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2025 ECH’ANE FESTIVAL IN IHIMALAND
From time immemorial, Ebira people of Kogi State, Nigeria who are predominantly the occupants of the Central Senatorial District of the State identified the importance and uniqueness of their women folk.
This is why their forefathers earmarked a particular festival in honour and celebration of their women who they believe are contributing immensely to the growth and development of their society.
‘Ech’ane’ which simply means ‘Women’s Festival’ is an annual event often held in June of each year.
As history put it, as far back as in the ’30s, IHIMALAND a sleepy town surrounded by hilly mountains and rocks stands as the unamed headquarter of this festival for obvious reasons.
During this historical festival, sons and daughters of this town and their friends from different parts of the country and beyond are always around to witness and partake in their age long event.
Aside using the event to choose their suitors, the growing boys are being caned by their masquerades as a way of entertaining the visiting guests and the women around.
The canning aspect of the festival won’t come until the accompanying youths deliberately sing some teasing songs for the masquerades to demonstrate their strength and capabilities.
One of such songs is; “Weibo, weyibo, aironi iya ye ni” meaning; “If you’re old or not, we will know this year”.
Unfortunately, this festival which has been using to promote unity and peaceful co-existence among the people had been hijacked by desperate politicians and using same to segregate and set the people against one another for their personal and selfish interests.
They hide their faces using the jobless youths to cause mayhem during these traditional festivals. Instead of putting in place measures to harness the vast natural resources towards the development of the land and its people, the politicians prefer using sentiments like the traditional festivals and religion to expand their political nests.
Surprisingly and for the first time in history, this year’s edition of it was held without a single known masquerade from a particular clan called -EMANI which is undeniably the oldest among the various clans in Ihima.
The residents and others who came from far and near to be part of the event were asking without any one to provide answers; who gave the order and for what reason?
Those who were waiting for notable masquerades like, Evako, Ichakoro, lnakakanda, Adega and Ugugo were utterly shocked and disappointed that they were nowhere to be found.
Likewise, barren, expectant women and the sickly who were waiting for the prophecies of Adega and Ugugo didn’t set their eyes on them.
The Head of Emani Clan and The Obobanyi of Ihima Land, His Highness, Adai Dr. Samel Onimisi who the former Governor Yaya Bello dethroned and banished from his fatherland and now in his palace though, gave the order to drive home a point as the people vehemently opposed the installation of another Obobanyi.
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