• Honours Daily Sun editor, brother, 15 others amid outing of new age grade
By Vincent Kalu
December 31 every year is always a day to remember in Amaokwe Item, in Item community, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. That day, the community holds a fiesta, where its cultural heritage is on display. It is a day, when the community’s age grades take a parade, when cultural dances are presented and when masquerades perform. It is also a day when the community reviews its past activities and set agenda for the coming year. It is the grand occasion of Okwo Day.
Interestingly, last year’s Okwo Day was unique. That day, Amaokwe Item community also recognised and honoured some its illustrious sons and daughters, who had, in one way or another, supported the community’s association, the Amaokwe Item Welfare Union (AIWU), towards the development of the community. In all, 17 people, who excelled in their chosen endeavours, contributed immensely to the development of the community and etched their names in gold in the hearts of their people were honoured with the “Pillar of Support” award.
Those conferred with the awards, are: Editor of Daily Sun, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh; his brother, Mr. Anderson Ukeh; Chief (Engr.) Joseph Abiayi Eke; Very Revd. Prof. Lawrence Ulu Ogbonnaya; Sir (Engr.) Okey Ogala; Chief Enyinnaya Osoka (Bensoka); Chief Dr. B.C. Oteh and Chief Ekekwe Egu (Otimkpu Jesus).
Others are: Chief Emmanuel Eke Offor; Prof. Okey Akpala; Dr. Sir Davey Osoka; Chief Isaac Ukachukwu; Prof. Regina E. Ogali; Dr. Onyi Ogele; Chief Theo Eke and Engr. Chief Ndubisi Okorie.
Another highpoint of the Okwo Day was the admission of a new age grade, Ndubuisi Age Grade, into the club of age grades (Ifusa Uke). The venue was Madam Jane Egbichi Oteh Mini Stadium, Amaokwe Item.
The venue of the ceremony was stretched beyond its limits, as the awardees as well as members of the Ndubuisi Age Grade paraded their friends, well wishers and business associates from different walks of life and from different parts of the country, to bear testimony to the celebration of culture and excellence by Amaokwe Item.
For its outing ceremony, the Ndubuisi Age Grade built and donated eight rooms block of shops at Amaokwe Item Market Square, which was commissioned on December 29.
Interestingly, the Okwo Day was a carnival. The various age grades in the community, in their different splendour and traditional attire/regalia, came out to show that they were the strength of the community. Sitting in canopies, in order of their outing, the age grade members felicitated, networked and made merry. Different masquerades were on ground in superlative performances. They included, the War Dance, Oboni, Oyimana, Achumpu, Ojonkwu, Ekarekete, Akpu Oge, Udunkulu, Okere Nkwa. Others are: Ojonma, Ojojo, Sanje, Geroge and Ohuba.
The Okwo Day remains the grandest day and moment for a group of young men (and much later young women), who have attained the age of responsibility to take part in the affairs of the community.
The Ifusa Uke, a part of the Okwo Day, which holds every two years or four years, as the case may be, is a glorious and memorable day for the age grade concerned. It becomes the climax of a-12 stage developmental grooming stages, leading to becoming an adult man and woman and by implication, leader in the community.
Chief Sydney Onyebuchi Dike explained the making of a new age grade in Amaokwe Item, in a lecture, entitled: “Origin and Significance of Ifu Uke (Ifusa Uke) in Okwo Ajah (Amaokwe Item).” In his historical excursion on the origin of age grade system in the community, which dates back about eighth century, he noted that this unique system of government was as old as the people of the area. He stressed: “This Uke (age grade) system is our culture that makes us who we are and the uniqueness is what we are known for in peace and in war.”
