Ora-Eri: Beautiful display of culture as Ezenri holds last ofala

From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu

Igbo culture was at full display recently in Ora-Eri community, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, during the last Ofala festival of Ezenri Emmanuel Nriagu, the late traditional ruler of the community.

The cabinet chiefs file out for the Az Onwa-Asato ceremony

The event, Azu (last) Onwa-Asato ceremony, is a celebration that marks the end of the reign of a king. The Onwa-Asato festival on its own is a traditional festival in the community, which is a time to celebrate the monarch and give him the opportunity to say prayers and bless the community and his subjects, but the Azu (last) Onwa-Asato, where Azu means last, serves as a parting celebration for him.

It is generally believed in Igbo land that kings don’t die, instead they travel out of the present plane where they found themselves to a new plane where they continue their reign. The Azu Onwa-Asato ceremony was meant to send Ezenri Emmanuel Nriagu off to a higher plane in a way befitting of royalty.

The event started at Obi Nri Sacred Palace (Ofia-Nri Palace) with what is known as a sacred dance, which only Ndi ichie and Ozo title holders were allowed to dance to. The sacred dance is done in circle by the title men who were dressed in identical dress, depicting their seniority in title.

Perhaps, one of the richest show of culture was the sending off of the demised king. At the Ofia-Nri Palace, the Regent of the community, who is also the son of the demised king, Prince Ogochukwu Nriagu, took to the thrown of his father.

The President General of Ora-Eri Development Union, and chairman of the local organizing committee of the event, Alex Agudosi, and Okey Atueyi, respectively had announced before the mounting of the throne that in the culture of the community, the king remains and acts through his son, even though he had traveled.

To buttress the same point, traditional rulers of communities in Anambra South Senatorial Zone, who were also represented announced through their Uga counterpart, Igwe CS Ezennwugo that: “His son is still in the skin of his father and he will sit on the throne in the name of his father, but when he stands up and retires to his chambers, and the throne is turned back it now shows that the throne of Ora-Eri  Kingdom is now vacant, and the community can begin to make plans to fill it.”

Accordingly, Prince Ogochukwu Nriagu mounted the throne, and  sat in the name of his father and was presented gifts the same way his father would have been presented gifts if he were to be alive to hold the Onwa- Asato festival. He offered prayers for the community and later retired to his chambers, and just as the Anambra South monarchs had earlier stated, the throne was declared vacant, leading to mixed feeling of cheers and mourning as it was now clear that the king, Ezenri Emmanuel Nriagu, was no more.

The event had in attendance traditional rulers from the Anambra South Senatorial zone, including those of Uga, CS Ezennwugo, Omogho community; RN Nkwo, Utuh community; PN Ilomuanya, Akpo community; Jonathan Okpalaezecha, among others.

All the traditional rulers took time to admonish the community on the need for a peaceful election of a new traditional ruler, now that the seat has been declared vacant. The monarchs who were led by the traditional ruler of Akpo community in Aguata Local Government, Jonathan Okpalaezecha, urged the community to ensure a smooth process in selecting another king for the community.

He said: “We are here to perform the ritual for the exiting of our member. We came to pay him last respect because he was our very good friend and was very well respected. We did everything together. We are calling out to you people to ensure that the process of choosing his successor will not be a problem in the community. We know that Ora-Eri is rooted in culture, and the process of emerging as Ezenri in Ora-Eri is not political, so the right thing must be done, to avoid plunging the community into crisis.”

Though several communities in Anambra State are embroiled in leadership crisis with most of them in court over the selection process, the President General of the community and the chairman of the local organising committee of the Azu Ọnwa-Asato Festival, Agudosi and Atueyi respectively assured that the process of choosing a new king is deeply rooted in culture, and not  political, hence they are sure it will be peaceful.

Atueyi said: “Yes, it is true that many communities are embroiled in crisis as a result of kingship tussle, but I can tell you that here, kingship is rotational, and it is not about how much you have, but that you are the chosen one. For example, if you are the one chosen by the gods to become Ezenri, you will get the signs, both in your dream, vision and otherwise. It is usually a strange thing, but if you reject it, it can frustrate your business and keep tormenting you until you heed the call.”

Also speaking, the secretary of the planning committee, Arinze Ikpegbu, expressed gratitude to all the sons and daughters of the community for making the last ceremony of their departed monarch grand, assuring that Pra-Eri will continue to enjoy peace even with the selection of a new monarch.

As the community begins the process for the selection of a new Ezenri, one would believe that with the claims that they are rooted in culture, and a highly spiritual community because of their ancestry, they will be able to avert the problems several other communities are passing through in the selection of kings. Several members of the community who spoke with Daily Sun at the arena assured that the election of a new monarch would not cause rancour in the community.