The term Mbakara / Bukra / Bakra - It blaspheming paradigm by Archibong eyo.

 

The term Mbakara / Bukra / Bakra - It blaspheming paradigm by Archibong eyo.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, `The more you know about the past, the better you areprepared for the future´.Mbakara as a word undeniably denotes `white man´ in a language spoken by the Ibibio andEfik people of Nigeria.

The contemporary usage, implication and acceptance of `Mbakara´, like many other grossly misconstrued words, happens to be the most ironic ; arguably so. `Mbakara´ blows a sweet stance of dark and tragic legacy while on the other hand constantly overshadowing the aftermath of what characterises the pride and dignity of the Ibibio and Efik people. Mbakara as a noun is defined as white man (encompassing anyone from the West or with semblance of a white man such as the Arabs and Asians.

It is also used as an adjective to describe what is exceptionally beautiful, excellent, charming or of optimal quality. For instance, in placating or complimenting a beautiful (and handsome) or light skinned lady or young man, one would say in Ibibio, 'afo ado mbakara' (you are mbakara). An Ibibio man or woman often calls his/her lover 'mbakara' as a pet name.

It describes as well the notion ofoptimal beauty, excellence, or superiority as opposed to the regular. Before the last half of the 1800's, mbakara as a term did not exist in Ibibio and Efik language vocabulary.

However, at the advent of the 20th century barely after the end of transatlantic slave trade, exposure with the locals gave birth to a unaccustomed predisposition.

Thanks to colonialism and its draconian approach to leadership and pragmatism, The locals were subdued after countless resistance.The outcome was the birth of a new term Mbakara which literally means, `mme akara owo´ (rulers of men). Although the initial name given to the British before colonialism (during slave trade) was 'afia owo' which means (`afia´- `white´) and (“owo “ - ”man”)“Afia owo” however did not suffice as the British continued their campaign and the clamourfor dominance with the advent of colonialism. Subsequently, the name “Mme akara owo” gradually corrupted into “Mmekara” before long,“Mbakara” (or mmakara in some cases) based on current usage.

That said, there is an utter misapprehension of the usage of mbakara as is the case in contemporary Ibibio and Efik language everyday parlance.Mbakara rekindles the legacy of a dark history in Ibibio and Efik speaking enclave, as it evokes oppression and dominance of an otherwise well structured sociocultural group of people.

Mbakara is the sordid ghost of colonial chains and mental enslavement that seduced apeople to scorn the norms and values that defined them with intent to glorify colonialism. In conclusion, Mbakara as a name and phenomenon still prevails today amongst the Efik people as testified by the adage, `Efik edi mbakara´ meaning Efiks are `whites´ or purportedly `masters´.

The term `Mbakara´ supposedly goes further to expound the imperial `divide and rule´ maxim on blacks. In this fashion, `Baka´ denotes `to divide´ while `Kara´ `to rule ´ in Ibibio language consecutively.

Today however, The name has been anglicized and it became Bacra, Buckra and Buckaroo. While buckaroo and buckra is derived from Surinamese Creole meaning "white men, Bakra is of Jamaican Patois. In the Caribbean and part of the Southeast United States, bacra or buckra which is an offensive slang is primarily used to referred to a white master, slave hunter or some one with authority.

It is therefore pertinent to embrace the past through emancipation and rewriting an african narrative to colonialism.

The introduction of a history written from an african perspective must be promoted and sustained in our school curriculum. As George Orwell said, `The most effective way to destroy people is to obliterate their own understanding of their own history´.