OWERRE OLUBOR CELEBRATES OGBANIGBE FESTIVAL IN GRAND STYLE
By Amos Chukwuekwu
Jubilation and excitement rented the air as the good people of Owerre Olubor in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, celebrated their annual Ogbanigbe festival in grand style.
The peaceful festival which was celebrated on Saturday October 12, 2024, recorded large turnout of sons and daughters of the community both home and abroad.
The participants who rubbed their faces with native chalk which they said symbolized peace and joy, were seen dressed in different attire as part of attraction of the festival.
Speaking with newsmen during a visit to Agboma Quarter, the Isama of the community, Chief Uche Solomon said the Ogbanigbe festival is unique to the people of Owerre Olubor, as it remains one of the legacies left for them by their forefathers.
He disclosed that the festival is one of the ways sons and daughters of the community, both home and abroad come together as one, saying that it unites them as well as gives them joy and peace.
Chief Solomon Uche averred that they will continue to uphold the culture and tradition of their community handed to them by their forefathers, saying that the festival signifies peace, happiness, and unity.
He maintained that Ogbanigbe festival does not contradict the belief of Christians, hinting that the festival is not idolatry.
Also speaking, Mr. Obed Dibie, Mr. Daniel Ekwemuka, Deacon Comr. Egbede Augustine, Chief Samuel Obi, Mr. Ikem Ogechukwu Sylvester, and others, in their separate remarks, affirmed that the Ogbanigbe festival is hereditary from their forefathers, noting that it unifies the people of Owerre Olubor and gives them joy.
They stated that the festival was propagated by their ancestors, pointing out that it is celebrated few days after New Yam festival.
They enjoined sons and daughters of Owerre Olubor to always uphold and embrace their culture and tradition, hinting that the festival does not have anything to do with idol.
On his part, a senior lecturer at the faculty of law and immediate past Dean of the Faculty, University of Delta, Agbor, Prof. Sam Ojogbo said he grew up in the community, and he is conversant with the culture of his people.
He narrated the past events that led to the celebration of Ogbanigbe festival in Owerre Olubor, saying that the people danced round the five Quarters of the community displaying different dancing steps.
The Professor stated that some of the Christians in the community have eluded the festival because of the rites that are performed during the festival especially towards the end of the festival, saying that it is not idolatry, rather, a celebration of life and survival from ugly events in the past.
He categorically stated that there is nothing like sacrifice during Ogbanigbe festival, affirming that many misconstrued the function and usage of native chalk during the festival.
He added that the native chalk is used to subdue and cool the body temperature during the festival, noting that the festival is never fetish as envisaged by many in and outside Owerre Olubor.
In his words, “We are all Christians, there is nothing sacrificial in Ogbanigbe festival; The festival is about unity, it unifies the people of the Community; It helps to promote the unity of the Community”, he concluded.
Also speaking, Mr. Nwokolo Andrew described the Ogbanigbe festival as unique and awesome, saying that it is a festival that brings the people of the community together.
He disclosed that the festival is the only celebration that brings large number of those in diaspora home, noting that most of them do not come home during Christmas celebration.
He affirmed that most of the youths believe that participants of the festival are practicing idolatry, saying that even the time of Christ on earth, they have their tradition that they celebrate.
Mr. Andrew stated that every society have their own unique tradition, stressing that their festival is a celebration of life hence they dance to thank God for the gift of life on earth.
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Also speaking, the President-General of Owerre Olubor Progressive Union, Youth Wing, Mr. Isaac Emmanuel traced down the significance of the festival to the memory lane, saying that they must uphold their culture and tradition at all times.
He enjoined the good people of Owerre Olubor community to maintain the already existing peace in their community as well as love one another, maintaining that a community progresses only when there is peace, unity, and love.
While advising the youths, the PG, youth wing, averred that their culture must not be misconstrued as idolatry, adding that they inherited the culture from their forefathers and as such, they must not run away from their culture, rather, they should do everything within their powers to improve on it.
Mr. Emmanuel used the opportunity to commend the Delta State Government for their good work in Owerre Olubor, saying that the community is indeed grateful.
He appealed to the government to come to their aid and build a functional bole hole, hinting that as an agrarian community, they need water and other basic need that will improve their lives.
Ochibani Okwudi Ngwai, while narrating the history of Owerre Olubor, enjoined the people to always hold on to the culture and tradition of the community, saying that the festival is always peaceful.
He further urged the youths to maintain the already existing peace in Owerre Olubor and desist from any activity that will dent the good name of their father land.