By Patrick Ochei
Issele-Uku Kingdom, the headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, was on Friday 19th August, 2022, agog as the community’s Monarch, HRM Agbogidi Obi Nduka emerged from the inner Chambers of Issele-Uku Royal Palace to perform his first ever official outing for the 2022 annual festival (Ine Aho).
Gaily dressed in red royal apparel, his appearance was heralded by the ancient Issoh Dance (Egwu Issoh) from the Idumu Issoh people of Umueze Issei, including the horn bearing flutists (Ndo Egbu Opi) and praise singers.
The handsome and amiable young King was ushered out of his inner Chambers by eminent chiefs of Issele-Uku Kingdom, led by the Traditional Prime Minister and American based Aeronautics Engineer, Chief Innocent Etenmua Ashiedu, just as the king majestically proceeded to the sacred ground of his forebears to render reverence to them before visiting the Afor Market to buy some Commodities and pay homage to the Omu (Queen Mother of the community and custodian of Issele-Uku market) at the Omu’s shop (Odu Omu).
Izu Afia-Chi (Market of the gods), symbolises a whole lot of things and it is the first official outing of the Traditional Ruler of Issele-Uku, heralding the annual festivals which enables the local people to have a full glare of the Obi of Issele-Uku ahead of the Ine Festival and a kind of reminder that another festive season is here.
Usually, the people of Issele-Uku and visitors feel proud to see their king in public, relating normally with the people through dance and exchange of pleasantries while performing the Izu Afia-Chi. He is joyfully followed by men, women and children who eulogize and sing praises of him adoringly.
Interestingly, while the king is in the market, sellers happily beckon on him to come and buy from them. It is always a thing of joy for him to buy from any seller.
He does not price, he just picks as many commodities as he wishes and pays whatever he feels like paying; but usually he gives them more.
And as he proceeds on his way to visit the Omu in her shop (Odu), he sprays money in the air, and children, even adults struggle to catch some.
Finally, the Agbogidi Oloe-Ome arrived at the Odu Omu where he was warmly received by Omu Beatrice Onwodi who was flanked by her chiefs and traditional attendants.
Omu Onwodi was exceedingly glad to receive Agbogidi Obi Nduka in Afor Market and warmly welcomed him with prayers into her shop. The Monarch dropped money for her and eulogized her for appearing beautiful.
From the Odu Omu, Obi Nduka proceeded to the Afia-Chi Ground with a bowl of kolanuts presented to him by the Omu with which he made prayers to the Ancestors, intimating them of the time and season, while asking them for blessings of bounty of harvests and protection throughout the harvest and celebration periods of the new yam festival.
It was an awesome visit to Afor Market, the joy was unspeakable as the people gracefully danced back to the Palace with their king who never stopped spraying money in the air for them to catch.
At the Palace, the chiefs, the elders, the Okpalabisis, and other highly placed individuals were seated to receive the Monarch back from the market.
After prayers of wisdom and longevity were made for the Traditional Ruler and progress of Issele-Uku Kingdom by Okpalabisi Eweniwe Nwalia, the Monarch off-loaded all that he bought from the market as evidence that he made good purchases.
As customary of the Izu Afia-Chi Festival, the Monarch selects from the items bought, which he does not share but basically throws them on the ground to allow the people pick their choice items. Whatever any individual struggles to pick (Mgbabuli) belongs to him.
The eminent personalities who joined the Royal Father to the market included the US based Chief Innocent Etenmua Ashiedu (Iyase of Issele-Uku Kingdom), Chief Fidelis Jigide (Esogba of Issele-Uku Kingdom), Chief Josephine Ada Kachikwu Esq. (Ezinne of Issele-Uku Kingdom), Chief Sunday Monye (Osodi of Issele-Uku Kingdom), Chief Vicctor Egbune (Inwengwe of Issele-Uku Kingdom), Chief Ignatius Memeh (Oloto of Issele-Uku Kingdom), US based Chief Michael Brian Odiakosa (Osigie of Issele-Uku Kingdom), Chief Egbo Adigwe (Chi-Obi of Issele-Uku Kingdom), Chief Uche Ngbanwa (Ashi-Obi of Issele-Uku Kingdom), Chief Isichei Morka (Isekute of Issele-Uku Kingdom).
Others are Prince Chris Akeh (US based Issele-Uku Historian), Mr. Ugeh Offordile (President General of Issele-Uku Development Union), Comrade Patrick Ochei (Head, Media Committee of the 2022 Ine Festival), Mr. Victor Egwunyenga (Member, Media Committee of the 2022 Ine Festival), Prince Austin Maha (Former National President, Issele-Uku Progressive Youth Association), Prince Onyeabor Nwabah (Retired Lab Technologist, UNIBEN) and others too numerous to mention.
