ABSTRACT
All the Yako villages except Idomi are divided territorially into wards with populations of from 1,500 up to more than 3,500. A ward consists of the adjacent dwelling-areas of about half a dozen patricians. Some of the patricians in a ward may have traditions of ultimate common descent, but these are exceptional and in no sense a sanction for membership of the same ward. When Ogbolia, the head of the Ward Leaders, dies, a special Ligwomi is held at the next season of initiation, additional, if necessary to the four-year cycle. Men's age sets are formed within each ward and in Umor the formal establishment of a new age-set from young men about to marry should in principle follow the four-yearly Ligwomi ritual. The organization of men in the several wards is also integrated for the village as a whole through the Okenka organization. Okenka is a ritual fraternity embracing the more influential Yakamben of the various wards.
