‘Ogun, Son of Óba Óhęn’: In the matter of Igue story on stage
Statement By Adaze Omorodion S. Uwaifo, Interim Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Association for Cultural and Economic Renaissance of Edo (ACERE) on the scuttling of the stage performance of Igue Story on November 24 at MUSON Centre
RECENTLY, Omo n’ Óba n’ Ędo, Ęwuare II sought an injunction against ACERE for allegedly wanting to celebrate Igue Festival in Lagos without the permission of the Omo n’ Oba. The court denied the request. As we all know, ACERE never intended to celebrate Igue Festival in Lagos or anywhere else. I have no intention of second-guessing here why the Ęguae misjudged our plans. ACERE’s intended play was about Ogun, son of Oba Ohen, who was crowned Oba Ewuare 1, circa 1441. His life events provided the pillars for all the facets of Igue, Benin’s annual thanksgiving festival whether it’s held in the Ęguae, in homes of Benin people, or around the Benin Kingdom.
Stories about many of the events of Ogun’s life have been in the public space for several decades. Specifically, the stories are also in a book, Edo Cultural Voyage, that I edited in 2005 after Okhaemwen Samuel Igbę, the Iyasę of Benin had put it together. Published in February 2006, Uku Akpolokpolo, Omo n’ Oba n’ Ędo, Erediauwa of blessed memory, wrote the foreword to the book. Igue Festival itself was a chapter in the book, page 111 et seq. Written by Ókhaęmwęn Nosakhare Isekhurhe, then the recorder of Benin history, it was, and still is regarded as authentic. However, ACERE suffered humiliation, lost sweat, emotion and several millions of Naira for canceling the event. I remain convinced that that was better than confronting the Ómó n’ Óba in court because, we believe that that would have seriously embarrassed our hallowed institution.
In spite of our financial loss, at least one of us suggested that ACERE should go to the Ęguae to apologize to the Óba. That was contrary to the views of all those, who were directly involved. Like me, they believe that apology is neither an emblem of loyalty nor of civility. Even for the servile, it’s wrong to suffocate the high and the mighty with songs of lamentation and so, prevent him or her from knowing the way of the righteous. ACERE did nothing wrong; if it does, it will definitely apologize.
Our plan was to project Ędo people and their culture to the world. The world is still there and waiting. We have a play, Ogun, the Son of Óba Óhęn, that does just that. Ędo and other Nigerians at home and in the diaspora have said they enjoy it. Before it’s too late, let’s hedge our loss, tweak the title as I have done, and go back to MUSON Centre; lessons learned. God bless you all in the years ahead.
Adaze Omorodion S. Uwaifo
