Call it a show of tradition, glamour and celebration, you may be right, as the Monarch of Ebu Kingdom in Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Paul Odilile Opili ‘Onu’ Umukojordu, the Onu of Ebu Kingdom marked this year’s Otu Onu Ebu 2024 (New Yam Festival). The event, held at the weekend, September 28, 2024 at the King’s Palace, located at Ogor quarters in Ebu.
At exactly 12 pm of that day, the event took off, with the King and his Chiefs, gathered at the “Atakpa Ogwa”, to offer special prayer to their ancestors for a successful planting and harvest season. Before the celebration, the King had not eaten the new yam, but with the celebration done, his right to eat the new Yan begins.
Immediately after the special prayers to their ancestors, led by the monarch himself, pounded yam, with soup prepared with specially made earthen pot was served the kind and the chiefs, referred to as “Apiles”, with drinks, noticably, the traditional Ebu drink.
As the traditional aspect of the ceremony went on at the ‘Atakpa Ogwa’, the King and his Chiefs were entertained with traditional Ebu songs, produced by the Ucheagene Traditional Drummers, headed by Sunday Chukwuka.
Among the Akpeli’s (Chiefs) who were on ground to celebrate the New Yam Festival with the King were: The oldest man, referred to as ‘Uji’ in Ogor quarters, where the King comes from, Akpeli Fredrick Ndudi Akwue; Akpeli Anthony Agochu, Akpeli Achije Solomon, Akpeli Joseph Iyemo, Akpeli Issac Agboma, Akpeli Ojere Ekpe, and Akpeli Anthony Amaya.
Soon after the traditional aspect of the ceremony was concluded, the King headed for his Palace, in company of his Cheifs for the reception and further ceremonies.
Dressed in adorable traditional royal white regalia, made with the traditional Anioma Akwaocha, the King, in company of his wife, Her Majesty Ojogwu Obogwu Onu Clara Opili, and his Chiefs were set to receive and appreciate the guests who came from far and near to celebrate the New Yam Festival with him.
The monarch, who prayed for peace and progress in Ebu Kingdom as he blessed the kolanuts, called for increased spirit of unity and love among Ebu people, appreciated God for the ceremony, and for a successful harvest season, as he received gifts and eulogies from many who came to honour him. On hand to entertain the crowd was the “United Brothers and Sisters dance group of Ebu”. Perhaps the highlight of the entertainment was the King and Chiefs (Akpelis) dance, led by the King himself, supported by his wife to entertain the audience.
Speaking on the significance of the New Yam Festival, the oldest man in Ogor quarters, Akpeli Fredrick Ndudi Akwue, said that apart from signaling the eating of the new yam by the King, the occasion brings to mind and remembrance, what their forefathers in Ebu used to do as King in the town. As King and father to Ebu, he gathered everybody together at an event sich as this to celebrate the New Yam, regarded as “Our Father’s Day”.
He prayed to God Almighty to watch over the Onu of Ebu, and grant him many more years of service to Ebu Kingdom. He advised the King to eat and remember those behind him.
To the youth in Ebu, he appealed to them to hold on to and sustain their cherished tradition in the celebration of the New Yam. “The boy of today is the man of tomorrow”, he added.
The ceremony was capped by good will messages and eulogies to the King by the Akpeli’s (Chiefs) and deep appreciation by the King himself to all those who came from far and near, to make the occasion a successful one.
For the purpose of history and benefit of those who may not know the significance of Ebu in the socio-economic equation of Delta State and beyond, this may be food for thought.
Ebu is a frontier town located at the horn of Delta State and at the Western Bank of the River Niger. It is situated in a strategic location between Delta and Edo State in the North, Anambra State in the East across the River Niger and a link to Kogi State, this makes Ebu a nodal town. It is bounded in the South and South West by Illah, Ukala Okpuno and Ezi respectively. Though there exist several historical facts as to the origin of Ebu, she is believed to have been founded by a Bini Prince in the 16th Century, named Ubueni.
Evidence suggests that Ubueni may have met some Ighala people on the land, which made it an admixture of Igala and Edo, but predominantly Igala. It has also been said that the Ighala language spoken by Ebu people is a fall out of the pre-colonial struggle by the Binis and Igalas for supremacy in which the Igala had an upper land. This has created a form of identity problem for Ebu due to its geographical location among Igbo speaking people.
The plight of Ebu community, the only Igala speaking community in the heart of the Igbo of Delta North senatorial district is similar to that of the Igala speaking communities in Edo and Anambra States. The import of these developments is the seeming low economic activity, slow pace of infrastructural development, low enrolment in Schools and the continual exclusion of Ebu indigenes from State and Federal appointment among others.
Interestingly, the administrative strength of Ebu as a community has always been determined by its internal cohesion, social organization, political economy and external relations.
However, the installation of a new Onu of Ebu, six years ago in the person of His Royal Majesty Paul Odilile Opili, has remarkably remained a rallying point for the Ebu people, a source of hope and strength to the local traditional administration, thus bringing about the achievement of set goals, unity and economically viable community.
Worthy of mention was the fact that, in what could be said to be his vote of thanks at the ceremony, the Onu Ebu himself did not hesitate to appreciate all those in his Kingdom who, in one way or the other have remained committed and steadfast to the growth and development of Ebu Kingdom.
‘ You are the solid pillars that have made me to succeed in ruling over this great kingdom. ‘When there are issues to be addressed, you stood by me; you made my work easier. I thank you very much. And may God Almighty bless you all,” the Onu Ebu said.
