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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