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By Young Erhiurhoro, Warri
The Unenurhie community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State was recently in festive celebrations as a retired senior Navy officer and indigene of the community, Mr. Solomon Akpososo, was conferred with the revered Unugbedjor traditional chieftaincy title of the Ohworhu cultural festival.
The traditional event which took place at the residence of the Ohworhu chief priest, Olorogun (Pa.) Samson Ughojor Abrucha, who also doubles as the oldest man (Okpako-Orere) of Unenurhie community witnessed the initiation rites performed by the chief priest on the new intake.
Addressing our correspondent during the reception held at his residence in the community after the initiation rites, the retired Navy officer said, “I’m very happy to join the league of traditional chiefs in my community. This is the best place to be. My aim of taking this traditional chieftaincy title is to help, as a cultural promoter, to promote our cultural festival of Ohworhu to international standard while the white men will come again as in the colonial times to catch the glimpse of the festival now in modern practice.
“I want to appeal to our people especially those of us in the diaspora to emulate the Igbo and the Yoruba people by visiting home during festive celebrations like this our own. It’s a time to share together,” he said.
Meanwhile, Unenurhie people’s annual cultural festival of Ohworhu Edjukpe has been fixed to hold on September 15, 2020 as night vigil and day for escorting brides whose dowries are newly paid to their husbands, according to the tradition and custom of the people. September 16, however, is set aside for the main cultural dance.
Ohworhu cultural festival is a masquerade dance which was originated by Achovwor, a son to the founder of Unenurhie community many centuries ago.
Addressing those that gathered at the venue, including the traditional chiefs (Ilorogun), the Ohworhu chief priest, Olorogun Pa. Samson Ughojor Abrucha, told the indigenes and those that are invited to this year’s cultural celebration to strictly adhere to the safety measures laid down by the NCDC with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic. He however advised everybody to put on their face masks and to also obey social distancing protocol during the cultural dance.
Speaking in the same vein, Olorogun Johnson Efedudu, who is the spokesman of the Ohworhu deity appealed to the Delta State ministry of Culture and Tourism to help upgrade the cultural festival by supporting the community with modern communication gadgets in the entertainment industry to invigorate new life into the cultural event. He also appealed to all sons and daughters of Unenurhie community both at home and in the diaspora to come home at a time like this, especially for their children to know the culture and history of their people.
The hallmark of the traditional event was a special dance staged round the community, led by the traditional chiefs. The dance is a signal to the people of the community that Ohworhu Edjukpe cultural festival is around the corner and set to hold.
