From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
•Some Ndichie Obosi during the festival
It is a triennial event that has evolved into a community carnival with all magnificence and colour. And the people look forward to that time of the year with great enthusiasm. It is the Ito Ogbo Obosi, a celebration of longevity.
•Igwe Iweka and with Gov. Soludo at the festival
In this festival-like event, a particular set of age grade, those born within a three-year interval and are clocking 80 are celebrated alive with pomp.
In fact, in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, it is correct to say that members of the community celebrate their loved ones alive and not in death. To them, 80 is the starting point of elderliness and people now make extra efforts in the community to attain that age and live for more years thereafter.
•Some of the new Ogbueshis stepping out during the festival
This year’s Ito Ogbo was the turn of Oforka Age Grade and their members turned out in their numbers at the Afor Adike Square, venue of the ceremony, all dressed in uniform and glittering in their various costumes.
The ceremony attracted Obosi sons and daughters from different parts of Nigeria and the Diaspora as well as their friends. The presence of the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, added the needed colour to the programme.
Traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, called for the adoption of the ceremony by the United Nations as a way of caring for old people, noting that it would promote longevity.
Igwe Iweka pointed out that only those who have attained 80 years and participated in the Ito Ogbo Obosi are qualified to wear the red cap in Obosi.
It was also announced that the octogenarians are now exempted from all fines, levies or manual labour, including village assignments, except by choice. He reiterated that that Ndi Obosi are more interested in celebrating their aged ones alive than in death.
“An Obosi adage says that a child who stays close to elders gains invaluable knowledge. The youngsters who do not value and learn from elders end up making same mistakes of their forefathers. Today, members of Oforka Age Grade are celebrating 80 years of unbroken heartbeat, of love and laughter and of trials and tribulations and we give all adoration to God almighty for His infinite mercy on Ndi Ogbo Oforka. May He grant you many years of His unfailing love and amazing grace.
“The male members of Oforka Age Grade shall today receive the coveted Obosi red cap and the title Ogbueshi while the females shall acquire a specially crafted hat and the title, OgbueshiNwanyi,” the monarch said.
He said that during kolanut breaking prayers, an Ogbueshi is often singled out and honoured with a privileged gift of a kolanut or better sitting position and other respect accorded exclusively to them.
He stated that the Oforka Age Grade was also handing the baton for the next Ito Ogbo to the Anyi Dimma Age Grade who is following them for the 2027 edition.
He clarified that Ito Ogbo or belonging to any age grade in Obosi does not involve anything fetish or diabolical and reminded the eligible members of the age grade that only those who registered for the programme can enjoy the exclusive privileges. He was emphatic that those who refused to participate are neither eligible to wear the red cap nor bear Ogbueshi.
Igwe Iweka also disclosed that five other towns in Anambra State have adopted Ito Ogbo ceremony in their respective communities, having discovered the high value of such exemplary tradition.
He continued: “Today, we hereby present Ito Ogbo Obosi as a gift to the Federal Government national diary under the auspices of the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy and the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.”
According to the traditional ruler, to an average Obosi person, Ito Ogbo festival is bigger compared to Christmas, Easter, Obiora (New Yam) festival all rolled into one.
He then lauded Governor Soludo for an impressive infrastructural development in Obosi and other areas, noting also that the government’s effort in fighting insecurity in the state made it possible for people to return from different parts of the world for the festival.
While speaking, Governor Soludo highlighted possible ways the Federal Government could make the “Ito-Ogbo” ceremony a national festival.
He lauded Obosi people for giving the world a unique event that is worthy of emulation. He commended his Commissioner for Works, Ifeanyi Okonma, an Obosi indigene, whom he said has been helping him in implementing his agenda of making Anambra a liveable and prosperous homeland.
Soludo also lauded the sterling qualities of another Obosi son and a global citizen, Chief Emeka Anyaoku. He described the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth as his role model. He urged Obosi youths to live right, reminding them that those who live like gangsters hardly live to old age.
“This is the first time I have come to Ito-Ogbo ceremony of Obosi; we want to celebrate, thank Obosi people for giving Anambra, Nigeria and the world, a celebration of longevity.
“Let the world learn how to celebrate with the living and not the dead. Obosi is one ward that is more than a local government. It deserves to be a local government.
“The celebration is part of the burial law in Anambra. It is better to slaughter a cow for the living than to the dead. I urge the youths to desire to be 80 years and above. Live a decent, responsible lifestyle to be able to live up to 80 years,” the governor counselled.
President General of Obosi Development Union, Chimezie Obi, said that Ito Ogbo Obosi has helped in reshaping the mindset of Obosi people in terms of lifestyle, noting that everyone who has attained 50 years and above makes it a point of duty to leave aright in order to be alive for the celebration.
For the Traditional Prime Minister of Obosi community (Iyasele Obosi), Chief Austine-Collins Anibogwu, it was high time other communities emulated Obosi’s celebration of longevity.
Tracing the origin of Ito Ogbo Obosi to 500 years, he stressed that it would not only promote longevity in such communities but extend the opportunity of tapping from their wealth of experience and inculcation of moral values in the younger generations.
The community used the opportunity to recognise some individuals for their outstanding performance towards the development of the town. They include Lightman Okolo, a legal practitioner and Hon. Nnamdi Ifebi who also bagged the chieftaincy title of Onwa Obosi.
One of the octogenarians, Ogbueshi Armand Odogwu, a veteran broadcaster, thanked God for keeping him and members of the group alive. He prayed for their children and those who came to felicitate with them to be alive to attain 80 in their life time too.