By Humphrey Onyima
Aju festival called Iwa Akwa (clothing) is the most cherished festival in the life of every Ugbo indigene. It is one of the major cultural landmarks in Awgu Local Government traditional calendar in Enugu State. Aju festival of Ugbo dates back to Ugbo history and it is a significant process that ushers-in young boys’ transition from teenage stage into adulthood. The festival is a chain of ceremonies performed every three years to mark the rite of passage for every male child that is of age to participate. The celebrants are males between the ages of 19 and 21.
Iwa Akwa involves various social processes aimed at not only the rite of passage but also bonding the members of the age-grade across the entire hamlets of Ugbo namely; Ugbo Okpala, Ugbo Nabo and Ngene Ugbo. Every age-grade set has a name and the 2018 set of the Iwa Akwa is called ‘Munachimso’ Age Grade (meaning – my Lord is with me).
According to Hon. Alex Ogbonnia , Ohaneze President, Enugu State Chapter, “participants of Iwa Akwa are usually charged as having been transformed into men they must put away all the childish things”. It is the occasion for the central message: Go ye into the world, tread cautiously as an Ugbo indigene with an achievement ambience. Any male who has not performed the Iwa Akwa ceremony is considered a minor in Ugbo. Going by the standards of Ugbo custom and tradition, such a minor may not only be allowed to marry but will not be entrusted with serious responsibilities in the community.
Every Ugbo parent looks forward with emotional excitement; to a day his/her son will perform the Iwa Akwa ceremony. It is considered a thing of immense joy for a parent to witness the rite of passage of his/her son. It is greeted with enormous fanfare, gunshots, feasts, dancing groups, etc. Because of the relevance attached to the Aju festival, all sons, daughters and friends of Ugbo both at home and in the Diaspora usually strive to participate in the festival.
The Ugbo community has used the festival and the forming of the age-grades over the years to develop as the various age grades had taken up one community project or the other in the town.
This year’s Aju Festival saw the initiation of up-to-age boys from the three clans of Ugbo known as Okpala, Nabo and Ngene under the age-grade name of ‘Munachimso’.
However, the 2018 Aju Festival’s grand finale, which took place last Saturday 11th August, appeared to be different from others in terms of colorings and turnout.
The festival saw prominent dignitaries and personalities who came to Ugbo to celebrate with Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, member representing Awgu/Aninri/Oji River Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, who was conferred with the famous title of “Otuo-Ogbaji” by the entire traditional rulers of the three local government areas, namely, Awgu, Aninri and Oji River. The president of Ohaneze, Enugu State chapter, Hon. Chiedozie Alex Ogbannia was also conferred with the title of “Ozowara Onna”.
It was a wonderful event embellished with different stages of the age-grade traditional dancing appearances, songs, cheered by the crowd announcing the arrival boys becoming men to be entrusted with responsibility in the society.
Most prominent among the dignitaries that attended the event is Her Excellency, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State representing the Governor; His Excellency, Prof. Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President of Nigeria; Chief Nnia Nwodo, the President General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo; Hon. SKE Udokoye, the National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party; Enugu State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Hon. Augustine Nnamani; the council chairmen of Awgu, Aninri and Oji River local government, Hon. Stanley Okeke, Hon. Ezekiel Chukwu and Hon. Harrison Okeke, respectively. Others in attendance includes the Enugu West zonal chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Okey Ozoani, the PDP Chairman Awgu LGA, Hon. Okey Ude, Hon. Nelson Uduji, representing Awgu South in Enugu State House of Assembly and other distinguished personalities, friends and associates of Rt. Hon. Okechukwu.
