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By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
In spite the absence of government presence, the people of Yenakan, hometown of ex-minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, witnessed the gathering of other Atissa communities as it played host to the Uge Adiafaa Atissa Yenakan 2019.
The Uge Adiafaa Atissa cultural festival is an age long opportunity for a gathering of the people of Atissa in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. It has been in existence for the past one hundred years and is celebrated by the twelve communities that constitute the Atissa clan.
The uniqueness of the festival is its rotation among the twelve clans.
This year’s edition was hosted by Yenakan, the home town of former minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, and was tagged ‘Uge Adiafaa Atissa Yenakan 2019.’
The people have not only treasured the festival, but hold it in very high esteem. It is semblance of the new yam festival during which prayers were offered for bumper harvest and God’s protection for the farmers.
The festival was founded by late Chief Fredrick Adugu Simangi (Ogbotom Edede IV of Atissa Kingdom) one hundred years ago.
In a welcome address, His Royal Majesty King Godwin Igodo, the Ogbotom Edede (VII) Ebeni – Ibe Atissa said this year’s edition was very unique since it also marked the 100th year of the festival’s existence, and is hence dubbed the Centenary celebrations.
He said the festival is the only cultural celebration by the people, and an opportunity to bring sons and daughters of the kingdom, both within and in diaspora, together, stressing that it also serves as a rallying point designed to foster brotherhood and cultural re-invigoration.
“We, as people, must continue to define and re-define our identity and promote those positive aspects of our culture, while doing away with those that carry negative consequences,” he said.
King Igodo stated that being the host to the seat of power in Bayelsa State, they are widely admired for their peaceful disposition and they will continue in this admirable way in order to enhance and encourage economic growth and development.
He urged anyone with one form of grievance or the other in all the communities in the kingdom, especially those relating to chieftaincy tussle, to sheath their sword and toe the path of peace, adding that concerted efforts must therefore be made by those involved to dialogue in the spirit of give and take so that these grievances are amicably resolved.
He also admonished the youths to shun cultism, gangsterism, banditry and brigandage which are ill winds that blow nobody any good.
“To our youths, I see you for who you are – the leaders of tomorrow. Get yourselves prepared to take over the baton of leadership. You must therefore use the circumstances to get good and qualitative education or skills. You should be hands on deck to take over effectively. It is not our culture to kill or maim our fellow humans,” King Igodo said.
He also commended them for being very co-operative and always ready to key into all events that are being lined up for this year’s epochal Uge Adiafaa and extolled the courage of the women which has resulted to a bountiful harvest.
Chairman of the Central Working Committee (CWC) HH Ovieakini Amos said the festival is a cultural showpiece of Atissa to the world, promotes unity and steadfastness of their people, tightens their bond of relationship with their Epie kin and kith, unites their sons and daughters in diaspora, promotes unity and serves as means of passing their culture from generation to generation.
He called on the Bayelsa State government to come to their aid in providing social amenities such as transformers to enable them and other communities within their precinct to enjoy electricity in spite of their proximity to seat of government which is a stone throw away. He also pleaded for roads to connect Famgbe to Ikolo and shore protection for Ogbogoro.
Ovieakini Amos further lamented and decried “the failure” of their sons and daughters that had been in government to attract development to the rustic communities despite their nearness to the seat of power.
Also in their list of demands are the construction of a bridge, dredging of the Epie Creek for easy navigation and ease of farming and fishing and the rehabilitation of the moribund water tank. They commended Hon Oforji Oboku for the construction of concrete walk-way which enables one to enter the community after being ferried across the creek at the Federal Medical Centre.
Bayelsa State deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribioghah John Jonah (retd), in his response described the Uge Adiafaa as one cultural festival, a potential tourism aspect that can be exported to foreign countries as veritable income earner.
He said he has being attending the festival since he assumed office and commended them for using it to foster their cohesion and a platform of unity among the twelve communities. He also commended the peaceful disposition of the Atissa youths and leadership of the kingdom and called other communities in the state to emulate them, as he charged its youths to shun cultism and other social behaviors.
“Am always fascinated by the dance procession of the women that appeared in different dresses,” he said.
On their request for social amenities, the deputy governor told the community that government is desirous of spreading amenities to all nooks and crannies of the state, adding that the Yenakan Community will not be an exception. “Development is defined by the least developed areas,” he said.
In an interview, chairman of the occasion, HH Okpoebi Righteous Gwegwe, Ogiligba 1 of Atissa kingdom reiterated the importance of the festival to include fostering of unity, love and oneness among the twelve communities of Atissa, adding that as a cosmopolitan city, given the advantage of being the state capital, their expectations from government has been very high.
He said that festival is devoid of fetish practices and is not tied to any deity, hence it (the festival) culminated with a non-denominational church service.
Another chief from Ovom Community, Chief ThankGod Gagbe agreed that over the years they had been using the Uge Adiafaa to promote their cultural heritage and for tourism promotion, which has led to a variety of activities lined up for the festival and modernizing it.
The activities include a thug of war between the men and women, a dance competition where trophies were always given to deserving communities after the dance procession by the women in different apparels and presentation of basketful of yams to the Royal Majesty for his prayers to the women for bumper new harvest season. “We also used the festival to celebration our liberation,” he added.
Another flavor to this year’s Uge Adiafaa was the conferment of chieftaincy titles on some deserving sons and daughters of the clan who had distinguished themselves in their chosen areas of human endeavor.
According to the HRM King Godwin Igodo, the conferment of chieftaincy titles was for leadership, authority and Glory of God.
Speaking to journalists, one of the conferees, Chief Noble Akenge, a foremost environmentalist and former special adviser to Goodluck Jonathan, eulogized his people for considering him worthy for the chieftaincy title which he said he will cherish and it will spur him to continue to do his best in anything he embarks upon, especially to help humanity to develop. He promised never to disappoint the confidence his people reposed in him.
The festival was attended by all the Ebekens of Atissa kingdom (paramount rulers), traditional title holders in Atissa Kingdom and Ebenitom Fina Eken of Atissa Kingdom (women leaders).
Also in attendance were politicians such as the senator representing Bayelsa Central, Senator Douye Diri, Arc Reuben Okoya, one of foremost contenders for the November 16 candidate and Hon Oforji Oboku among others.