08/07/2023
THE OKEAKU FESTIVAL
The Okeaku festival is an annual celebration of the Ezza Nation who are predominantly found in Ebonyi, Benue and Enugu States. It's usually fixed according to the Ezza calendar by "Ochimkpuru" the greatest governing body of Ezza Nation.
Today is a very special day to Ezza Nation wherever they are all over the world. It's a day set out by our progenitors to celebrate brotherhood and unending unity which every person of the Ezza extraction must strive to foster. One of the most important principle of the Ezza Nation is that they are one people and one voice. An Ezza brother cannot shed blood against a brother. It's the greatest taboo to shed a brother's blood or betray him against a stranger.
The Okeaku festival is a trinity celebration which are :
1. A triumphant entry into a new year.
2. Celebration of new yam.
3. The end of hostilities, hunger and the ushering in of bountiful harvest of farm produce .
The hallmarks of the festival usually include:
A. Special family prayers and atonements for the year ahead where every member is expected to be present.
B. Reconciliation amongst brothers in hostility and forgiveness of indebtedness.
C. Sharing of food , drinks and others as a mark of oneness and full time merriment all through the day.
D. Paying of visit to friends and in-laws.
E. Masquerade displays and other dance groups.
It's a time where Ezza people in diaspora are expected to pay homage to their ancestral home, Onueke in Ezza South L.G.A, Ebonyi State. The event kicks off through special prayers from the Eldest men selected from the 12 tribes of Ezza who are the highest governing body of the Ezza Nation and of recent, celebration of Holy Mass by Ezza Reverend Fathers and other Clergymen.
The unique greeting throughout the day is "Anyị abọọ" translated as " We have conquered and entered a new year". The response is usually " Awhaa la abụrụ anyị awhaọma" , "this new year shall be a very good year to us". The exchange of this pattern of greeting continues till the end of the day . Everyone who is greeted must as a matter of practice offer some prayers for every Ezza anywhere in the world that they may prosper in all their endeavors and bring good things home.
Where there is no male around to lead the prayer in a particular family, the women will invite other old men from neighboring homes and their particular kindreds to offer the early morning prayers and libations. The men then move from one household to another offering prayers for security, wealth, protection from evil, prosperity, etc .
The women usually prepare special delicacies for the entire household and friends who will come around starting from "Uza Ukpara" (A mixture of mmanụ urazi, crayfish, salt and roasted local pepper), dried meat, roasted yam, etc.
After the prayers and pouring of libations, the sharing of kola nuts, groundnut, coconut, drinks and others follow immediately.
Ndu Ibeanyi, let's celebrate because it's a time for celebration. May God bless the year ahead, protect us from evil and enrich us in all our endeavors. May we conquer where we are confronted.
God bless Ebonyi State
God bless Ezza Nation
God bless Izzo
God bless Ezeokoha
God bless Oke-Eze.
M. U. ALIOKA Esq.
