Ikeji festival

The Ikeji festival is a four day long festival held annually by the Igbo people of Arondizuogu,[1] in Imo state, Nigeria, between the months of March and April to celebrate the harvest of new yams and the Igbo culture. The inception of the Ikeji festival dates back to five centuries and is an Igbo festival which unites all Igbo race across the globe as they return to the south-eastern regions of Nigeria to witness and partake in the festival.[2] The festival is marked with the display of numerous masquerades dancing around the villages, music, and practice of the Igbo traditional religion.[3]

History

There are two theories as to the history of the Ikeji festival but the generally accepted theory propounded by the people of Arondizuogu claimed the first Ikeji festival took place in the 16th century[4] and its purpose then was to solely appreciate the gods of the land for providing them with a bountiful harvest of new yams.[5]

Economic significance

The Ikeji festival serves as a source of revenue for Nigeria through tourism as foreigners as well all the Igbos in diaspora travel back to Arondizuogu to witness the festival.[6]

Ito-Ebule

The Ikeji festival is marked by various activities and the most popular of them all is a competition named Ito-Ebule, which translates to “Untying of the ram”.[7] It is the most anticipated activity and is held on the last day of the Ikeji festival. The Igbo people in diaspora as well as foreigners who travelled to Nigeria solely to enjoy the Ikeji festival are seriously advised not to partake in the activity but only witness it. The Ito-Ebule is characterized by the display of occult powers[8] by various self-proclaimed sorcerers who have come from all regions to willingly partake in the Ito-Ebule competition, it is very restricted and only self acclaimed sorcerers who have by their own accord and will registered to partake in it are allowed to do so whilst others are allowed to only watch. According to the Arondizuogu tradition, the purpose of the Ito-Ebule activity was to ascertain who the most powerful sorcerer in Arondizuogu was. However, over time, it morphed into a free-for-all activity in the sense that if anyone from any part of Nigeria wanted to enter the competition, they were free to do so insofar as they understood the potential fatal risks of partaking in the activity and had agreed to enter the competition regardless. During the Ito-Ebule competition, a ram is tied to a tree and sorcerers who have entered the competition are asked to go and untie the ram. According to the tradition of Arondizuogu, only the most powerful sorcerer amongst them all could successfully untie the ram, the less powerful sorcerers who attempt to untie the ram would lose their consciousness and instantaneously become comatose, while the least powerful sorcerers reportedly die instantaneously after coming in contact with the rope used in tying the ram.[2]

Coincidentally, the most successful sorcerer, who had won the Ito-Ebule contests numerous times by successfully untying the ram annually, was the traditional prime minister of Arondizuogu named Pericoma Okoye.[9]

Criticism

The Ikeji festival has been tagged as a celebration of sorcery due to the Ito-Ebule competition but the people of Arondizuogu have debunked this and claimed the Ito-Ebule is an enduring tradition and a celebration of the Igbo culture and heritage.[10]

In media

The Ikeji festival is clearly referenced and shown in a Nigerian Nollywood movie titled Lion of Africa.

References
  1. "Ebe niile chakere mgbe Arọndịzuọgụ mere Ikeji". BBC News Ìgbò (in Igbo). 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  2. Obi-Young, Otosirieze (2020-12-24). "Ikeji, the Biggest Festival in Igboland". Folio. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  3. "Ikeji Festival In Arondizogu". National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO). 2014-09-17. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  4. "Origin, relevance of Ikeji festival". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  5. "The Ikeji Festival 2021, #1 top things to do in imo, imo, reviews, best time to visit, photo gallery | HelloTravel Nigeria". www.hellotravel.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  6. "Ikeji Festival of Arondizuogu (Imo State, Nigeria)". Afro Tourism. 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  7. "Ikeji Festival, Festivals And Carnivals In Imo State :: Nigeria Information & Guide". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  8. "In pictures: Wearing fancy dress for big yams in Nigeria". BBC News. 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  9. "Perikoma: The Lion of Africa Goes Home–Ifeanyi Calistus | Ikenga Chronicles". Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  10. "Organisers set to unveil Ikeji Festival 2020 logo - The Nation Nigeria". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 2020-03-07. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
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