By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
The popular Ohworhu annual cultural festival, also known as ‘Ohworhu Edjukpe’ of the Unenurhie people in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State has been slated for September 19, 2024.
A statement released by the Ohworhu chief priest, Olorogun Terry Jabin, aka ‘Dr. Alhaji,’ invites sons and daughters of Unenurhie community and members of the public especially the Delta State government to join them as they celebrate the 2024 edition of the Ohworhu cultural festival with glamour, at the Ohworhu dancing arena in the community.
According to the statement: “The Ohworhu cultural festival of the Unenurhie people is scheduled to hold on September 19th, 2024, featuring masquerade dance as the major cultural activity. While September 18th is the watch night day of the festival. It’s a day set aside for the traditional escorting of brides to the family compounds of their husbands. This is the completing stage of our traditional marriage.
“We therefore call on all Unenurhie children, both at home and in the diaspora to fully participate in the cultural festival, as ways to promote and protect the festival from sudden extinction. Not only that, we have many socio-economic benefits to receive in the community throughout the period of the festival.
“We are also calling on the Delta State government especially the commissioner and staff of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to provide for us the necessary media technology for the coverage and promotion of the cultural festival to the outside world.”
The Ohworhu cultural festival is a masquerade festival, featuring many cultural activities to match. The cultural festival is usually celebrated within nine days without the community embarking on any kind of farming activities throughout the period.