A young filmmaker, Samson E. Ogaga seeks to improve the perception of the Igue Festival through a short film.
The festival is celebrated annually in the Benin Kingdom in Edo State.
The film titled “The untold documentary story of the Bini Igue festival” is to help debunk the perception that the colourful festival is meant to renew the magical powers of the Oba of Benin.
Ogaga told our reporter that the festival is a celebration of love.
He explained that Oba Ewuare used it as an anniversary of his happy and prosperous marriage to Ewere. The Oba had married Ewere and later her sister Oyoyo.
Ogaga said the 11-minnute long film features The Iyase of Great Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, a historian, Dr. Aisien Ekhaguosa and the Custodian of the Institute for Benin Studies, Aikorogie Obobaifo.
Ogaga said such films can help “to uphold the Nigerian cultural heritage.”