Oghu Okwuama London pulls crowd, high profile personalities.
2 min read
Oghu Okwuama London pulls crowd, high profile personalities.
Early last week, Chidi Onwubuariri, a youth activist and cultural revivalist from Ibele, while holding talks with Umuaka Times about the proposed Oghu Okwuama London in Ibele Autonomous Community, disclosed that the 2023 oghu festival would end up as a carnival and the first of its kind in and around Umuaka community.
Indeed the event came as Mr Onwubuariri predicted. The act of organization and crowd control during the carnival was excellent. There was also the heavy presence of security personnel from Akah Ebe Iri and the Nigerian Police.
The oghu started a bit late, around 3:30 pm but as it progressed, the fun and thrills that greeted the event made everyone present to forget the late start. As if the organizers knew what was to take place during the event, they rented what is known in the local parlance as the famous Eke Ibele Central Stadium for the big show. The “stadium” was filled to its capacity during the celebration.
In less than an hour after the takeoff time of the oghu dance, the crowd became almost unimaginable! People from all the towns in Umuaka Municipal Council, Afara and many nearby towns had gathered to witness the first carnival-like oghu dance ever held in Umuaka.
Before the main umu okorocha (oghu dancers) came to the arena, there was a big dance entertainment where about 6 little boys who were less than 10 years old each, held the audience spell bound with their superlative dance steps. The Umuaka Times reporter who was covering the event was totally lost in emotion as tears of joy suddenly ran down his cheeks.
As the dance progressed, top personalities of the event started to arrive. Top among them was the royal father of the day, HRH Eze Caesar Ugochukwu Duruegbusuo, the royal father of Umuele Amazano Autonomous Community. There were also Dr Austin Agbahiwe, Hon Ozioma Worship, the honourable house member representing Njaba LGA at the Imo State House of Assembly.
Mr Martin Emere, the DPO of Njaba Police Division and most importantly, Chief Goddy Amadike, the oghu chief priest whose presence during the event provided a defence mechanism of some sort from radical oghu lovers and masquerades.
On the side of reception and entertainment, more than 70 percent of guests who attended the event, disclosed to Umuaka Times that they all had a lot to eat and drink including the unending supply of suya.
The Oghu Okwuoma London 2023 dance was indeed the first of its kind and the first time such a highly organized oghu would take place in the Ibele and entire Umuaka.
