User talk:Shelbe Mallo

History of the Ron People of Plateau State.

The Ron (Chala) People

Ron language is form a group referred to as the Ron Group within the Western branch of Chadic, which is part of the Afroasiatic phylum. Oral traditions amongst the Ron have it that they came from the Middle East. They passed through Bauchi and settled for a while in places like Fier in the Kabwir area, Mapun, and then to the hills of 'Fai-a-Run' Some claim that their ancestors came through Gobir in Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria while others claim that the migration was through Borno. Other evidence suggests that the Ron are a byecut of Lankan ancestry. In all assertion the Fai-a-Run hill is still maintened as the unified centre of all Ron before they scattered to their present settlements. It is widely believe that the Ron people arrived with other West Chadic groups some 3000 years ago, but certainly not earlier than the arrival of speakers of Benue-Congo. Member dialects include Bokkos, Daffo-Mbar-Butura (incl. Mangar) and Monguna, with over 200,000 speakers. The Ron people also called “Chala” by their neighbours (“chala” being a common and much repeated word in their greeting translated as "fine"or "well") are found in Bokkos, Mangu, Pankshin, some parts of  Nasarawa and Bauchi while others through secondary migration are reportedly found in some parts of Kaduna State. The Ron legend tells of a gaint about forty feet tall "Chen-a-Daress" who's prowess in manual work was unparalleled. It was said that he had greater quantities than any other human. He was fed up with the lifestyle of the Chadic people who had invaded and subdued the non-Ron group because of superior horse power and had practices that gave him so much displeasure some of which include consumption of eat dog meat and participation in the dodo cult involving ancestralo veneration. He taught people all kinds of stonework. The stone pillars and bridges that abound in the LGA some of which has been standing for over 2000 years have been attributed to him and his lessons. There is a mountain in the Marish area named after him and dog meat consumption has widely remained a taboo amongst the Ron people. The Ron people are generally considered to have coherent social organization, creativity and hard-work. They repute for unrivaled farming activities, horse riding and animal husbandry. They are also thought to be among first minorities in Northern Nigeria to establish a community secondary school. Their language is said to be among the few taught at post graduate level in Germany. Among other festivals but most prominent, is the Nahwai festival. It is a uniting ceremony amongst the Ron people today. It's origin can be traced from ceremonial receptions organized for newly circumstanced male children, returning warriors and/or successful hunters, legends say.