RIYOM ROCK
by Rimamkongende Shamaki
- @kongsshamaki
It is amazing to imagine that these rocks
have been bonded together for thousands
of years. They are known locally as ‘Beta
Betat’, which means ‘three stones’. This rock
formation has attracted tourists from around
the globe and has been a source of revenue
for the local community. An elder of Riyom
(a Berom community) shared the story with
me. He explained that his generation grew
up believing that the rocks were created by
God, pointing to the fact that the tip is pointed
towards heaven. As a long-standing tradition,
boys from the age of seven will go to the
rock and use a basket to trap insects. They
will then fry them and present them to the
extended maternal family. The family will eat
the insects and will give the boy a chicken in
return while pronouncing blessings upon him.
The rocks have remained a symbol of pride for
Plateau State.
8
CROSSROADS | November 2018 Special Edition