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Uzzeh, the Festival of Isheagu that Commands the Rain

 Uzzeh, the Festival of Isheagu that Commands the Rain

- Dr. Emeka Esogbue

Although the Isheagu community in Aniocha South Local Government Area is best remembered for the civil war massacre, similar to the Asaba Massacre, there is a unique festival peculiar to the people.

The Uzzeh Festival is strange, cultural, and spiritual. As Patrick Ochei of Anioma Trust once described it. It is a festival of the lion-hearted and only the strong-hearted can muster the courage to watch it, let alone participate in it.

The festival appears to have the highest number of cutlasses ever seen in any single festival as cutlasses of different shapes are excessively displayed by the actors of the festival to the fear of strangers. This makes the Uzzeh Festival of the Isheagu people not for the lily-livered to watch.

Another strange feature of the festival is that no matter the brightness of the weather or the burning sun, once it is the commencement time of the festival, the rain immediately takes over.

Among the watchers of the festival was the crew of Anioma Trust Newspaper who were seated in the scorch of the sun. However, as soon as the main protagonist arrived at the venue, the weather changed and the rain took over.

"However, as soon as we settled down and the different Quarters began to arrive to pay homage to the king, someone said it must rain, that never in history had this festival held without the rains. And true to his postulation, as soon as one of the main protagonists arrived the Obi’s Palace, the weather changed and the next thing was a heavy rain. What a unique and interesting outing," Ochei reported.

In the people's legend, a monster once terrified the community until it was killed by Odogwu Dagbue who brought back its head and had it hanged. Thus, started the celebration of the festival.

The significance of the festival is to rid the community of criminalities to enable bounty harvest in the year.

Meanwhile, no one has explained why the Uzzeh Festival is in love with the rain, something that will interest culture enthusiasts.

Incidentally, the festival was never held for 12 years due to the conflict that engulfed the community until its resurrection in 2022 by HRM Lt Col Obi Onyema II (retd).

 

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