Ovia-Osese Festival

Last updated

The Ovia-Osese Festival is a yearly celebrated festival by the Ogori's. This town is located in the Ogori-Magongo local government area of Kogi state, Nigeria. They share boundaries with Edo state and the Yoruba's. [1] The town holds the Ovia-Osese festival annually to initiate young girls within 15 and above into adulthood or so called womanhood. This initiation is done for young girls who has maintained and kept themselves over the years and that are still virgins. The rite is done so as to promote the quality of purity, sanctity, abstinence, and the untouched physical and emotional state of young girls. [2] This celebration encourages the younger growing ones to keep themselves from pre-marital affairs. [3] [4]

Contents

History

Back in the 1870s, each family of the Ogori community has a culture of initiating their daughters having clocked adulthood. During this stage the family prepare the female gender that is ripe for marriage on how to plan a home, cook and do the female activities. Later on, the family culture was adopted to be a community culture and is practised yearly as a festival to celebrate young girls having reaching adulthood and also, have kept themselves, [5] this act has helped the community young girls in taking extra measures to keep themselves so as to be celebrated during the festival. This festival is also an eye opener for men seeking a wife to come and eye-pick the woman they love likewise, men who are shy or weak in proposing, expressing or making advances towards the female gender to open up. [6]

Festivity

The Ogori's festival which has continuously been passing the message of self-restrain and sexual discipline among young girls has been the reason for is international recognition and the rich culture has placed it on the world map. During the festival, the young girls (called ibusuke) and the maiden (Ivia) 'perform traditional dance to entertain the community and visitors who came for the festival, during the dance performance, lots of noise and gesture are awarded to them as the young men also shines their eyes in search of their missing ribs. [7] The young girls perform the dance as they are dressed in their traditional attires rapped around there chest with beads on their necks and wrist. Their movements, songs, facial expression showcases the festival's colour. Also, the festival is not only limited to the dancing and initiation but also features: cooking competition, talent hunt, free health programme, sporting events, school debate and quiz, and also beauty pageant and more. [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kogi State</span> State of Nigeria

Kogi State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the west by the states of Ekiti and Kwara, to the north by the Federal Capital Territory, to the northeast by Nasarawa State, to the northwest by Niger State, to the southwest by the Edo and Ondo states, to the southeast by the states of Anambra and Enugu, and to the east by Benue State. It is the only state in Nigeria to border ten other states. Named after the Hausa word for river (Kogi). Kogi State was formed from parts of Benue State, Niger State, and Kwara State on 27 August 1991. The state is nicknamed the "Confluence State" due to the fact that the confluence of the River Niger and the River Benue occurs next to its capital, Lokoja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argungu Fishing Festival</span> Annual festival in Northern Nigeria

The Argungu Fishing Festival or Argungu Dance Festival is an annual four-day festival in Kebbi State and other northern states like Niger in the north-western part of Northern Nigeria. The region is made up of fertile river areas of (matanfada, mala with much irrigation and orchards. The majority of inhabitants are fishermen who are practitioners of Isla religion. They also have Kanta Museum. The Museum is the main historical centre in Argungu for visitors across the globe. People from around the world travel to Argungu just to witness the occasion. The main purpose of the Argungu fishing festival is for fishing and unity. The festival is usually a 4-days cultural event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edo State</span> State of Nigeria

Edo, officially known as Edo State, is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of the federal republic of Nigeria. As of 2022, the state was ranked as the 22nd most populous state (4,777,000) in Nigeria. The estimated state population is around 4,777,000 in 2022. Edo State is the 22nd largest State by landmass in Nigeria. The state's capital and largest city, Benin City, is the fourth largest city in Nigeria, and the centre of the country's rubber industry. Created in 1991 from the former Bendel State, it is also known as the heart beat of the nation. Edo State borders Kogi State to the north for 133 km and across the Niger River for 81 km to the northeast, Anambra State to the east for about four km across the Niger River, Delta State to the southeast and south for 350 km, and Ondo State to the west.

