Bata’ikwi : Ese Ejja Etiikianaa Wowikaninaje

Bata’ikwi is a tree mentioned in a myth of the Ese Ejja nation. According to tradition, this tree existed in Kweijana, the place where the Ese Ejja rest after death. The legend says that Bata’ikwi not only gave rise to various birds but also created the other trees we know today, making it a key figure in the Ese Ejja worldview.

However, despite its deep symbolic significance, the name of this tree is little known, even among the wise elders of the community, as the myth in which it appears has been almost completely forgotten. For this reason, we have decided to name this book Bata’ikwi, as a tribute and an effort to rescue and preserve not only this name but also the myths and beings that are part of the rich Ese Ejja oral tradition, aiming to keep them alive in the collective memory of future generations.

Thanks to this project, some Ese Ejja elders have begun to revive and share these myths and stories in their homes. May this revival of oral tradition spread from Portachuelo Alto to all communities, strengthening the transmission of their cultural legacy.

Summary:
The book Bata’ikwi is named after a mythological tree from the Ese Ejja tradition, said to have created birds and other trees, central to their worldview. As the myth and the tree's name are nearly forgotten, this project aims to rescue and preserve these stories and beings from the Ese Ejja oral tradition. It seeks to revitalize cultural memory and inspire elders to share these myths within their communities, fostering a cultural revival across the Ese Ejja nation.