Akwa-Ocha is the Attire for Anioma Traditional Marriage

- Emeka Esogbue

In case you are Anioma or getting married to an Anioma bride or groom, the pictures below will help your curiosity about how the Anioma people dress on the day of their traditional marriage.

Anioma is one of the ethnic groups in Delta State with the rest as Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Isoko. The traditional fabric of the Anioma people is generally called Akwa-Ocha but it is also called Otogwu and Ogbeyi-Akpani in other quarters of the region. It is an indigenous hand-woven material produced by the people, especially from the Aniocha axis.

The fabric traditionally comes in Ibe-ator (three layers) for men and Ibenabor (two-layers) for women though some huge women may go with Ibe-ator to support their large body size.

In the olden days, the possession of the Akwa-Ocha used to differentiate the wealthy from the poor because it was expensive to purchase yet a cultural necessity though cheaper ones also existed. This was the derivation of the name "Ogbeyi-Akpani," literally meaning that the poor do not attempt to ask the price. Since it was difficult for the Anioma man to live fully or complete his stages of life without the use of Akwa-Ocha, the fabric was part of the way of life of the Anioma man which made it an available stock in Anioma family homes. In fact, to date, it is required in death.

Akwa-Ocha is white which is the traditional colour of the Anioma people however, it may be spotted with different designs which come in various colours to further beautify it. The white symbolizes purity, sacredness, and cleanliness in the life of the people. The Anioma descent is expected to be pure, unsullied, and free from immorality. In traveling to the world beyond, Akwa-Ocha, the cloth of purity becomes one of the sacred clothes to accompany him home either covering the prepared remains or utilized as "itu uni" rites.

Akwa-Ocha is not exactly in traditional use anywhere except in the Anioma Region (which may include Onitsha, Ogbaru, and Ndoni, three communities that are Anioma by extension but geographically lying outside Delta State).

This makes the Akwa-Ocha fabric unique to the Anioma people. It plays valuable trado-spiritual roles in the Enuani society of Anioma thus, it is also worn in times of funerals, festivals, and other socio-religious rites.

In today's world rarely would the traditional marriage of the Enuani people of Anioma in Delta State hold without the bride and groom in attired in Akwa-Ocha. This is just as there cannot be a funeral ceremony without the attire in use. Such is the attachment of the people to their cherished attire.

The Anioma bride and groom often excitingly look forward to adorning themselves in their native Akwa-Ocha attire during their traditional marriage and the parents of the celebrants may most likely also appear in the attire. The trendy beauty of the Akwa-Ocha is that it can be tailored to any style for men and women including traditional skirts for men called 'mbulukwu' and a befitting top to fashionably harmonize it. Some men may make a wrapper of it while others prefer to leave it as fashionably simple as possible to look culturally beautiful.

Whatever you choose, the day of the Anioma traditional marriage is the day of the display of Akwa-Ocha.

The Ibusa community despite its 6 mile- nearness to Asaba, the state capital has no tourist site, good hotel, dual carriage road, or government ministry. Why has the community been facing neglect since 1999 when democracy returned to the country?

Follow the Pen Master Blog

DIAMOND JUBILEE AGE: 20 THINGS THE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT FRED AJUDUA

DIAMOND JUBILEE AGE: 20 THINGS THE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT FRED AJUDUA On January 21 2020, Pen Master paid Chief Fred Ajudua a scheduled visit at his Lagos-VGC Marble Dome Home, a large and imposing house sitting on a hill from where it vigorously engages public views and attention. On entering the house, Pen Master freely walked in and around, in the spirit of the love that always binds the people of Igbuzo. The man, Chief Fred Ajudua often described as the “Architect of Modern Ibusa” is unarguably one of the biggest fish in history to have come out of Ibusa even as it is said that nearly every Ibusa family has benefited from him one way or the other. Beyond what you know about him, there seems many sides you do not know. As the Igbuzo Chief celebrates his 60 th Year birthday, your Pen Master brings you the things you do not know about the highly influential Igbuzo Chief. Pen Master also dug into the Ajudua family photo depository all for your knowledge. Happy reading!

A SHORT HISTORY OF OBOLLO CLAN IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

A SHORT HISTORY OF OBOLLO CLAN IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA By Emeka Esogbue Introduction Not many historical literatures on the Obollo people exist for the usual reasons associated with our people who prefer to write the history of mighty and populous peoples already enriched with volumes of historical accounts and records. Thus while there are historical documents on other peoples of Igbo, for Obollo, it is the story of dearth of documents. However, it is within my historical concern that the rich history of this part of Igboland be adequately researched into, documented and preserved for the future generation. I do not hail from this part of Igboland but my historical background, interest and curiosity propelled me towards the acquisition of both oral and written information to put this material together. Geography The various Obollo communities comprising of Obollo Afor, Obollo Etiti, Obollo Eke, Obollo Orie and Obollo Nkwo are strategically situated at the regional bou

SEE HOW ANIOMA PEOPLE DRESS ON THEIR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE THE ERA OF USING OUR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE TO PROMOTE ATTIRES OF OTHER GROUPS IN NIGERIA IS GONE

SEE HOW ANIOMA PEOPLE DRESS ON THEIR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE THE ERA OF USING OUR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE TO PROMOTE ATTIRES OF OTHER GROUPS IN NIGERIA IS GONE Today is Saturday, conventionally set aside for marriage ceremonies. Awareness on how our Anioma brides and grooms attire themselves during their traditional marriage has fast spread and entrenched. We no longer promote other group's cultural attires because we want them to promote our own instead. I say many thanks to our Anioma cultural advocates on this day because our labours to preserve as well as promote the good cultures of our Anioma society have never been in vain. Noticeable now is that in time of our traditional marriages, we costume ourselves in Akwa-Ocha which brings out our god-given beauty. A few moments after her traditional marriage in Umuodafe, Ibusa on December 28, inside the Agokei palatial home, I visited former Miss Amaka Thelma Agokei, the bride. I was rather late; but I met this beautiful bride t

Emeka Esogbue

Search This Blog