Over the weekend, dignitaries from various walks of life gathered in Akarai-Obodo, a remote community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, to celebrate the Ijele Festival.
The festival, a significant cultural event for the people, symbolizes peace, unity, and development, marking a renewed commitment to the progress of the community.
The 2025 edition of the historic event, featured a “Special Home Coming“ organized by the community for a son of the soil, Hon Prince Emeka Osamuta, to the ancient Akarai kingdom in appreciation of his love and commitment to the prosperity of the people.
Hon Osamuta, in whose honour most of the dignitaries were attracted to the biennial celebration, is the Member representing Ndokwa East Constituency and the Deputy Majority Whip of the Delta State House of Assembly.
Flanked by his wife, Doner, the youthful Lawmaker was elated to receive and usher top government functionaries, politicians, business executives and friends to the expansive Akarai Primary School field, for the traditional performances, including Masquerade concerts and other cultural displays.
The roll call include the Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, some members of the State Legislature, Civil Commissioners, Special Advisers, Local Government Chairmen, party leaders and elders, including a frontline politician in Ndokwa East, Chief Godswill Obielum.
It was indeed sights and sounds to behold as the people through arts, crafts and dance, told the historical stories about the ancient Akarai kingdom, the Ijele festival and the dynamics that shape, inspire and influence love, oneness and unity in Akarai Obodo community.
Blended with a touch of modernization to further make the festival attractive and exciting, the people despite the much time devoted for display of their rich cultural heritage, also took time to draw attention to challenges they face and appealed for help.
President General of the Akarai-Obodo, Mr Emeka Onyeme, and another prominent son of the community, who is the Chairman Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Hon Justice Adolphus Enebeli, highlighted the urgent need for the construction of the only road that links Akarai-Obodo to other communities in the locality, including Akarai- Etiti, Umuti, Onogbokor, Iyede Ame, Azagba, Umuolu, Onyiah to Aboh, headquarters of the local government council.
They also appealed to the Delta state government, corporate bodies and other development organizations to attract social amenities to the area, particularly telecommunication service providers as the people are presently cutoff from communication with other parts of the country.
Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme who was delighted to witness the Ijele festival with history of over two centuries, commended the people of Akarai kingdom for their steadfastness with the PDP which part of the dividends was the emergence of their son, Prince Emeka Osamuta as a member of the Delta State Assembly.
While urging the people to sustain their support for the Oborevwori’s led administration, Sir Onyeme promised to mobilize stakeholders to open up the area for development including construction of access roads to connect Akarai to other parts of the state.
The Chief Host of the event and member representing Ndokwa East Constituency in the Delta State Assembly, Hon Prince Emeka Osamuta, said Akarai-Obodo is an oil rich and Agriculturally viable community with lots of opportunities.
Hon Osamuta who expressed his profound appreciation to the Deputy Governor, the Speaker of the State Assembly and other dignitaries that graced this year’s biennial festival, stressed that what the community needs is good connecting road and other basic infrastructure for accelerated socio-economic transformation.
The Deputy Majority Whip re-echoed earlier appeal for the construction of the Akarai access road which link several electoral wards and communities in Ndokwa East, adding that the road when constructed will open up the locality to economic activities.
The Lawmaker assured that the people of Akarai kingdom will continue to support the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, stressing that Ndokwa East is PDP and that the people are committed to enhancing the party’s fortunes in the local government area.
On the Ijele festival, Prince Osamuta highlighted it significant to peace, progress and oneness to the people of Akarai dated back in the days of their forefathers, saying that the week long festival climaxed on the 7th day with the appearance of the Ijele masquerade, which according to him is the biggest in Africa.
He explained that the Ijele Masquerade dance of Akarai- Obodo, underscored the uniqueness of the age long festival, disclosing that people from neighboring communities and kingdoms also took their turns in the fascinating dance steps.
Some participants pointed out that the 2025 edition of the biennial Ijele festival was unique and special as it marked the home coming of an illustrious son, Prince Emeka Osamuta who represents Ndokwa East and Deputy Majority Whip of the Delta State Assembly.
The natives eulogized the beauty of the Ijele festival, noting that many sons and daughters of Akarai kingdom are always attracted home from far and near to mark the festival and to honour the biggest masquerade in Africa.
The people, made up of men and women, young and the elderly, with unique dressing styles and abilities, came out in their large numbers to dance with different masquerades and the ijele masquerade across the streets of Akarai-Obodo community.