Idah is a town in Kogi State, Nigeria, on the eastern bank of the Niger River in the middle belt region of Nigeria. It is the headquarter of the Igala Kingdom, and also a Local Government Area with an area of 36 km2. Idah had a population of 79,815 at the 2006 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Igala people</span> Ethnic group in Nigeria

The Igala people are a Yoruboid ethnolinguistic group native to the region immediately south of the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers in central Nigeria. The area inhabited primarily by the Igala is referred to as Igalaland. Situated in an especially ecologically diverse region of Nigeria, the Igala have traditionally engaged in crop cultivation, and have been influenced culturally by many surrounding cultures over the centuries. Today, people of Igala descent are estimated to be at a population of 1.68 million people.

The Ebira people are an ethnic-linguistic group of North central Nigeria. Most Ebira people are from Kogi State and Nasarawa State. Their language is usually classified as Nupoid and within the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Until the separation of Kogi State from Kwara State, Okene was seen as the administrative center of the Ebira-speaking people in Kogi state, located not far from the Niger-Benue confluence. Since the formation of the state, the Ebira Ta'o people are predominantly found in five local governments in Kogi state, namely Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Okene and Ogori/Magongo. They are also found in large numbers located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Nasarawa in Toto LGA. Also, the Eganyi are found in Ajaokuta LGA. And the Etuno can be found in Igarra town of Agorimagongo, Okehi and Okene each with their administrative headquarters. Ebira Koto is found in Kogi and Koton Karfe LGA, Bassa LGA, Lokoja in Kogi and Abaji LGA in the Federal Capital Territory, Akoko-Edo LGA, Edo State.

Ogori-Magongo is a Local Government Area in Kogi State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in Akpafa. It was created from the old Okene Local Government Area for the Ogori and Magongo people. They occupy the land from Obehira Ebeba to Lampese up to Ososo in Edo state. An area of more than 79 km (31sqm) A population of 39,622 at the 2006 census.

Agbor is the most populous city of approximately 67,610 among the Ika people. It is located in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, in South-south geo-political zone of Nigeria, West Africa. Agbor is the headquarters of Ika South Local Government Area, in Delta State, Nigeria.

Dipo rites are one of the most popular, yet criticized, puberty rites and practices in Ghana, yet is one of the most attended events in the country, receiving huge numbers of tourists. The rite is performed by the people of Odumase Krobo in the Eastern region of Ghana. The rite is performed in April every year. It is used to usher virgin girls into puberty or womanhood, and signifies that a participating girl is of age to be married. Parents, upon hearing the announcement of the rite, send their qualified girls to the chief priest. The girls, however, have to go through rituals and tests to prove their chastity before they qualify to partake in the festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olojo festival</span> Annual festival in Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

The Olojo Festival is an ancient festival celebrated annually in Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. It is one of the popular festivals in the Yoruba land, and was once described by Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as a festival that celebrates the Black race all over the world. The Yoruba word 'Olojo' means 'The Day Of The First Dawn' that describes the grateful heart of man towards God's creation and the existence of Human. The Olojo Festival is a culture festival in the calendar of the Ile-Ife, Osun State which is located in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. It is the celebration of the remembrance of “Ogun”, god of Iron, who is believed to be the first son of Oduduwa, progenitor of the Yoruba people. The festival is held annually in October. It is one of the biggest festival on the culture calendar of lle-Ife.

Unuamen also spelt Unuame is an ancient village community by Ovia river in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Unuame is about 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Benin City and 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Benin Airport. Unuame is one of the ancestral homes of Oba Esigie's maternal grandfather and home town to some group of Binis. The people of Unuame have remained loyal to the monarch since the establishment of the ancient Kingdom of Benin. Being a part of the Kingdom of Benin, Unuame is at the heart of the tropical rainforest in the southern part of Nigeria, way to the west of the delta of the Niger River and inland from the coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nupe Cultural Day</span>

The Nupe Day Celebration is a traditional and cultural event or celebration observed in Nigeria on 26 June. The event is ordinarily celebrated by the Nupe community yearly in the country.

