By Prince Kelly Udebhulu.
It was from this Igbabonelimi dance ceremonies, communities exchanged gifts, marriages, settled communal disputes and the rich Esan People contributed to the maintenance of route parts to neighbouring villages, paid young man's pride price because he performed very well, young sons and daughters of Esan land grasped their values as best among tribes.
At Igbabonelimi dance ceremonies, outsiders and visitors from other tribes visited Esan land especially as from the month of September through December, Esan People were reverend, Esan People meals were tested and eaten to satisfaction, our mode of dressing were copied, our beautiful and eloquent language were learnt by other tribes, Our trading flourished, paving ways for settlers to resident in Esanland and contributed to our known inter-tribal marriages.
Before the arrival of the OKPODU (comendian among the masqurades), The crowd surged with energy and vivid animation. electrified participatorial charm everywhere. There will be an infectious spirited aura of being present at a historical ceremony, gripped with raucous partisan feverishness as the OKPODU emerged. All at once, thousands of voices rang out with the thunderous echo: “HAYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”
Waoh, Asono ( normal charismatic dance steps with melodious songs) entertained the crowd. Proud children, both Beautiful and handsome in outlook gave out maximum honor to the Isighele (community head) and other dignitaries present. At the ceremonies and after the ceremonies, Sorrows vanished, future life partners were chosen, misdemeanours were checked and holiganisms were minimized among youths.
TODAY, we hardly see nor hear the sound of Igbabonelimi dance in Esanland, we sometimes see it performed at cities not villages anymore, these ones seen in the cities these days only watched by old men and women, chldren from Esanland, who will hardly identify as Esan Children because of their English Ñames, "MICHAEL JUNIOR", "MABEL PETERS", see this proud part of Esan dance culture as primitive and outdated. What A Pity!
We have many disadvantages we inherited from lack of Igbabonelimi dance ceremonies in Esan Land today. As our culture and value diminish everyday so our pride and opportunities vanish gradually. Children from the same family don't know one another any longer, ironically marrying one another unknowingly because no more visit to the village with children to participate in the anual Igbabonelimi dance ceremonies where counsins, uncles, nephews etc know one another. What A pity !
We still have hope ! Our children will know the culture, our food will be tested and eaten by other tribes, our value and pride will be revitalized, our desired development will come, Individual-comm unal development will be actualized IF we bring to life the declining Igbabonelimi dance. We should allow and encourage the igbabonelimi dance ceremonies in our respective communities, Igbabonelimi Dance Exchange ceremony whereby communities inter exchange should be encouraged. Our Enigies and Isigheles should organise free for all environments in every community to encourage our sons and daughters to visit home with children and return back to cities safely without bad experiences that will make the children never to go back to the village again !
Thank you my People. ESANOKPEBHO, AKUGBE AHU.
....To be continued
By Prince Kelly Udebhulu
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