Nok, Jaba Local Govt. Area, Kaduna State, Federal Republic of Nigeria

The Tree of Life, Nok, Jaba Local Govt. Area, Kaduna State Nigeria

• This is the Legendary “TREE OF LIFE” (TOL) located on the Nok Hills. • This Tree is one of its kind, although it is said another one has been sighted in Egypt, otherwise it is not found anywhere on earth. For years scientists had tried to unravel the mystery of this tree but could only come to the conclusion, that it is unique and exists only in Nok and probably Egypt. • The two photographs are of the same tree (the one on top was taken in April 2016 during the dry season while the second one was taken in September during the rainy season). Legend has it that the tree has the tendency to disappear for a couple of years and reappear on the same spot! (Some indigenous people believe that every time the tree disappears from the Nok hill, it appears in Egypt! Thus lending credence to the myth that there’s only one of its kind – although this has not been proven). It is also believed to change its form and colour intermittently as can be seen from the photographs taken at the same angle on different occasions. It is believed that the Tree has the capacity to radiate bright light in the night if there would be abundance of crop harvest that year and or if warriors going to battle would be victorious. It is said that with the permission of the chief priest a leave from the tree could be used to reverse barrenness in women or cure other illnesses. Also, if the tree shed its leaves, catastrophe of monumental proportion was to be expected in Ham Land. In some instances instead of radiating light at night it would drop moisture (tears) in the morning indicating that the warriors should not go to battle as there would be a lot of tear drops. This tree never shed its leaves, birds don’t nest on it and it is also consulted by the priest in other spiritual matters. The information on this tree was passed down by oral traditions from generation to generation. The tree still exhibits some of the traits mentioned till date. It is believed that the Tree of Life has been in existence before the discovery of the Nok Terracotta, oral tradition has it that it predates Christ. PRAYER In spite of its popularity and relevance in the land and even beyond, the Tree of Life is located in an isolated precinct with no clear access road! Tourists who troupe there to see the tree only access the place with the aid of Museum guides in liaison with indigenous gate-keepers. There’s the need to secure and safeguard this important tree, especially against neighboring villagers who throng to the place in the dead of the night for fetish activities.

April and September 2016

Ham Heritage Development Trust Fund, Planning Comm

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