging to the furthest poles of northern Nigeria’s political and cultural divide, especially in light of the recent internecine ethnic conflict in Plateau States, they not only belong to the larger Niger-Congo language family (to which many languages in central and southern Nigeria belong); they actually belong to the same Atlantic-Congo subfamily of the Niger-Congo family.' Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/sunday/index.php/the-arts/4046-language-families-in-nigeria#4pp3m6fVv8TwoarK.99

The Berom people have a rich cultural heritage. They celebrate the Nzem Berom festival annually in March or April. It is one of the major aborigine group in Nigeria (Plateau State) that "totally" looks to or trust God (Dagwi) for its existence, sustenance, and history. Some major festival in Berom land from pre-colonial to the colonial era are as follows,

The aim of celebrating festivals in Berom land is primarily related to agriculture and hunting, which have been the main events revolving around Berom livelihood and cosmology.

Mandyeng: Is a major festival celebrated in Berom land to usher in the rainy season. The festivals normally takes place March/ April. In the past the Berom regard Mandyeng/Nshok (they are very similar) the most vital festivals which ensured a good farming and hunting period and harvest. Not all the Berom communities celebrate Mandyeng and Nshok. Those that perform 'Mandyeng' claim their roots from Riyom, they include; Vwang, Kuru, Zawan, Gyel, Rim, Bachit, Bangai, Lwa, Sop, Jol, Wereng Kwi, Gwo, Kakuruk, Kuzeng, Kurak, Kuchin, Rahos and Tahoss. Nshok: Nshok slightly varies from Mandiyeng due to the fact that it also associates hunting with the rainy season farming. It is also held once a year around the months of April and May, to usher in the new season just as the Mandyeng.

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Wikipedia