The erudite lecturer traced the various stages an individual born in Amaokwe Item undergoes before attaining the Ifusa Uke. This starts with Nwa Mmara, between the ages of seven and 10, when young boys of this age bracket are grouped and taught the art and essence of secrecy. The next is the Uta Ngwere, where these lads at about the age of 13 are taught to catch live agama lizard with bare hands, as mark of bravery. This follows with Igba Nnunu, where, as they are maturing, are taught the art of marksmanship. Then they graduate to Igba Anu, where they venture into the forest armed with bow, arrows and knives to perform the feat of hunting down wild animals and taught the art of self-defence. As they continue to grow, they mature to Ogbako, when they begin to form clubs and cultural association that culminate into Iru Uke, when this group considers their numbers strong enough to form fighting force of old. It is from this stage that the elders of the community begin to pay a close attention to them with the intent of encouraging or disbanding them. They are expected to exhibit much more sense of purpose, unity and strength and above all responsibility.
After this, is the Ibayi Uke, which is an open-ended process that swells the membership of any age grade. It is the process of accepting or welcoming new members that meet their criteria. At this stage, they frame their constitution. From here, they get to Uke Mbamriri, when they have adopted their rules and regulations, they will present to the community development union for approval. When approved, after one year, they are accepted to participate in community activities and duties, like, security patrols and sentry keeping. This period tempers them from all manner of youthful exuberances. This probation period leads to the next stage of Izara Afa, where several names are presented by suggestion to the general assembly of this age grade – who they want to be, what they want to be known for, including their mission, vision, legacies are all compelling factors in this debate. After a painstaking deliberation and debate, a name is adopted by popular affirmation. The name so adopted is presented to the community union. If it is accepted, it will be communicated to the group in a ceremony known as Izara Afa, as the last agenda during the Okwo Day.
After this, is the Ifu Uke (outing ceremony), which is always held on the last day of the year.
In his lecture, Dike also emphasised: “Our much claimed self-help toga through community self-development is hinged on our age grade system, whose journey, efforts and achievements begin today. Communal labour to the benefit of the ‘country,’ families and individuals, has its origin and succession hinged on today’s activity of Ifusa Uke.
“Raising funds for various purposes, particularly, for development projects are best administered through the age grade system. Healthy rivalry, which produces development and innovation, has become an important benefit derivable from today’s event. Strength and unity of purpose become the greatest attribute to the event of today’s Ifusa Uke. Strength and character imbibed in this group through their 12 stages of training, development and emergence remain point of note and is often emulated by up and coming age grades.
“Soon after today, this age group becomes the youngest and latest fighting force and if you may, ‘a battalion.’ In the days and years long gone, this group became restless and eager to go test and prove themselves in wars and battlefields. During these war expeditions, they ensure that none of their fighters were left in the hands of the enemy. They would also avenge any harm that may befall any of their members.”
Outside being a fighting force and a strong part of administration of the community, the new age grade plays a great role in community development.
On the benefits members derive from the age group, Dike noted, among others, is that members of this group help one another in their economic and business ventures. They often come together to clear, till and cultivate the farms of their members, who may be bedridden or overwhelmed by their farm size. They will offer business opportunities to their members before anyone else.
Several years ago, monies were said to have passed hands seven times among age grades members before venturing out to others in the form of commercial transactions. They play remarkable roles during marriages, bereavement or any form of attack against their members. In case of severe losses, such as boat capsize, home fire, locust invasion, including loss to thieves, this group often would rally round their members to minimise their losses, thereby, offering the best form of insurance.
Importantly, anybody who causes trouble with any of their members would often have the entire age grade to contend with.
While concluding, Dike pointed out: “This is who we are. This is our culture. Our culture is greater than politics and religion. It is our unique identity marks for the totality of our people. We are not anti-tradition; neither are we willing to engage in ripping off the old. We are Amaokwe.”
The last Okwo Day was also a forum, where the out-going President-General of Amaokwe Item Welfare Union, Elder Chief Kingsley Ogba Nwokoro, in his valedictory address, reeled out his achievements and challenges for the six years he was in the saddle. He handed the baton of leadership to a new president, who emerged from an election held on January 29, 2016.