WARNING: Viewers satisfaction guaranteed!
OGANYI
AGWA is a war festival celebrated yearly by the Agwa people of Idah
LGA to commemorate old wars. It is usually celebrated in the first
quarter of every year and it is believed that its celebration ushers in a
season of heavy rain fall.
The date before now was a thing of consultation with the ancestors but following the growth of Christianity in Igala land and the high sense of religious tolerance among the Igala people, traditional events are now often fused with Christianity and Islam hence this war festival is now celebrated on the Saturday prior Easter Sunday of every year.
The climax of the festival witnesses the arrival of about 20 warriors with each representing a clan in Agwa. They will one after the other carry out a special display (Oganyi). This display can best be described as “jumping, spinning and somersaulting at almost the same time in a very fast way”. No warrior should fall or even allow his horn to fall as he performs the "Oganyi" else he dies within 7 to 14 days and a great calamity shall befall his clan. That is why a warrior who performs "Oganyi" successfully cannot hide his pride while his anxious clam members will jump into wild jubilation on seeing him round up successfully. He is then led home triumphantly.
It is interesting to note that the warriors are camped for 7 days before this festival and they will feed only on flesh within the last 3 days.
Another set of people to look out for during the festival are young men dressed as women, a tactics that was adopted to deceive enemies in the days of war. Unlike the warriors, these men are not scary but I can bet every thing that they will almost make you laugh out your lungs.
The only problem you are likely to encounter during the festival is being in a dilemma as to what to look at the expense of the other because everything is worthy of being looked in isolation of all others. I am saying it is simply fun all through!
See you at the next Oganyi Agwa War Festival!!! Angwa aga b'omi cho cho!
The date before now was a thing of consultation with the ancestors but following the growth of Christianity in Igala land and the high sense of religious tolerance among the Igala people, traditional events are now often fused with Christianity and Islam hence this war festival is now celebrated on the Saturday prior Easter Sunday of every year.
The climax of the festival witnesses the arrival of about 20 warriors with each representing a clan in Agwa. They will one after the other carry out a special display (Oganyi). This display can best be described as “jumping, spinning and somersaulting at almost the same time in a very fast way”. No warrior should fall or even allow his horn to fall as he performs the "Oganyi" else he dies within 7 to 14 days and a great calamity shall befall his clan. That is why a warrior who performs "Oganyi" successfully cannot hide his pride while his anxious clam members will jump into wild jubilation on seeing him round up successfully. He is then led home triumphantly.
It is interesting to note that the warriors are camped for 7 days before this festival and they will feed only on flesh within the last 3 days.
Another set of people to look out for during the festival are young men dressed as women, a tactics that was adopted to deceive enemies in the days of war. Unlike the warriors, these men are not scary but I can bet every thing that they will almost make you laugh out your lungs.
The only problem you are likely to encounter during the festival is being in a dilemma as to what to look at the expense of the other because everything is worthy of being looked in isolation of all others. I am saying it is simply fun all through!
See you at the next Oganyi Agwa War Festival!!! Angwa aga b'omi cho cho!
Note: The above Note and Photos herein are credited to Inedu Opaluwa.
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| A Warrior brandishing his horn. |
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| Bells hanging from the waist of a Warrior#inconveniencing?# |
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It is not only Rambo that paints his face for war, we do it too in Idah. |
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| This Warrior makes his way home after a successful Oganyi |
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| Agwa Woman |
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| A WARRIOR. |
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A warrior ready for Oganyi |
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| They can't hide their joy on seeing the warrior representing their clan perform Oganyi successfully. Their clan has just been saved of a calamity. |
| A warrior ready for Oganyi |
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The arrival of this crowd announces the arrival of the warriors |
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A man dressed as a woman, a tactics that was used during wars. |
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| Palace Gate |
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| It's fun all through! funny men |
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| Going home triumphantly after a successful Oganyi. |
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| THE OGANYI DISPLAY:This daring warrior allowed his Oganyi to last as far as this from the palace gate as he is being admired and praised by his clan members. |
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| I am sure you will not mistake this for the men dressed as women. |
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| Trying to catch up with her clan members |
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| ...and he was successful |
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| Side attraction |
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A man at war does not smile |
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