HRM Uvietobore Ogbogbo, subjects re-enact Ozọrọ culture, traditions on Opute Day 2024
By Anote Ajeluorou
DECEMBER 26, 2024 was a joyous day and one every son and daughter of Ozọrọ Kingdom felt pride his or her veins during the celebration of the ancient town’s traditions designed to acquaint young ones with how their ancestors also celebrated in their own time. Also, His Royal Majesty Anthony Uvietobore Ogbogbo, Ibuka I, alongside his Queen, Her Royal Majesty Ofejiro Elo Ogbogbo, danced into the arena as they were both clad in resplendent red dresses of royalty that are signature associated with the royal couple.
It was Opute Day 2024 held at Opute Hall, and Emọ Opute (Opute’s children) came out in their numbers to celebrate and make merry and thank God for seeing them through another end of year. It was a time to show solidarity and oneness as children of Opute and his beloved wife, Ozọ, widely known as Ozọrọ. It was a day the great, great, great, great grandchildren of their five sons that also make up the five quarters of Ozọrọ – Uruto, Urude, Erovie, Etevie and Oruamudhu – set aside to celebrate of their grand patriarch, Opute. The full participation of the revered monarch, Ozọ Idhudhu, Ibuka I, signified a community enjoying peace and modest prosperity in a town reputed to be one of the fastest growing towns in Delta State. With a newly approved full-fledged Southern Delta University, Ozọrọ’s ascendancy as a great town is assured.
With the typically designed Niger Delta white lace tops over multi-coloured print wrappers, walking sticks and hats for the men and white blouses and similar coloured wrappers for the women, the festive mood was unmistakable, and Opute Hall became fully agog. The royal female dancers were clad in flowing wrappers wound from their chest down to their feet with their necks adorned in royal red beads and on their heads were set intricately woven beaded gears; they gave the royal couple, who joined them, a deserving royal dance. Indeed, the royal couple’s enthusiasm for the festivity was so charming they danced all the way from the entrance into the arena to an endearing popular Isoko music tune. It was such regal dance that elicited a loud ovation from the huge crowd. HRM Ogbogbo also broke and blessed the traditional kola nut and prayed for peace and continuing progress over the ancient town he has presided over since 2007 when he ascended the throne of his fathers.
HRM Anthony Uvietobore Ogbogbo, Ibuka I and his Queen, Her Royal Majesty Ofejiro Elo Ogbogbo welcoming his subjects to the festival
While welcoming participants to this year’s Opute Day, the President-General of Ozọrọ Progress Union (OPU) Ọdiọ Berkeley Eloviano Asiafa was beside himself with excitement at this year’s festivity. He said he took no part in planning it as he’d done in past years. Having singlehandedly organised the festival in more than five years, he thought it was time he bequeathed the organisational skills to young persons, so he could assume a supervisory role. The duty fell on his fellow executive members to plan this year’s, he informed his audience, noting that he was proud of the outcome of their organisational ability. He then reflected on what Opute Day means, its impetus in advancing the traditions of the founding fathers and bequeathing same to young ones, so they experience what their ancestors did in years past.
“I welcome you all to Opute Day and thank God almighty for preserving our lives to this day,” Ọdiọ Asiafa said. “But in the past four years, I have singlehandedly organised Opute Day, but this year I decided to stay away, so that my other executive members handled all the planning of the activities. I thank them for their dedication and hardwork and organisation of this year’s Opute Day. I bring you recollections this day; that it pleased the father of our great town the Ovie of Ozọrọ of Kingdom, Barr. Anthony Uvietobore Ogbogbo, Ibuka I, for us to have this celebration. He thought it wise that at the end of every year, all the sons and daughters of Ozọrọ who are in ukane (sojourned in other lands for economic benefits) should endeavour to return home, and join those at home here, so that the customs and traditions that our fathers celebrated in ancient days we would have the opportunity to showcase them to our children and young ones who are growing up. That way they get to know how our fathers lived. That is the meaning of Opute Day, and this is the 12th edition.”
Ọdiọ Asiafa enumerated some of the highlights of Opute Day that include various ancient dances and contests and a general community camaraderie of wining and dinning together in a feel-good atmosphere. The president-general then recalled how HRM Ogbogbo, the chief inheritor of Ozọrọ culture and traditions, has since expressed his passion and thoughtfulness in establishing the festival as a way of preserving the traditions of the town he presides over in a significant way that brings everybody together. He said HRM Ogbogbo is passionate about inculcating Ozọrọ custom and traditions among the town’s children, so those traditions are not lost, and by way of providing a roadmap from the past to the future to help the young ones navigate life effortlessly by taking pride in their past.
“It is a day our fathers and mothers used to perform dances such as Akwakwa, Opiri, Ikelike, Imawho, Udje and Abọmuo (wrestling contest),” the president-general said. “Our father (HRM Ogbogbo) present here then decided that those things our forefathers used to celebrate are getting lost and our children don’t know them any more. But Opute Day will help all of us to remember these things, so that as our children are growing up we should then show them the customs and traditions of Ozọrọ. That is why we are gathered here today.”
Ikelike (stilt) performer
Although the day fell on Ozọrọ big market day, also known as Uje-logbo, which would have warranted the market being shut for such an important event, Ọdiọ Asiafa said he decided against it, saying Ozọrọ is no longer a village and too big to be subjected to such backward ways of doing things. He said he valued and respected the economic activities of the great mothers who run the market, alongside others who come from far and near to patronise Eki Uje-logbo (the big market).
“Unfortunately, today fell on Uje-logbo market day. But not to worry; we will have a grand Opute Day today still. In those days, we should have had the market shut just so everyone can be here, but times have since changed. Ozọrọ is no longer a village; it’s a fast-emerging city in Delta State. So we must be current in our dealings, especially with so many people (erara/strangers) who have made Ozọrọ their ‘ukane’, their home the way we have made other places ukane for our sons and daughters.”
The open air cultural activities were spectacular, as different groups of dancers and performers thrilled the throng of people who had come to enjoy Opute Day. From Opiri dancers, to Udje dancers, Imawho masquerades to Ikelike (stilt) dancers and fire-eaters, it was a full fun day. The drummers, the flutists, the agogo and ishekere makers were all besides themselves in frenzied contest to outdo each other.
As Opute Day 2024 ended, planning machinery for the 2025 edition is already underway, with the President-General Ọdiọ Asiafa at its commanding height. And all Ozọrọ sons and daughters in ukane who couldn’t make it in 2024 are enjoined to plan for the 2025 edition, and see it as a time to bond with homies and others. Opute Day is not a story anyone should be told; being part of it gives immense joy and cultural fulfilment. Visitors also came from other Isoko and far-flung communities, and they all had a swell time savouring Opute Day 2024 with an array of irresistible Isoko dishes of banga and owo soups and starch, garnished with dry fish and assorted condiments. Opute Day is it!
President-General of Ozọrọ Progressive Union (OPU), Ọdiọ Berkeley Eloviano Asiafa (left); HRM Anthony Uvietobore Ogbogbo, Ibuka I, and his Queen, Her Royal Majesty Ofejiro Elo Ogbogbo making a grand entry into the arena at Opute Hall, Ozọrọ, Delta State
