The Yako Tribe

Yakö, also spelled Yako or Yakurr, people of the Cross River region of eastern Nigeria; they speak Luko, a language of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo family.
The Yakö are mainly yam farmers; subsidiary crops include cocoyams (taro), corn (maize), okra, and pumpkin. The main cash crop is palm oil. The Yakö occupy compact villages divided into wards, each containing several patrilineal clans. Patrilineal descent governs rights to farmland, house sites, and cooperative labour. Men of the same patrilineal clan live together and cooperate in farming activities. The head of the clan arbitrates disputes, performs clan rituals, and represents the clan in external relations. The Yakö also recognize matrilineal descent, which governs the inheritance of transferable wealth, such as livestock and currency.

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
They are from the second largest andsecond most populous continent seven point sixteen trillion
dollars in measurable wealth, one billionpeople, over three thousand tribes, fifty
four sovereign states, one people.This is dear story. These are the

(00:32):
tribes of Africa. The Yako tribeJako also spelled Yako or Yakko, people

(01:17):
of the Class River region of easternNigeria. They speak Luku, a language
of the Binui Congo branch of theEgya Congo family. The Airkoamniam famis.
Subsidiary crops include coco, yams,taro, con maize, okra, and
pumpkin. The main cash crop ispalm oil. The airco occupied compound villages
divided into woods, each containing severalpatrilineal clans. Patrilineal descent governs rights of

(01:42):
farmland, house site, and cooperativelabor. Men of the same patrilineal clan
live together incorporated flamine activities. Thehead of the clan abitrade dispute, performs
clan rituals and represents a clan inexternal relations. The Yako also recognize matrilineal
descent, which governs inheritance of transferablewealth such as livestock and currency. Matrilineal

(02:06):
keen are responsible for deaths incured byindividuals, have writen and obligations and payments
of compensation with injuries, and participatein certain rituals associated with the facility.
Spirit sacle and ritual authority within thevillage wards as best than a group of
war leaders led by a ward head. Secular ritual authority for the entire village

(02:28):
is concentrated in the council of villagePriest. They abought the village head as
a priest of the paramouent to thespirit. Traditional Yako ritual is concerned with
sacrifice, invitation of control of spiritualbeings and divination. Supernatural beings include a
creator God, protective to the luryspirit, malevolent spirits, and the Girls

(02:50):
of the Dead. Many Yakko andnow Christians, the