The weather spoke volumes of the day, and a calm and frenzy day it was. It was the day every son and daughter of Ekopma home and abroad, looked forward to in high hopes.
On February 29, 2020, Ekpoma, the administrative headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State came alive with the celebration of the Ihuen festival by members of the community.
Sons and daughters of Ekpoma kingdom converged on the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma, His Royal Highness, Anthony Abumere II, to showcase their rich cultural heritage.
The festival was like a carnival, as various dancing groups in their costumes held spectators spellbound with their performances. They also used the event to showcase their cuisines such as Ogbono soup or Equisi soup with pounded yam and the famous Ekpoma rice served lavishly to guests and indigenes.
The annual Ihuen festival, it was gathered, signifies the traditional end of the year and the beginning of a new year for the community.
The festival used to celebrate a great warrior of the community called Uda who protected the land from external aggressors and invaders.
The participating communities included Uwenlenobo, Uwenlen Ebo, Uwendova and Ekeke Ogbe, among others.
Non indigenes, especially the Hausa community residing in Ekpoma were not left out of the festival, as the Arewa Football Club of Ekpoma emerged winner in the football competition.
Cultural troupes from various communities that make up the kingdom were there to showcase their dancing skills to the admiration of the audience.
Among the various dancing troupes that entertained with their scintillating performance were the Igbabonalimin dance troupe, Ikhueki market women dance troupe, Odide dance group, Aigbenojie dance group and Aiferaomon cultural group of Ozalla.
The Nigerian Football Supporters Club, Palm Wine Drinkers Club, Red Cross Society and Ambrose Alli University theatre group were on hand to add glamour to the festival.
The festival started on the first day with prayers by Christians and Muslims for the well being and progress of the people and the community.
This was followed by prossessions by the various communities, football and wrestling competitions by indigenes and non indigenes.
During the festival, deserving individuals and chiefs were given awards while indigent students were given scholarships by the traditional ruler.
Community heads who were given awards included Chief Oseghe Enato, the Omisogie of Ekpoma; Chief S. I. Omofuma, the Oghodi of Idumu-Oghidi and Chief William I. Ebohon, the Elo of Ekpoma.
Speaking during the event, the Onojie of Ekpoma, Anthony Abumeri II, said:
“We also use this period to celebrate Uda, the great king and great warrior of the community. Because of his bravery in securing the community, we always refer to him as Uda, the great warrior.”
“During his lifetime, he protected the community against enemies and did many other things which the people of Ekpoma enjoy today.
“Let me use this opportunity to clear some doubts, Ihuen festival is not fetish and you have to celebrate with us and eat with us.”
The Onogie explained that the festival is an avenue for sons and daughters of Ekpoma to come together and discuss the way forward for the community and pray for its progress.
“In the festival, we carry out many things like football competition, wrestling competition, scholarships for indigent students as well as awards to deserving indigenes,” he said.
He said the chiefs deserve the award for their selfless service to his father despite their ages.
He appealed to the government to assist the traditional rulers who are the custodians of culture to enable them celebrate festivals in their domain.
“Traditional rulers hold festivals like Ihuen every year, so it would be nice if government can assist us to hold such ceremonies successfully and showcase our culture and empower the youth,” he said.
Also speaking, Chief Idobowabuez, the High Chief of Ekpoma Kingdom and personal assistant to the Onogie, said the Ihuen festival is not organised to appease any idol or god.
He said: “The festival is just purely for the remembrance of our forefathers who lived to develop and secure Ekpoma Kingdom.
“The festival started during the time of our forefathers, the man (Uda) whom we are celebrating fought and protected our town.
“As you know, in those days, communities faced with a lot of challenges and the man that got the upper hand always became the leader and Uda fought and made Ekpoma what it is today,”
“So, we are celebrating the festival in remembrance of the heroic victories of that man who protected the kingdom and every year, all Ekpoma sons and daughters irrespective of their religion celebrate.”
“For you to know, we are not serving any idol, Christians come to this palace to declare the festival open with prayers”.
He explained that the festival gives Ekpoma sons and daughters both far and near the opportunity to meet once in a year to discuss the affairs of the community.
The Vice Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Ignatius Onimaiwo, said he was at the festival to celebrate with the Onojie who is the traditional ruler of the institution’s host community.
“As you can see, through this kind of festival, the traditional ruler brings the people together, promotes culture and ensures that the youths are engaged.
“The festival is an avenue to engage the youth and remind them of their culture which many don’t even know. The traditional ruler made mention of their warrior who the youths did not even know. So, organising the festival will ensure that culture is passed from generation to generation,” he said.
Also speaking, Samuel Ikpea, the chairman, Nigeria Football Supporters Club, said the festival is used to foster unity among indigenes of the community.
“We are at the festival to support the traditional ruler who is our patron and his support is one of the things that made the club to reach where it is today,” he said.
He said the significance of their participation is to show their love for the traditional ruler and take children of the community out of the streets by making them to realise their talents during the festival so that they can become useful in the future. He added that giving the youth the opportunity to showcase their talents in sport is a good thing for Ekpoma people.
A resident who gave his name as Okhide said the festival was a time for them to enjoy as various types of food were served to the satisfaction all.
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