Igbere agog, as OUK Basis carnival showcases
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia and Kenneth Udeh
All roads led to Igbere, a group in Bende Native Authorities Space of Abia State on January 2, for the third version of the annual Igbere Carnival.
The occasion was the primary after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sponsored by Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) Basis, the carnival, meant to showcase the wealthy cultural heritage of the Igbere folks, had beforehand been held on the Camp NEYA nation residence of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the Chief Whip of the Senate.
Nevertheless, there was innovation on this yr’s version. The carnival was held concurrently in all of the 13 villages of Igbere, the place every village showcased her cultural heritage, and on the finish, judges who got here from overseas, introduced winners.
The Senate Chief Whip, Dr Kalu, was joined by different dignitaries, together with the Speaker of the Djibouti Nationwide Meeting, Muhammad Ali Humad on the occasion. They moved around the 13 villages of Igbere to look at their cultural shows, because the overseas judges assessed their performances.
The primary port of name was Agbo village, stated to be the traditional headquarters of Igbere.
The village welcomed Kalu and his entourage with a dance procession known as the ‘Alammam Dance’ comprising principally youngsters adopted by youths and elders.
The village, believed to be the place all the villages seek the advice of the oracle that tells what would occur in Igbere, displayed the deity, which was managed by the Chief Priest known as ‘Ajizu.’
Outstanding sons of the village led by the standard ruler, Eze John U. Oko got here out of their numbers to obtain the guests.
From Agbo, the subsequent vacation spot was Eziama village. The village offered the well-known ‘Ogudu Conflict Dance’ with the actors bearing a wood sword and conventional weapons. The folks offered how their forefathers celebrated victory after successful battles. A properly organised conventional wrestling adopted later.
Amaukwu was the subsequent vacation spot, because the village welcomed the friends with a dance procession known as Egwu Itu – Ota consisting primarily of ladies wielding fantastically designed palm fronds recognized historically as Ota. Additionally they carried out the Umanwa Dance which is used to have a good time the delivery of a brand new child.
In response to Igbere folklore, the village was the place a as soon as dreaded human head hunter from a neighbouring group was beheaded. The villain was stated to be a well known warrior who had conquered different villages like Arochukwu, Ohafia however was captured alive in Igbere, and brought to Amaukwu the place he was beheaded.
The group is equally touted because the place of unity, the place all villages in Igbere converge to drink palm wine from one pot and with one cup.
At Amakpo Igbere, the folks carried out the Uronyi Dance. They offered the friends with their farm produce, which included; yam tubers, palm kernel fruits, plantain, and native beans referred to as Ojuju.
Amakpo, in all the 13 villages of Igbere, is alleged to be the one one which holds the standard workers referred to as the Okpu Ndi made out of an Elephant Tusk and embellished with feathers, palm fronds and different conventional ornaments.
Ibinanta was the subsequent vacation spot. The village carried out their conventional dance referred to as the Ohuba Agiri Dance. They offered a big plant pod recognized historically as Ofi, which contained seeds that develop the favored fluted pumpkin vegetable, generally known as Ugwu; Cassava flakes also called Abacha, and native yam also called Una.
The village holds the title of being the primary to construct a group corridor in Igbere, which was inbuilt 1937.
The final place visited was Umuisi the place the folks trooped out of their numbers to showcase their wealthy tradition.
On the finish of the occasion, Senator Kalu and the Djibouti Nationwide Meeting Speaker, Humad spoke on the importance of the day.
Kalu stated the occasion was intentionally shifted to the communities to permit extra folks to take part and have entry to the competition as earlier editions have been centralized on the Senator’s residential area at Camp Neya.
The previous governor described tradition, which the carnival epitomised, because the string that has certain the folks collectively in unity including that the competition can be sustained as a way of instructing the youthful technology the worth of unity and love.
“You’ll be able to see the enjoyment and pleasure on the faces of the folks – the younger, the previous, youngsters and ladies. Once we have been doing it at Camp Neya, solely few folks may attend however now they’re glad having fun with themselves and nonetheless dancing of their communities until now.
“You see, we didn’t converse within the 13 villages. It’s not about politics, it’s about our folks. It’s simply to resonate our tradition; the tradition must be introduced again, Kalu stated.
The Senate Chief Whip, accompanied by his visitor, the Speaker of the Djibouti Nationwide Meeting, Humad and his household, known as on different Igbo communities to key into the carnival, which he attributed to the peace being loved in Igbere.
He promised that the 2024 competition can be higher organised as a result of the president common of the communities can be concerned and sufficient time given for preparations.
Talking on peace, Kalu stated: “We don’t need anybody to trigger hassle right here. We’ve instructed anyone that can trigger hassle right here that we are going to take him away. We don’t need anyone to trigger hassle for us on this group. If we see you with hassle, we’ll come after you and take you away. It’s the regulation of the 13 villages; it’s not my regulation.”
Expressing his impression of the cultural competition, the Djibouti Nationwide Meeting Speaker, Humad stated he was excited to witness the competition and the unity it engendered among the many folks, including that he would take the expertise again to his nation. He stated tradition has given Africa its true id.
“As quickly as I’m going again to my nation I’ll present them what I’ve seen in Nigeria. It’s an instance of what Nigeria and certainly Africa ought to be. We should always work collectively for cultural exhibitions. It’s the tradition that brings the worth of Africans out, from what we’ve got seen immediately,” he stated.
Additionally talking, the Government Secretary, OUK Basis, Mrs Jemima Ola Kalu stated the 2023 version of Igbere Cultural Pageant was for “creativity and restoring our cultural heritage.”
She defined that so as to add impetus to the cultural renaissance, the occasion needed to be performed within the varied villages to offer, particularly the youthful technology, the sense of participation and sustainability.
“If all of them got here to Camp Neya, the kids might not have the chance of coming however we need to groom them in order that because the previous persons are phasing out, the younger ones will proceed to uphold the tradition,” she stated.
An APC governorship aspirant, Chief Daniel Eke, expressed pleasure that “our Senator is organising this for the group to showcase our tradition to the world.” He described the occasion as a unifying issue for a group constructed on love.
Senator Kalu later introduced the winners with Ibinanta and Eziama collectively taking the primary place; Amankalu, Okafia and Umusi, second place, whereas Ibinaukwu and Ohumuola took the third place. Money prizes got to the winners.
The subsequent version in response to the organizers, will maintain on January 2, 2024.
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