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| Prince Ibhaze and friends |
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| Royal Party at d Palace |
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| Prince Kelly and Relatives |
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| Onogie of Urohi |
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| Dance time at the Royal Palace |
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| Chief Isekhure of Urohi |
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| Queen of Urohi |
Across Urohi community and among the people of Urohi, Edo State of
Nigeria in the diaspora, the last weekend of every January, as it is
now, is gladdened with the celebration of Urohi Annual Festival which
is best pictured in the framing by Chinua Achebe’s work as far back as
in the 1950s.
As
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (1958) describes: “The pounded yam
dish placed in front of the partakers of the festival was as big as a
mountain. People had to eat their way through it all night and it was
only during the following day when the pounded yam “mountain” had gone
down that people on one side recognized and greeted their family members
on the other side of the dish for the first time."
Urohi People are the inhabitants of Urohi Community, Esan West LG; Edo
Central Senatorial District of Edo State, Nigeria, rule by an Onogie
(Monarchical King), the Community is known for
agricultural produces like rice, pineapple, yam, cassava, orange, mango
and guava, hence tagged “The Food Basket of Edo State”. Craft
works with wares such as carving, hand-woven clothes, ebony rings,
bowls, ash-trays, flower pots and bronze objects together with the art
of basket-making which are veritable works of art like shopping baskets,
waste paper baskets and farmer’s wicker baskets are major skills
found among Urohi People. Urohi Community holds the highest community
in Esan Land that harbors Farm Settlers and community inter-marriages
record. It is visible and proven.
At this annual festival, there were dance ceremonies, gift exchange, marriages, young beautiful faces appeared in their new wears, settlement of minor and major disputes among families, friends and leaders, outsiders and visitors from other tribes, communities, towns, cities and countries visited Urohi Community, the people meals were tested and eaten to satisfaction, the people mode of dressing were copied, the beautiful and eloquent accent of Esan Language softened the hearts that attended the festival. Trading flourished paving ways for settlers to resident in Urohi Community and contributed to the known inter-community/tribal marriages.
By last Friday of January annually, the starting day of the annual festival, chieftainship titles are honored on well meaning people selected to be honored by the Royal Palace, crowd of people surged with energy and vivid animation. Electrified participatory charm was seen everywhere. There was an infectious spirited aura of being at a historical festival of people heritage and culture.
The
next day which was Saturday, dignitaries, thousands of visitors, dances,
enormous site seeing ceremonies, tributes to the Royal Palace,
Chieftaincy titled holders were seen in their dignify attires and head
cut styles, the aromas of different cookings and passage of cooked foods
here and there make passersby to over fed even without tasting the food
yet. A visit to the festival was a sure trip!
During the festival and after the festival on Sunday being the last
Sunday of January annually, sorrows vanished, future life partners
chosen, misdemeanors checked and hooliganisms minimized among youths and
visitors.
Thank you for your visit to Urohi Community Annual Festival.
Long Live HRH, AIDENOGIE 1, Long Live the People of Urohi, Long Live Esan People, Long Live Nigeria.
By Prince Kelly Udebhulu.
You can tweet to @princekelly75
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