2024 Ogbaurhie Festival of peace, friendship holds in Ughievwen, Delta State
By Editor
THE 2024 Olympics ended in Paris this month. The Olympics originated from a traditional Greek festival in honour of a god called Olympus. It is now a worldwide event. In Nigeria there are the Igue festival of Benin to remember their ancestors; the Oshun Oshogbo festival is in honour of the goddess of River Oshun; and the New Yam Festival of Igbo people. Many festivals in the world started as events in honour of ancestors and deities. But they are now occasions for celebrating artistic culture, creativity, friendship, joy and peace.
The annual Ogbaurhie Festival of Ughievwen people serves similar purposes. Ogbaurhie (The Mighty Power of Waterways) is in memory of the divine powers that guided Ughievwen people to victory during their exodus from Ogobiri, now Amasuomo, in Bayelsa State. For about 500 years, Ughievwen people have marked this historic occasion of triumph in times of cchallenge.it will take place on Tuesday, August 27, at Aruorho Quarters Arena near Otughievwen Town Hall. Time is 10:00am.
There are religious aspects of Ogbaurhie where members of the four Ughievwen Fraternities gather at the Otughievwen waterfront to offer prayers for unity, peace, and prosperity. As in the case of the Jewish Ark, the officers of the Fraternities preside over these ceremonies; they receive tributes from grateful members seeking long life, increase, peace, and security.
According to the Festival Coordinator-General, Prof. Gordini G. Darah, the cultural and merriment aspects of Ogbaurhie take place in the market square of Aruorho Quarters in Otughievwen Town. Arts of Udje Dance, Ikelike Acrobatics, Bridal Pageant, Fashion Parade, Fishing & Agric Technics, Laughter, Merriment, and Feasting (Onyevwen ve Akperio) take place. Prizes and gifts are won by groups and individuals who excel in artistic displays and crafts. These are the ways Ughievwen people and their friends use the Ogbaurhie occasion to renew their positive energies and gifts of goodwill, friendship, and solidarity. The Festival is our cultural Olympics; it is the symbol of Ughievwen and Urhobo Civilization.
The festival coordinator is accordingly inviting the public to Ogbaurhie Festival 2024.
Water-borne Ark: Ancient Ughievwen people used similar vessel for the exodus from Ogobiri, Amasuoma in Bayelsa State
0 Comment
Just wondering how and when this awareness and joy of rehearsing the historical past became a social and cultural challenge of the people today, or is it for personal aggrandizement? Otherwise, such a show deserves a proper planning of some sorts which should involve the Local Govt Council. But on a very serious note, where are the venues and majorly the waterways for for the carnival displays and how the mobilization of the people can produce a successful outing. I dare say those facilities for such a grandiose festival is absent in today’s arena. What perhaps the proposers of this festival would attempt to provide would just be pockets of quasi-dancers in the local government arena, that is not Ogba’urhie we used to know. And if must make it a carnival of the sort that would attract United Nations Tourism development proper planning is required with timelines.
Just wondering how and when this awareness and joy of rehearsing the historical past became a social and cultural challenge of the people today, or is it for personal aggrandizement? Otherwise, such a show deserves a proper planning of some sorts which should involve the Local Govt Council. But on a very serious note, where are the venues and majorly the waterways for for the carnival displays and how the mobilization of the people can produce a successful outing. I dare say those facilities for such a grandiose festival is absent in today’s arena. What perhaps the proposers of this festival would attempt to provide would just be pockets of quasi-dancers in the local government arena, that is not Ogba’urhie we used to know. And if we must make 2024 a carnival of the sort that would attract United Nations Tourism development attention proper planning is required with timelines in the future