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By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
The age-long cultural stilt dance of the ancient Uwheru kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State was recently revived and celebrated among the people with much enthusiasm and vigour.
The festival which drew together sons and daughters of the kingdom and cultural enthusiasts from far and near across the country, again presented the festivities and tourist attraction inherent in African cultural festivals, as there were various dancing groups including women and youths with different dancing styles and attires which featured prominently in the arena and entertained the viewers throughout the duration of the cultural celebration.
Speaking with our correspondent during the event, the chief priest of Onidjor deity, also known as ‘Ovie-Ade,’ who watched the various events lined up for the occasion with keen interest and joy said, “This stilt cultural dance is another important cultural festival of the great Uwheru people. It’s celebrated once in a while. It’s an age-long festival which was almost going into extinction until the Uwheru people now took a bold step to revive it this year. This is what we are watching today.
“Many of our cultural festivals here in Urhobo land are already going into extinction or having very poor participation and performance because of the kind of Christianity we are practicing in our various communities including this our Uwheru community.
“Cultural festivals are part of our culture as a people. Therefore, we shouldn’t be discouraged from participating in them by our pastors and Christians. Participating in cultural festivals has nothing to do with idol worshipping as a form of religion.”
The chief priest however called on the Delta State government especially the ministry of Culture and Tourism to give financial aid to communities during celebration of cultural festivals and to also make available state of the art modern facilities like television and radio to promote Urhobo cultural festivals.
In the same vein, Chief (Hon.) Benjamin Ohworeko, a respected chief and leader in Uwheru kingdom called for religious tolerance among the Uwheru people by respecting each other’s religious rights, so as to avoid incessant religious crisis in the land.
He also thanked the organizers of this year’s Ikenike cultural dance especially the youths and women for boldly coming out in their numbers to partake in all the cultural activities.
Chief Ohworeko however appreciated the support of Uwheru Traditional Council of Chiefs and other notable individuals for their contributions towards the success of the week long cultural festival.
High point of the event was when the stilt dancers started entertaining the crowds with their scintillating dancing steps which attracted the ‘bigger boys’ in spraying crisps of naira notes on them with much funfare. It was truly a memorable event to behold, observers said.
