STRENGTH IN STRUGGLES

Life is filled with highs and lows, valleys and peaks, that'll test your resilience, that'll push you to overcome challenges. And the lessons you will learn on your way to the top will only make you stronger and better. In any walk of life, challenges are bound to come and how you react towards them will certainly determine how long they stay. Some challenges in are not meant to break us but to make us. The more you go through life's challenges, the more skillful and experienced you become. Skillful pilots gains their reputations from storms and tempest.
Strength does not come from winning, your struggles develop your strength; when you go through hardship and decide not to surrender that's strength! Don't allow all the misfortunes and calamities that has befallen you to weigh you down, that challenges you are facing today, you're deriving strength from it. For whatever that pains you today makes you stronger tomorrow. It is bravery to see one who never given up despite the challenges he/she faces; and the bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversities. Yes!
You're brave, you're strong; don't give up, don't surrender.

HOLD-ON! Martin Luther King Jr said: "the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenges and controversy".
I'm urging you to be positive, never react negative to negativity. For life itself is not always perfect, there is a possibilities of a problems, the problem is not the end but the beginning of another different life - - A different life where you'd discover your true strength and hidden capabilities of handling problems and challenges. In a process of refining a gold, it's been tested by a fierce furnace before it become so precious and valuable. And a man also needs to be tested by life's trials before he be perfected. For a gem cannot be polished without friction nor a man perfected without trials.
I myself writing these, am also going through some life's predicaments at the moment, but I don't allow it to weigh me down because I'm deriving strength from it and it is only going to last within a limit of time. It takes courage to walk in the path in you're walking and I urge you never to give up. Yes! You're brave, you're strong; don't give up, don't surrender.

HOLD-ON! It's only in our darkness hours that we can be able to discover the true strength of our brilliant light within ourselves that can never ever be dimmed. And in end, the
winner is he who can smile in the face of adversities, the misfortunes scattered along the highway of life are our testing grounds. For every misfortune is a stepping stone to fortune.

By Ambitious - Nyizo S.D

ATTRIBUTES OF A BASSAMAN

1. LOVE: A Bassaman does not only loves his wife, children, family members or relatives. A Bassaman's love knows no bound, as far he can find you in his enviromment regardless of your religion, ethnic group or where you came from he will surely extend his love to you.
 
2. PEACE: Yea, I will honestly and proudly say that a Bassaman is the most peaceful being on earth and that's why he is and will always be liken to the people of Israel. A Bassaman loves and believes in peaceful coexistence, you will hardly see a Bassaman looking or aiding trouble wherever he is. He always maintain and keeps peace with whomever he finds to be his neighbour.

3. FORGIVENESS: If you are.looking for a God fearing and soft hearted person then a Bassaman should be your number one priority.
Slap a Bassaman, beat him, kill his person, make mockery of him and still ask for forgiveness he will accept you back, but he is never a fool. Have never seeing this kind or manner of people.

4. GIVING: Talk of giving a Bassaman is still likely to be number one. One thing that makes him different with other tribes in terms of giving is; he will select among the biggest of his stuffs and offer it to you and still yet telling you to manage. He gives whole-heartedly and hopes for no return.

5. RESPECT: Right from my childhood I discovered that a Bassaman is the most respectful man. Regardless of your age or height, regardless of his status or position a Bassaman will humble himself to greet you especially when he is passing by your house or come to your house. One thing I grew up to learn about a Bassaman is; no matter his age as far he can still walk he will wake up as early before everybody in the house and start knocking at everyone's window or door to tender morning greetings. This is common to the eldest people in the family.

6. HOSPITALITY: Many people have termed Bassaman as been fool or stupid because of his hospitality character which knows no religion or tribe. As far you seems to be helpless or needy he can starve his family to make sure you eat, sleep on the floor to make sure you get the comfort of his bed, he can do all to make sure you feel happy during your stay at his home especially when it is the first time he is meeting with you.

7. SINCERITY: If you're looking for a sincere man, a Bassaman can not be left out, he is always sincere and love truth. He does this so that in future time you will still put trust in him.

8.STRONG: A Bassaman is a very strong man on earth , may be God purposely created them with it, they are strong to the extent of working to any length and still yet stand up right, even at old age they can work for all day rest in night and wake up early the next morning to continue their daily  work. Am convinced that a Bassaman man strength have no rate or measure.

9. HARDWORKING: A Bassaman is very hard working that's why people respect him in everything, you will never see a Bassaman involved in robbery, kidnapping, money ritual, etc not because they are rich or have everything in life but because they believe in hardworking, through that they can live a comfortable life that will please their family and the community. You will never see them in a work that will damage their image and reputation or a work that is against the country norms, this make them very hardworking.

10. PATIENCE :The way a Bassaman is patient is incomparable, he is so patient to the extent that he will know his enemies and yet will still accommodate them, patience has made him lose a lot of things but he still believe that through patience peace can reign. Even if he dons't have anything he patiently wait for God's time, because he believes there's nothing God cannot do for him. That's one of the reason you can't see a Bassaman using his children, wife or relatives for money ritual because he patiently wait for God. I love them am proud of them.

In summary;
A Bassaman is one to be and live with.
He is someone to love.
He hates disappointment.
He is a hardworking person that's why anywhere you found a Bassaman today he is always independent, perhaps he don't lack food.
My love for Bassa is awww
Oku ma

By
           Tukura Hannah Wandama

BASSA WHERE ARE WE?

This question is a rhetorical type (answer not needed) which has to do with thoughts deep inside oneself. Specifically this article is strictly about the social life of the Bassa people.

