By Ambrose Ologide
The people of the ancient Urhobo Kingdom of Agbarha Warri celebrated their age long tradititioal Esemo ( father’s day ) and Eniemo ( mother ‘ s day ) festivals on Tuesday 22nd August and Wednesday 23rd August 2023 respectively.
The Okpako ( eldest man ) of Agbarha Warri kingdom , High Chief ( Pa ) Jonathan Ashimo Ayiwe declared the celebration of festivals opened with prayers to fathers that have past on and deities in the kingdom with a bottle of hot gin and some quantity of kola nuts at the Edion Hall at Otovwodo ( Agbassa)Community , headquarters of the kingdom, Warri .
This was immediately followed by serving of a large quantity of delicious Urhobo tradititioal meal of Oghwo and starch that were consumed by those present at the opening ceremony of the festivals.
Thereafter individual families went to their various homes to celebrate in the same manner
However , in day two of the festival, the Eniemo Festival ( mother’s Day ) was kicked off by the Oniovwodo ( mother ) of the kingdom at the Oniovwodo Shrine located closed to the Edion Hall at Otovwodo ( Agbassa) Community where she also prayed to mothers in the kingdom that have past on.
This was also followed by serving of large quantity of delicious Urhobo tradititioal meal of Oghwo and starch to those that were present at the event.
Thereafter individual families went to their various homes to celebrate their mothers that have past on in the same manner
The eldest man of Agbarha Warri kingdom Chief ( Pa ) Ayiwe who spoke to our correspondent exclusively, affirmed that the festivals were in honour of parents that have past on in the kingdom.
He disclosed that there will be prayers for general cleansing of the kingdom by himself a day after the celebration of the two festivals .
High Chief ( Pa ) Ayiwe urged indigenes of the kingdom to be proud of celebrating the Esemo, Eniemo and other festivals of the kingdom. ” The white people, Inspite of their high level of civilization do not toil with their tradition ” he added.
The Unuovwodo ( tradititioal representative of the Ovie of Agbarha Warri ) of Otovwodo ( Agbassa ) Community Warri, High Chief Julius Tobore Edafiadjebre( JP) spoke in the same vein as he liken the Esemo and Eniemo festivals to the Christmas of Agbarha Warri people.
He also disclosed that there was another annual celebration of Iyerin Festival by Agbarha Warri in November which he liken to be the new year of the people .
Edafiadjebre who doubles as the Odo of Idju-Owhurie Deity also urged the Agbarha Warri people to be proud of their culture as he pointed out that such festivals were celebrated by the binis, yorubas, igbos and other ethnic groups in Nigeria.
