Cultural Significance of Building Rituals of Yakurr Communities in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

In every society and civilisation; there are rules, approaches, and belief systems that guide the successful construction of a building project. This acceptable process of building construction is described as the culture of building of the people. It is well-known that foundation rituals are a deep-rooted practice in the construction of buildings and structures. Foundation rituals among other rites form the fulcrum of the culture of building a people. Foundation rituals or ground-breaking ceremonies are performed to mark the official commencement of a construction project. A phenomenological study approach was used to properly explore the building foundation rituals of the Yakurr people in Cross River State, Southern Nigeria. Focus group discussions were conducted with selected village councils, paternal and maternal families in the study area. Foundation laying ceremonies and other building construction rites were also observed. Building sites were visited and the lived experiences of Yakurr natives were gotten through interviews. The content analysis of the transcripts showcased some unique cultural attributes associated with the building process of the Yakurr people. The findings are relevant to both the built environment professionals (BEPs) Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry towards the execution of building projects that will satisfy the cultural needs of the natives.