17 YEAR OLD STUDENT EMERGES AS MISS LEBOKU IN THE 2017 EDITION OF MKPANI LEBOKU FESTIVAL. By Fidelis Okpa

MISS FAVOUR PAULINUS ENO, MISS LEBOKU 2017 EDITION OF MKPANI (LEBOKU) FESTIVAL

(Right) HRM OBOL SUNDAY OBONO OKOI, OBOL LOPON OF MKPANI AND HIS WIFE

The Mkpani Leboku New Yam Festival which was announced at the later part of August, 2017 kick started during the early hours on Friday 1st September, 2017 with series of events such as the Okorn'del (Camp fire Night). After the necessary traditional rites, the maidens in bangles sings and danced and parade round the fire, going from one Lukpal (Tradional Play ground) to another.While other traditional dances were showcased to entertain the audience at the various corners of the town. The male children  were not left out as they  were shooting their own Enor'kon (toy matches gun) singing, dancing and chanting, as the had a relief from the silence weeks leading to the main Leboku celebration.

The beauty Pageant took place on Friday 1st September, 2017 by 10:00pm  at KEF Guest House Mkpani,  The event was loaded with diverse presentations and shows among which are, the presentation of a lecture by Dr. Okoi Utum Ina (Snr.) on the topic :"Leboku New Yam Festival a Window into the Cultural History of Mkpani", and Show/Musical Performance by Talk to me group from Calabar, and other comedy shows and Music by the Following  Artistes:
*Philip Osondo
*Nelly And Centino
*Mr Foreigner
*The Stylee Brothers and Many others

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During the Beauty Pageant which is the concluding aspect of the programme,  a record breaking 17 years old Student, Miss Favour Paulinus Eno Emerged as the winner of the 2017 Edition of Miss Leboku Contest. Miss Favour beats other seven (7) contestants with 77.4 points to emerged the winner and the Youngest Miss Leboku in the history of Mkpani New Yam Festival.

And  Miss Obeten Bassey emerged the Miss Culture of the year, and Miss Peace Sunday Ibor was pronounced the First Runner Up Miss Leboku 2017, and Miss Gift Ibor Ikpi the First Runner Up Miss Culture 2017  while Mr. Okoi Ikoi Ubi clicked Mr. Leboku 2017.

Subsequently, there comes the  "Ekoi" dance on Saturday 2nd September, 2017 which was enveloped by Ukwa /Obam dance. The various Ekoi dancers, maidens in bangles, the twin dancers, the Mr and Miss Leboku and Culture, the August women Association (Banen-ba-yadom) as well as the Igban traditional dance displayed etc.  danced round the arena.
In his welcome address, the Obol Lopon of Mkpani, HRM Obol Sunday Obono Okoi described the

 Mkpani New  Yam Festival as a "seasonal rite and an expression of the value attached to the thorough and punctual performance of successive tasks in cultivation and of the appreciation  of the reward that flow from the farming activities. The formalities associated with all the social groups and families and the value expressed in prayers and gifts, a revelation in an integrative function with respect to Mkpani Community which far transcends the maintenance of effective patterns in Agriculture".   

He further pointed out that, these rites are an occasion for the re-affirmation and the inculcation of the total values of the traditional way of life amongst the Mkpani and Yakurr people in general.