The Bassa Nge are an ethnic group in Nigeria that traces its history back to 1805. They originally inhabited Gbara which was formerly the capital of the Nupe Kingdom. The Bassa Nge migrated from their homeland in Bida due to a dynastic feud in about 1820. They are formerly the largest of Nupe groups, with a population of about 15,000 in 1820 before they dispersed throughout Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Kogi State gubernatorial election</span> 2023 gubernatorial election in Kogi State, Nigeria

The 2023 Kogi State gubernatorial election was held on 11 November 2023 to elect the Governor of Kogi State. Incumbent APC Governor Yahaya Bello was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term in office. The primaries were scheduled for between 27 March and 17 April 2022.

Ariginya Festival is a commonly celebrated festival celebrated in one of the Ondo State town called Ikare Akoko. Depending on the dialect and mode of pronunciation, some call it Aringinya. This festival is said to be one of the foremost traditional festivals celebrated in this town since its inception. Ikare-Akoko is one of the towns located in the southwest region of Nigeria, and in the Yoruba area. The festival is one of many festivals that is set to celebrate virginity and chastity among female genders as the Yoruba land is known for her worth and high value pertaining to decency and purity. The festival is such that helps to improve the mindset of dignity and purity as well as the value of a woman staying pure and reserved until the wedding and only to her husband. This has helped to improve the rate of decency in the town as young girls understands the price and the worth and that one of the greatest virtue of a woman is her virginity and a media to stand against sexual abuse and harassment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waist beads</span> Traditional African jewelry piece worn around the waist

Waist beads is a type of jewelry worn around the waist or on the hips originating from West Africa, they are traditionally worn by women as a symbol of beauty, sexuality, femininity, fertility, well-being or maturity.

Iria marriage is a festival celebrated by the Ijaw ethnic group in Rivers State, Nigeria. It is a significant cultural event that marks the transition of a girl into womanhood within the Ijaw community. The festival is primarily observed in the Ibani Kingdom, located in the Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Ovia River or Osse River is a perennial watercourse in Southwestern Nigeria, flowing through the states of; Kogi, Ondo and Edo, before emptying into the Gulf of Guinea. Its watecourse spans approximately 120 kilometers through diverse terrain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iwa Akwa</span> Igbo Traditional Festival

Iwa Akwa or Aju Festival which can also be translated as Cloth Wearing is a traditional ceremony that is practised by the Igbo people to indicate that a boy has become a man. Iwa Akwa ceremony is a triennial festival that occurs in Obowo, Ihitte/Uboma, the Ehime Mbano, Ahiazu Mbaise local government areas of Imo state in Nigeria.

References

  1. ↑ "Ogori's Ovia Osese festival promotes sanctity of virginity". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2017-06-04. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  2. ↑ "Ovia-Osese: A Kogi festival for keeping girls chaste". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  3. ↑ "Ogori's Ovia Osese festival promotes sanctity of virginity". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2017-06-04. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  4. ↑ "Ovia-Osese Festival, Festivals And Carnivals In Kogi State :: Nigeria Information & Guide". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  5. ↑ "Ogori's Ovia Osese festival promotes sanctity of virginity". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2017-06-04. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  6. ↑ "Ovia-Osese: A Kogi festival for keeping girls chaste". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  7. ↑ Ododo, Sunday Enessi (2004). "Womanhood and Virgo Intacta: Form and Aesthetic Reconstruction in Ovia-Osese Performance" (PDF). Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies.
  8. ↑ "Ovia-Osese: A Kogi festival for keeping girls chaste". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  9. ↑ "Ogori's Ovia Osese festival promotes sanctity of virginity". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2017-06-04. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.