Sunday, 23 April 2017

Owhe Festival: Its preparation & Celebration



Owhe clan is in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.  The clan is one of the seventeen clans that make up the Local Government Area in Isoko.
Preparation For The Festival

Owhe clan has nine prominent gods:- Aghaluwe, Oworu, Ovo, Otor, Orietor, Oturohogbo, Gbator, Ogbelueh and Oyise-Owhe, in which Owhe is the senior of the nine gods.

The Oyise Owhe festival is so honoured so much that elaborate preparation is usually carried out before it is celebrated.  The festival takes place once in every three years and last for one week.  When it is getting to the time of the celebration the “Oyise gods” which serves as the symbol of unity, peace and progress appears to people in various ways. 

A day is normally fixed by the Odion who performs the duties of the Prime Minister at the Ogbodu quarter of Akiewhe, for the clearing of Edheide (groove).  The traditional road Oyise (Owhe gods) passes to visit his children.

The clearing starts in the morning from the quarter of Ovo followed by Uruogbe and Uthatho.  During the process of clearing, there are chanting of war songs and dancing.  Cutlasses are thrown to the air and caught up by their owners.

The clearing of Edheide is a day that the people try themselves if the gods of Owhe is still in active existence, because she is a goddess of war.  After clearing, the three quarters will have to meet at the shrine where the Oletu Okpikoko will lead the troop to the Oletu Olegbo Palace.  That day cutlasses and swords are used in reckless abandon, to gain entrance to the Oletu-Ologbo compound. 

At this state if any person is able to enter the compound and kill the Oletu Ologbo, such a killer becomes the new Oletu Ologbo because the Oletu Ologbo is supposed to be the strongest warrior to lead the people to war in times of crises.  

But today this battle is just a mock battle to show what used to be in practice in ancient times. After clearing of Edheide, the Oletu have to meet and fix a date for the celebration of the Oyise-Owhe festival.

Celebration Day
The Oyise Owhe festival is celebrated April of every four years.  The last celebration was done in 1999.  The Oyise Owhe festival is performed by all villages that make up Owhe Clan.  The festival involves much artistic decoration. 

It is a Seven day business.

The first day, all the quarters move to Otor-Owhe with singing and dancing.  This day is usually the most colourful day during the celebration period.  The day of celebration is usually ‘Uje’ (a day after the market day).  It is a day full of various activities from morning to night.


Owhelogbo (formally called Ihuelogbo) procession arrives first at the shrine followed by Otor-Owhe.  They move in large numbers in decent dresses with their elephant tusks being blown by their followers, singing and dancing wonderfully.  The priestess who carries the “Ekpeti” (the god’s box) follows the processions as they dance towards the groove where the god lives.

Uthatho which is Akiewhe the youngest of the children arrive last. As soon as Akiewhe, the youngest son arrives with the procession, the service begins.  The climax of the festival starts as soon as the Chief Priest arrives at the arena with volumes of enthusiastic cheers and jubilation from the priest and priestesses and the entire spectators.


The three structures representing the three quarters of Owhe are carried down to the groove surrounding the shrine building from the various quarters.  These gods’ boxes are carried by the “Izere” (Priestess of the gods) well dressed in “Ibosu” (white wrapper). The first one to arrive at the groove is the “Ekpeti Owhe” (Owhe gods box) followed by Owhelogbo and lastly “Ivri” which is the most interesting aspect of the festival.

After the arrival of the three structures, the Chief Priest performs rituals on the offering as people present them.


It is at this stage that men and women show their riches through gorgeous dressing everyday for seven days.  During this time, different cultural dances feature for the period of seven days.

Culled from Delta Heritage.



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