First of all I'll like to start with the basis I.e our (Bassa) sociocultural activities. It is no longer news that we all know how our sociocultural activities and values are going on extinction. Many of our religious leaders today have contributed to this doom and downfall, they have gone a long way in condemning our cultural activities terming them as been barbaric, fetish and diabolic. They won't end it on their personal lives but will be convincing people with this ignorance that such activities are only for the people of the world (those who don't no God) thereby influencing those on it to be withdrawing from their talents and passions.

But so painful today that all of us will sit at the comfort of our homes watching other tribes on TV displaying and showcasing their cultural activities and values, do we mean those people don’t know God?.

In my place or home town, I can say unless if I didn't remember, since I grew up to my age now I have never seeing or witnessed where people gather or an organized occasion where the beauty of our culture is displayed, what then we the younger generation will live to tell or narrate in future. BASSA WHERE ARE WE?.

In various institutions today where we the Bassa students are found if you take note you will discover that people have distanced themselves in anything culture whereby, we love watching other tribes when the display theirs.

Let's deviate a little from our own culture and view or consider our position in the social life of our country or world. From our institutions we do have Mr&Miss  of our respective departments, schools or falcuties, the Student Union Govt, could we also say those things are participated by people who don't no God or people with doomed lives?. In our very own school we do have competitions whereby people will display their talents in singing, dancing, comedy, acting (drama) from thence the winners or best outcomers may be taking to another Institutions or nations event as representatives, are exempted from perticipating in those activities?. Coming to think of it, many of us (Bassa) have hidden talents  and potentials whereby if it is harnessed or displayed the best will be seeing but rather we feel inferior or concern about the mockery and sour words our friends or family may paste on us. I so much wonder and feel ashamed when those of our brothers and sisters with great talents have used religion as cover-up or as an excuse thereby referring those who engage themselves as insincere, unrighteous and sinful people, whereas we are seeing other tribes doing great and nice about their culture and the social atmosphere, aren't we have conscience to clear these our doubts?. I believe if those things were to be evil God wouldn't have reveal them to man. If you can't participate or get involved cheer up those who are willing to and stop condemning them or better still be mute and watch..

Many of us today feels we have understandings beyond or above our God given culture not knowing it's darkness in us. If you have the opportunity or competency to participate or contest in any competition or title race such as Mr&Miss of your state, Miss Nigeria, Face of Africa, Miss Universe or any beauty pageant give it a try because we are not exempted, even if you don't win we will be proud to see you as Bassa contestant, at least you made a name for us.

If we should let our culture or sociocultural activities to die today just as it has started our children will ask us questions when they see other tribes on display and it will look so shameful to give a reply. I have already started asking my parents, then my children will come to ask me same, what will be my answer or excuse?, what will be our answers?, whereas they see other cultures. BASSA WHERE ARE WE?.

Please our parent build us up on our culture because me persake apart from iké and Orugongo I don't no anything again concerning our culture in which I believe I still have little knowledge than many today.

I so much like Bassa culture to the extent of making us proud in everywhere but I wonder why our name Bassa is not well known everywhere. Do you know why?, its because our culture and social life are hiden, it gets me annoyed, provoked and disheartening when people tell me they have not heard the tribe  named Bassa before. Are we not humans?,  at least we have many population also, we dominate around the world most especially Nigeria and it's States why dont they recognize us?, 

because there is no encouragement anywhere. If you see anyone participating in social or cultural activities, they will start calling the person diverse names like "BU TENI UDAMÙ". Please if you can't encourage those that are ready to do be quite rather than tarnishing them, let's make the World to know us. Apart from the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, other tribes have decided to make a turn up for people to recognize them by Participating in their culture and social life on Televisions and Radio stations, Why is ours (Bassa) different?,  Let our leaders encourage us also most especially those that have positions.  I can still remember one thing that makes me sad till date, in my institution a Bassa guy contested as SUG president and he won but other contestants run to their leaders for help, with series of help that their leaders rendered to them, the post was given to another tribe. So painful, Bassa let's turn up.

In this vein I want to recommend and acknowledge the likes of TULUBO ENTERTAIMENT, permit me to say they are the leading Bassa entertainment crew we have for now. The likes of BASSA VARIETY ENTERTAIMENT, TUWEBIYE FILM PRODUCTION, BASSA NKULANÉ ENTERTAIMENT, BASSA FULL ENTERTAIMENT, AGEME BASSA PRODUCTION and some individuals like QUEEN ESTHER SOKWO (Queen of Garden City Northern Nigeria) who have been doing us proud, we solicit you to do more and also bring more social and cultural light to Bassa Nation.

In promotion of Bassa as a whole, someone is working day and night for the development and for Bassa to be recognize all over the World on Internet to create a site or blog for Bassa, no other person than Moses Media Productions. People with this spirit needs encouragement support from our Leaders so to make the work easier for him to do, but no encouragement, Basaa where are We?.

We can't let our culture die.

We can't be left out in this social era.

We can also show to the world that we have a beautiful culture even, our attire alone depicts that.

We have talents; let's unveil them.

We have potentials; let's release them.

We're Bassa, we have special grace of winning.

We reject that spirit of inferiority complex.

Let's ignite that match so that the fire burn and return glooming flames to our dear tribe.

Bassa let's get involve in the social and cultural world.

I so much believe BASSA will be great.

This is 2019; it’s just a new dawn for us therefore, let's make a difference.

Okuma.

By...

Denwi Joshua Pleasy

08160364344

Hannah Wandama Tukura

08138427062