space in the socio-cultural history of the People of

Benue State dating back to pre-colonial period. The

survival of this industry in this area is however linked to

the activities of women custodians.

This study examined the role of Women to the survival of Burukutu industry in

Makurdi LGA of Benue State. The idea for the study

originates from the desire to understand the role of

Women to the continued existence of Burukutu in modern

Makurdi LGA alongside different brands of modern beer.

The study adopted the multi-disciplinary and qualitative

methodology based on the use of primary and secondary

sources of data for its analysis.

The study established that amongst the Tiv, Burukutu has occupied a central position

in the social and cultural make of the people since precolonial

era. Apart from being used as an element for the

expression of greatness and prestige amongst the Tiv,

certain festivals and rituals such as initiation into kwav and cultic institutions like biamegh were carried out with

the use of burukutu. The colonial period however

threatened the existence of burukutu due to the British

abrupt deployment of policies such as the 1917 Native

Liquor Ordinance. The rising level of nationalism and the

activities of war veterans in Makurdi in the closing days of

colonialism however re-awakened the demand and

consumption of burukutu up to the post colonial era. Many

factors encouraged the demand and production of

burukutu in the post independence era in Makurdi.

The socio-political unrest experienced in Tivland in the early

years of Independence pushed many people to urban

areas like Makurdi who depended on local foods and

drinks for survival. The civil war periods and the state

creation equally gave a major impetus to burukutu

production and consumption. In modern times, economic

changes and inflation of modern beer have provided a

fertile ground for burukutu brewers who are making brisk

business in Makurdi since the creation of Benue State in

1976.

Women have effectively and efficiently employed

their enterprising skills and knowledge to exploit the

potentials that exists in this local alcoholic processing

venture through which it has continued to exists. These

women are however constrained with the existence of

economic, political and cultural barriers such as

government policies and cultural belief systems. The study

recommends that government and NGO intervention

programs such as loans and grants should target women

local beer brewers.