The people of Olugbobiri Community in Southern-Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa state were yesterday filled with excitements and laughter as they came together and celebrated the ancient Ungo-mo-zu masquerade festival hosted by Great Joshua Maciver, the Izon Tukpa.
The festival which had been abdicated by it’s adherents long ago after the introduction of westernization into the African culture, was again greeted with the spirit of renaissance by Great Joshua Maciver, a core African traditionalist and advocate of the Ijaw belief, who reignited the belief three years ago.
The festival enveloped varieties of rites and rituals observed in obeisance of the Supreme Divine Creatress known in Ijaw as “Wòyin”, translating to mean “Our Mother”, believed to have manifested as the natural waters, animating as the deity of wealth, restoration and prosperity totemized in form of the masquerade now called “Ungo-mo-zu”.
The indigenes danced, clapped and rejoiced as they played with the masquerade who was going about prophesying wealth, peace, unity and restoration.
The masquerade also served as a tool of correction as it disciplined those who disobeyed the laid down norms guiding the religious ceremony.
The ceremony also featured burnt offerings of animal’s, water and drink offering to the river called ‘Beni Kamain’, traditional music, ancient Ijaw dance steps, masquerade display, prayers for adherents.
While performing the ‘Beni Kamain” ritual, Joshua prayed for peace and prosperity in Bayelsa state, he handed over the state to the hands of the divine and prayed the divine to grant the beautiful prayer requests of adherents. He further prayed for Olugbobiri and the Olodiama Kingdom in general, for breakthrough, wealth and unity.
The event’s also featured dignitaries and guests, the member representing Southern-Ijaw constituency four in the Bayelsa state house of assembly, High Chief Barr. Macdonald Igbadiwei was also present, the high priest of Ogboin Kingdom, Chief Oyeintari Agusi, Apostle Bodmas Prince Kemepadei, Coordinator of the Egbesu brotherhood, some members of Olugbobiri council of chiefs amongst others were on ground.
Speaking to NAIJA LIVE TV, Great Joshua Maciver stated that the festival was significance to usher in a new dispensation of love and unity in Olugbobiri community and Ijaw Nation at large, he called for more person’s to be active participants of Ijaw rites and ceremonies as it was instrumental to the development of Ijaw Nation.
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