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The celebration of Mein Deity, known as Diringbia 2024 Ànnual purification, has been concluded in Ogobiri Town.
The celebration, spanning three days, the first in 2024, is the symbolic spiritual cleansing of the kingdom, characterized by offering of sacrifices, pouring of libations with drinks, food and singing, and dancing to cleanse the communities to honour the supreme god of the kingdom, Mein-dringbia, and also pray for the peace and progress of Mein sons and daughters and the Ijaw Nation in general.
Performing part of the sacred rites at Supreme Mein-Diringbia Bou in Ogobiri, headquarters of Mein Kingdom, Chief Priest of Mein-Diringbia Deity, General Godday Smith (Agadagba III), noted that the main focus of the 2024 first quarter purification was to clear the way with sacrifices and prayers, to prepare for the big event slated for November 2024.
The chief priest of Mein-Diringbia Deity, Bounanaowei (The King of The Forest) listed the benefits of the special rites as peace, protection and development for all Mein lands across Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Ondo and Ijaw nation.
The Bounanaowei hinted that the Ijaw people have several unique norms, values, customs, traditions and belief systems inherited and passed down from generation to generation, among which is the Supreme Mein-Diringbia Deity, which is very prominent.
He stressed that, Mein-Diringbia has been in existence since the beginning of the world and urged the people to believe and embrace it which he said does not in anyway affect their Christian lives.
The festival which was well attended by chief priests and traditional worshipers from across different clans in Ijaw land, featured singing and dancing procession, was very remarkable in the history of Ogobiri and Mein Kingdom.
General Godday Smith, popularly known as Bounanawei who hails from Gbekebor Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Kabeama Community and Indiamazi Quarters in Sagbama Town, headquarters of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, reiterated the need to preserve the Ijaw unique culture and traditional heritage in order to attract spiritual blessings.
The supreme Mein-diringbia deity chief priest expressed appreciation to the Amananaowei of Ogobiri, His Royal Highness Samuel Yekwe (Agusele IV) and the people of Ogobiri for their warm reception and peaceful deposition during the epoch making cultural revival and renewal ceremony.
Earlier at Mein-diringbia sacred forrest in Ogobiri, the traditional chief priest of Akan-Mein Kingdom, King John Aki Court (Akanigboro III), Chief priest Adegbe Deity Amassoma, Priest Agusi Oweitari, Chief priest of Benikuru, Odoni Community and Ndoni Timipere, Chief priest Osuopele Deity, Ozobo in Delta State, described the day as a new dawn in Ijaw land as Agadagba III finally resuscitated the Supreme Mein-Diringbia Deity, and commended him for his selfless service, especially the financial contributions he made towards the success of the celebration.
They pointed out that, it was the will of God Almighty that Mein-diringbia and other deities in Ijaw land exist to guide and protect the people against deadly diseases, untimely death, external aggression, among other plagues.
The celebration featured traditional dance performance by MC Story Teller and his Conventional Izon traditional dance band, and Triple Chief Kennedy Duduku dance band added colour to the purification exercise.
