The Traditional Ruler of Okpu Isingwu Kingdom in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, His Royal Majesty, Eze Kingsley Emekobum, has led the people of his community to mark this year’s Ekpe festival.
Ekpe festival which is a masquerade festival is celebrated once in every year across Umuahia communities to usher in the new year.
Eze Kingsley Emekobum
In an interview with National Ambassador Newspaper, the monarch who disclosed that the Ekpe festival could be likened to their native Christmas, where illustrious sons and daughters from both far and near, come home to celebrate, adding that the joy of the event, is the togetherness and merriment.
He stated that the festival is celebrated in January of every year, for the purpose of entertainment and merriment, stating that the 6th of January,was the turn of Isingwu community.
The Traditional ruler added that the festival apart from its fun fair, it’s done to showcase the cultural heritage of the people of Umuahia and as well, promote cultural recreation and entertain observers.
Eze Emekobum also disabused the minds of people, who perceive the culture as being fetish, stressing that the Ekpe festival has no fetish inclination or blood letting, maintaining that the festival is done basically for entertainment, where masquerades perform to entertain the audience.
He lamented how the church has made all their traditional beliefs to sound fetish even when they are not.”The church wants to bring us out from our cultures by tagging all our traditions fetish, whereas some church goers do worst things. The church and tradition are not in any competition. There is nothing fetish in ekpe festival. As it is, I do not consult any deity before I do ekpe and even iriji festival. The whole festivals are all about giving thanks to God for keeping us alive to see another year”.
The monarch,however,stated that in the cause of the celebration, no form of violence, hooliganism or misbehaviors are condoned, appealing to the people of Isingwu to remain peaceful while the festival lasted, urging them to keep their hands clean and ensure they avoid indulging in any business or acts that are fraudulent in the new year.
Meanwhile, Eze Emekobum described the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti,as the best governor God gave to Ndi Abia, stating that he started on a good footing by doing everything possible to reposition Abia, which he disclosed is evident in the ongoing massive infrastructural development in the state.
He said the past regime did their best to their ability, calling on Abians to join hands and support the new government, so as to deliver the Abia of our dream.
