How Echi’ja resonated Idoma culture

By Hope Abah

No doubt, it was a colour event which painted rainbows on the streets of Otukpo town in Benue State occasioned with the variety of costumes on display.

Almost everyone either on the parade or watching the procession from the privileged locations of their homes showed some excitement as people-mainly young folks recently created lots of fun.

It was ‘Echi’ja’ meaning ‘a play day.’ A special day set aside to hold the maiden edition of the cultural festival in Otukpo popularly referred to as “Red Sand, Texas City,” basically to depict the reddish sandy soil of the environment which often leaves its stain on those who tread the surroundings.

Indeed, the glamour occasioned by the brains behind the event added more colours not just to ease stress and relief burdens of the passing year 2019 but to revive lost hope in an assurance of a better year 2020.

The five men of honour; Amedu Davinci Iklaga, Ediga Akpa, Fred Ogli Adogo, Lordsam Ogbole and Chief Adakole Elijah had thought it wise to put together the recently held event in Otukpo specifically to rejuvenate several aspects of most thrilling Idoma culture.
Ekwu`ka Aduma from Igbanomaje neighborhood

One of the Convener and Chairman of the Central Planning Committee (CPC), Ediga Akpa, told our correspondent that, “Echi’ja is an annual cultural affair to showcase our culture (music,dance, masquerades, food and fashion display) in the form of street procession with representation of all the villages that makes up Otukpo.

“(Upu, Otukpo’icho, Asa, etc), neighbourhoods: (Igbanonmaje, Ibadan Street, Ojira, Ibadan street, Eupi, zone HB, Sabon Gari, Asa GRA, Entaly, etc), districts; (Ugboju, Adoka, Akpa etc), Local Governments; (Ogbadibo,Okpokwu, Agatu, Apa, Ohimini, Ado, Obi, Oju), communities; (Igbo,Tiv, Yoruba, Hausa, Igala, etc).”

Daily Trust on Saturday reports that the representatives of the aforementioned areas all converged at the old township stadium junction by Upu road where the procession started then moved in groups, one after another along Upu Road -Ibadan street – Ogiri oko – New market road -Akpa street then into Federal Road by Maximum hotel.

The procession further moved majestically along federal road to the terminal point at Och`idoma Square for the final and main display of dances and masquerades.

It was a competitive event in their various categories such as; most beautiful masquerade, most ugly masquerade, most innovative masquerade, most entertaining masquerade, Best instrumental by group, Best costume group, most disciplined group and Best dancing group.

At the end, every participants were recognised as winners after the procession was received by Och`Otukpo Odu, His Royal Highness, Chief John Eyimonye, on behalf of Och`Idoma IV Agabaidu, His Royal Highness Elias Obekpa CON, FCNTI.

Chairman of the CPC, Akpa, in his welcome address, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and organized nature of the roadshow along the entire route and appreciated the Och`Idoma for receiving them in addition to his wise counsel and support during the planning stage.

Akpa assured that the festival had come to stay as he promised that the next outing in December 2020 will even be better and bigger.

On his part, the initiator of the event, Chief Amedu Davinci Iklaga welcomed all that honoured the festival and expressed his happiness at the support he received from the people of Otukpo to ensure that his long awaited dream became a reality.

In his remark, the representative of Och`Idoma, Chief Eyimonye, expressed joy and pride with the development and encouraged the organisers to sustain it since it will foster unity and peace in addition to teaching the young ones about the culture, history and language of Idoma people.

Och’ Idoma further reiterated his resolve to continue to support the cultural development of his subjects.

Apart from the participants who had a fun-filled day, passers-by as well as onlookers thrilled themselves with the rendition of folk songs, dances and other cultural displays which was followed by presentation of gifts and certificates of participation.

For Comfort Ekoja, who watched the cultural displays from the gallery of the Och’ Idoma’s Square, it was one moment which resonated the Idoma culture and would be cherished by her for quite a long time.

“It brings back memory of childhood; what it used to be like coming home from the city of Port Harcourt to watch your own folks do their bits in the traditional way,” she stated excitedly.

Another participant and one of the brains behind the event, Dr. Adakole Friday Elijah, said the event fostered unity, love and bonding among the people of Otukpo and those from far and near who took part in the festival.
Akpluke masquerade from Obagnaya community

He said Echi’ja was set aside by the Otukpo people mainly to create bonding among the residents, stressing the need to resuscitate the Idoma culture from going extinct and to educate the young minds to appreciate their culture.

Elijah said the importance of the maiden event could not be overemphasised in the face of social vices threatening the once peaceful abode of Otukpo people which represents a mini-Idoma kingdom.

“This is an avenue to bring all our people together so we can promote what binds us in love, peace and unity. If our younger ones see us participate in our cultural affairs, it will energised them to appreciate things that would better our society.

“I felt so great to be part of the festival. I’m a man of culture and the opportunity had enabled me to showcase our culture and tradition. We are now looking beyond the immediate to make it bigger in the next edition so that the event will encompass the entire Idoma,” he added.

He further assured that the next event would be remodel in a better way to accommodate more masquerades and even more people from the diaspora to outnumber those who participated in the just concluded event.

“I’m glad we achieved our aim. We played together to better our society,” Elijah posited.