By Benson Obega (The recipient award of Igede Cultural Ambassador by Iyeche Traditional Council, 2020)
'' The society that does not have identity, does not have a destiny to fulfill .'' says Hon. Mrs Comfort Agogo.
Subjecting this golden expression to clinical analysis, several schools of taught has upheld the assertion with or without critical elements to justify whether or not an identification of special species could drive home its virtues.
That is to say the expression caries a fundamental fact. However, other positive ways of life style must fall in line with ' identity' to makes a destination habitable.
Of course, IgedeNation, like any other human common species of race in Animal farm, has been successfully confronted by absence of an underlining critical elements like mutual respect and trust, embracing of love and peace, justice and sense of unity, focus and social resistance to criminality that inadvertently, militating against our desired growth as an indivisible Nation.
However, of all uncertainty, the preservation of cultural heritage is what has certainly, identified IgedeNation with. Yes, this great achievement does not in anyway, served as a prelude to conclude that there is no adulteration of a system by high quality of youthful exorbitant, negative impact of western civilization against our believe as an ancient cultural orientation, and untold inclination to quick -rich syndrome, are all imported social virus to our cultural identity. Life style appears to be challenged.
Though, reducing the quality of whom were, as the foundation by our forefathers is firm, modern infiltration of cultural heritage does not absolutely change our sense of understanding on how Igede people should live and celebrate their father's day annually.
Meeting a relatively young man recently by coin- incidence, Mr Eyi Ochi , a man with a tissue of natural wisdom in his finger once said : '' the peace of a tree, is the peace of a bird who feathered its net on the branches of a tree .'' this expression finds its way to my lonely heart.
By implications, despite our shortcoming, the peace and blessings of our fore- fathers is the inheritance, IgedeNation enjoys always. Both home and Abroad, we shall be peaceful and conquer. Igede must be great!
Igede Agba celebration is a non-ritual festival established to recounts the origin of a special people of Igede speaking language globally. It is not a festival of a wanton display of wealth accumulation but of peace through an atmosphere of a sober reflection.
It is an atmosphere of joy and merriment created to cement an attitude of peaceful co- existence, love and protecting the issues of Igede development.
From the past days of an erudite scholar, Dr. Ogaga Agocha, the late historian to present days of prof Adagba Okpaga prof. Agogo, others and Mr. mike Okwoche of Radio Nigeria, who has published 'an untold secret of Igede origin' on National magazines , Youtube and other media channels ,the story is the same with what my father said.
Igede 's story of her origin and cultural display is lucrative and richer than gold. The glorious memories of some past traditionalists/heroes: Chief Oga Ugaba, Onwu Okpe, Ikande Idikwu, Oga Isaac, chief Ogakwu, Isaac Ikpa, Obega Odigiri and many others worth remembered for onward historical references.
Agba celebration is usually colourized by certain behavioural ingredients: the day is the first Ihigile market in the month of September. It is celebrated with new yams harvested with varieties of soups condiment.
Round tables lunch is observed in each hamlet where internal disputes or enemity are subjected to mutual reconciliation. The Agba. Day usual dressing code is significantly attractive and colourful, Green White and Black.
Traditional dancers of all kinds are mutually displayed at village playground. Elders, Young male and females traveled homes from far and near to be part of such a cultural activity annually.
Ironically, those whose hands are not pure traceable to one offenses or the other that has significantly, led to an exclusion (Bwo' deji) would not be allowed to jointly participated in Igede Agba collective show of events.
To remedy such abnormality, the land must be sanitized through certain sacrifice to be offered by the offender(s) before such a man a group of persons can be reunited into the family-hood.
It is not a mere story. I grew up to witness this. Igede Agba day, Igede people believes that God of peace usually visits his peoples with rainfall. It could be torrential or conventional or at least, a drop of rain in Igede land. We were told, an absence of such in any given years calls for worries and the clan elder should perform the libation to purify the land.
Quite impressive, as the Igede cultural events is progressively attracting the global attention, almost all the continent of the world where Igede indigene are, Australia, UK, United State of America, Dubai , eastern world and others , has ago, been celebrating Igede day without necessarily traveled home.
Indeed, for over three decades, Benue State Government has been paying attention and social recognition to Igede 3rd largest tribal group whose annual days of origin is defined.
Business men, political classes across the states of the federation has been identified with Igede people in several dimension on that day of Agba declared.
Nevertheless, to make it more eventful and historical, a lot of agitations spring from people's minds: '' if Benue State can give almost a hundred days for farming holidays in a year and Igede people ,is believed to contributed not less than fourty percent of farm produce in the state, why our political leaders could not lobby with the state authority to recognise Agba day as one of the holidays ? This is a progressive appeal to making Igede more positioned.
More so, Igede youths are saying, what does it take for our political leaders mostly, at the National level to run Igede Agba events life show on NTA, , AIT and other possible National Television?
This is not an activists criticizing the system but a voice of an ordinary citizens projecting a means of polishing our dear identity and Image before the world.
With happiness of mind, you are reminded that 2022 Igede Agba celebration is on 5th September, 2022 worldwide. A very big congratulation to our Traditional Rulers, the chief custodians of Igede Cultural Heritage and entire citizens of Igede globally.
Thank you! Igede must be great!!
Igede Iyoo!!!
Long live, His Majesty, Adirahu Igede!
Long live, His Royal Highness, Ada utu Oju
and Ada utu Obi!
Long live, Igede 3rd class chiefs and other chiefs!
Long live Igede indigene (home & Abroad)!
Long live, Benue State!
Ben Obega
benobega@gmail.com
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