compiled by Fred Doc Nwaozor
seated owu masquerades
Oru is a community situated at the West Pole
of Imo State otherwise known as the Eastern Heartland in Federal Republic of
Nigeria. It’s surrounded by many neighbouring communities which include Orsu to
the North, Njaba to the North-East, Mbaitolu to the East and South-East, Oguta
to the South, Amorka in Anambra State to the Weat and so on. Politically, it
was formerly recognized as Oru Local Government Area (L.G.A) till late
nineties, 1998 precisely, when it was divided into Oru East and Oru West.
Among
other cultural heritage, Owu, a cultural dance is the most renowned and
constant tradition observed by ‘Oru’ indigenes. Its unique status and features
has attracted the keen interest of series of people from different social
classes. It’s indeed a ‘common language’ spoken amongst the entire people, both
indigenes and residents, in the ancient land of Oru kingdom. History has it
that the festival originated from Oguta, one of the neighbouring communities to
Oru.
The
Owu cultural dance is often accompanied by ‘Okorosha’ masquerade. Customarily,
a certain masquerade known as ‘Ofu-Uzo’ is expected to parade itself at night
prior to the day the cultural dance is meant to take place; in a situation
whereby it fails to do so, the Owu dance would never take place.
The
Owu festival is an annual event. It commences in Oru by the month of June every
year. It’s being celebrated separately by each of the sub-communities/towns
that make up Oru ancient Kingdom at different time intervals or dates to be
fixed by the towns in question.
One
of the most impressive features of Owu festival is that, only male indigenes
are allowed to participate in the dancing competition. Needless to say;
participation of the female folk is customarily forbidden. Another remarkable
feature of the festival is that, it can never be carried out on ‘Nkwo’ market
day.
Apart
from the hosting of Owu in the land of Oru, it’s also hosted in other states in
Nigeria such as Lagos, and in the diaspora. This is the most exemplary aspect
of Owu festival. Each year, after it has been observed by the entire people of
Oru, other Oru indigenes that reside in Lagos State and other States as well,
would follow suit. In Lagos State, it usually takes place at Bariga, a town
dominated by the Oru indigenes in the month of august unless it’s uttered by
any circumstance. This very phenomenon originated several years ago. Having been celebrated in Lagos State, and other
states in Nigeria that have a high concentration of Oru indigenes, it would be
subsequently observed by the Oru indigenes in the diaspora; mostly in other
continents such as Europe and America, U.S.A precisely.
The
above practice observed by eminent sons and daughters of Oru is strictly ceremonial.
Suffice to say that, most traditional rituals or prerequisites usually observed
prior to the festival are invariably skipped or ignored.
