OMERIFE 2024

[paul ifezuruoha]

OMERIFE 2024

24y09m12d

12hoomam

Orie Day

Ancestry of ‘’Omerife’’ festival is the annual festival that represents the Oguta Ameshi community’s linkage and steady connection with the ancestry and reaffirms the spiritual the spiritual power of the T-stools of Ameshi. It remains a traditional-cultural mechanism of extreme importance for unity, all-inclusive participation, sense of belonging and unique-common identity of the Ameshi indigenes. This Omerife event is deeply linked to cultural farming practices, ending of evil. It is a fundamental element for the offering of food items to the Ancestors and maintenance of identity and genealogy among families, kindred, village and Ameshi indigenes, since immemorial and the survival identity of Ameshi indigenes. It is the maintenance of the coexistence with the Ameshi Ancestry. This festival is preceded with ‘’ogene nkirika’’ i.e harvest preparation which last for 2 days then into omerife ‘New Yam’’ for 4days all from ending of August to early September with traditional practices and intensive beliefs that accommodate characteristics. The highlights of the ogene and omerife festival takes place on last day of ogene nkirika and last day of omerife (ogbube ekwensu). The 1st day is the ogbasu of ogene nkirika and the 1st day of omerife is the Áfor-ukwu’’ omerife. The last day of the omerife is when the indigenes accompanying the members of the Igbuu and gather at the palace of the Ezeigwe and kingly chiefs to carryout ogbube ekwensu for the final sending packing of Satan and final spiritual blessings while the Ezeigwe and Igbuu members withdraw from the scene of the ogbube ekwensu chanting victorious Igbuu creed. During this omerife, all first son’s carryout ‘’imacha-didi wo’’ and subsequently ‘’igbu-ife’’ while other indigenes may engage in ‘’ikpoo-nmaya’’ omerife to see the manifested ancestral spirit of Ameshi Ancestors. Omerife festival is a particular Ameshi expression and certainly the most distinctive of the intangible heritage of the Ameshi community uniting all forms of traditional and other knowledge. Ogene nkirika covers full range of techniques, skills and crafts through which cultural values, customs and tradition of Ameshi indigenes manifest. Ancestors known as Ameshi Saints were strong disciples and warriors seen as physical reincarnation of the descendants. Ofo-ogbommou and nde-mmou represents a dignified ‘’Ancestor’’ venerated linking with God, ‘’Chukwu Okike Abioma’’. It is very important to note that the Ameshi indigenes of ‘’Ani ji nma na egbu Enyi’’ are known as ‘’Úmu Orisha bu na enu’’ knowing that their Ancestors exist as direct link in the spiritual path with God.

TOURISM; Ameshi: Tourism is a multi-faceted sector that has been creating lots of recreation and jobs. Ameshi has tourism potentials and is blessed with many sites, from the natural to traditional tourism, historical to festivals. There are many tourists sites, these includes the Ameshi palaces of Ezeigwe, Ogene, the Echina, Animgbaraute, Akpatakwuma, Agbatani, Uhammiri, Urashi, Obana, Confluence, Lake Motel, Gulf, Oruru, Onye Arugbuna Ibeaya Market, Ama Good Evening, Obua-Ajukwu pot, Ojukwu-Bunker, Marine Gunboat at Utu, Obua-Nwabiani Nghagadi and Okaranabu etc. all Ameshi resorts, forests are surrounded by vegetation suited for parks, relaxation, mediation, health walks, bird watching, exploration visitation, canoe paddling, boat ride among other activities . the general landscape is dominated by the flat land. Uhammiri, Urashi, Obana majorly and other rivers are also dedicated to prayers in their traditional shrines. ancient traditional components are available for the viewing of desiring tourists in Oguta Ameshi. Ameshi welcomes all to enjoy and relax in the rustic simplicity and hospitality ‘’Obodo-girigiri’’

Tradition and culture; Ameshi tradition and culture are the whole components of Ameshi encompassing several aspects in the areas of arts, customs, laws, knowledge, beliefs, habits, of the indigenes and collective attributes to Ameshi the Obodo-girigiri. Ameshi consist of variety of traditional components, festivals and important historical components that carry out different functions in the Ameshi system. The ancient palace of Ogene is the heart and main traditional, while that of Ezeigwe is the heart and main of cultural center of Ameshi. They are the domains where all tradition and culture are widely practiced and stored.

The palaces are decorated with ‘’ukpo-mmou, ofo, ogbommou, murals, and remnants of already sacrificed lions and cows heads, including posts wood and ‘’nde-mmou’ of carved woods, silvers, bronze, iron and gold symbolizing the status of wealth, royalty and main ancestral lineage and genealogy. Ameshi is known for their fishing, farming and traditional handcraft as making of ‘’ugbo-osse, ugbo-akai, jompa, arongu, chanji, okoro-chanji, also traditional titles such as oririnzere, Oshiji and the cultural title like ogbuagu. Cuisines is another specialty as the delicious Nsala, Ofe-Ititara, Ofe-Iji, Akuku-Ikwe, Nguwaka, Nmgbenaku, Ofe-Onugbu among other delicacies. Ofo, ogbommou and nde-mmou making is also an ancient traditional practices amlong the Ameshi type of craft which has its traditional significance in spiritual form, they are the symbol of the Wholesomeness of the Ameshi Ancestors. Ameshi continues to preserve the rich tradition, culture and heritage, despite traditional manipulations. Tradition and culture are concepts containing knowledge, belief, arts, laws, customs, and habits in Ameshi using norms that have been proven over time. Ameshi has remained a traditional community using till date traditions that are transmitted from generation to generation as the Traditional New Year (TNY). This new cycle or new year marks the beginning of a new 13 month Ameshi traditional calendar with the opening celebration of ‘’ idu-iju ‘’ on Eke-Ukwu through ‘’ ikpo-abu-Umuorima, owu-agbatani, itu-nzu of both Echina, itu okonoko Okeich, nni-inwere both Echina, itu okonoko Umuajie, owu orie enwe nso(igbo-opupu) ibupu nkwa mmou, ibupiu nkwa abara, owu ipu-mkpa, ite owu, oda nkwo nta of both echina, oda eke nta of Echina Ugwukwu, igba oda of both Echina, idu-okpotu(idu-owu), ibina-Eze, Ibina- kingly chiefs, ufie-igbo-onina, igbo-onina at ugbo palace, okika ogene, and omerife, ogene-nkirika, opi-Eze, nnini omerife, ogbube ekwensu, and idu-iju’’. The traditional calendar is guided by the ‘idu-iju’’ and one year is equal to 13 months, one month is equal to 28days, and one week is equal to 4 days. Idu-iju is known as the beginning of the New Traditional month(28) days and during this period, farmers and hunters in Ameshi relocate back to the Oguta Ameshi main town from the Ubi area.

Trad Ifezuruoha Nnamdi Jr

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Trad IFEZURUOHA Nnamdi Jr
Ph.D (In View), M.Phil., M.Sc., B.Sc.,
ECDRM, ITSM, BRMA, CSLM, NIPR, AMHEWAS, ECM, SCSM, MECP, ITIL, SAP