Background:

Arondizuogu is an ancient Igbo kingdom located in Imo State, Nigeria. The kingdom comprises 27 clans and is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and traditions. The history of Arondizuogu cannot be complete without highlighting the rich historical background of their great slave trade merchants and warriors. Mazi Izuogu Mgbokpo and Chief Iheme, in the mid 18th century, after the abolition of slave trade, founded the “Arondizuogu.” The former was a powerful slave merchant from Arochukwu; while the latter was Mazi Izuogu’s chief servant, who hailed from Isi-Akpu Nise, in Awka, capital of the present Anambra State. They both decided to kill their hosts in Umualaoma, where they and their soldiers normally rested, when going in search of slaves. This they did and thereafter settled at Okigwe to obstruct their movement.

Ikeji Festival: 

The Ikeji Festival is a significant cultural celebration in Arondizuogu, dating back centuries. The festival originates from Arochukwu in Abia State and was introduced to Arondizuogu by Mazi Izuogu and Mazi Iheme, ancestors of the Arondizuogu people.

The Ikeji Festival celebrates the harvest of the first yams, symbolizing unity, prosperity, and gratitude to the gods. The festival is a time for the Arondizuogu people to come together, strengthen family bonds, and showcase their cultural heritage through music, dance, masquerade displays, and traditional ceremonies.

The Ikeji festival is a four-market days’ (otu-izu uka) festival, which is equivalent to one week in the English calendar. Each of these market days: Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo, has its own significance and represents a particular aspect of the Ikeji festival.

The first day is Eke. At each Eke market, farmers and individuals bring the best of their farm produce and livestock to the market and are sold at reduced prices. Orie is the second day, which is set aside for feasting and slaughtering of livestock in advance preparation for subsequent days. On the third day, which is Afor, there is more merriment and display of small masquerades and small dance groups’ performances.

Nkwo is the day for the grand finale. This day marks the end of the festival and, as such, it is the most colourful of all the days. On this day, Nnekwu Nmanwu (big masquerade) appears, dressed extravagantly in their most appreciated regalia and costumes, dancing in their unique dance steps.

Nkwo-Achi is everyone’s destination as it is the central venue of the festivities. This colourful day showcases dance groups from different places. Each masquerade moves the great panache, attracting people’s attention in different ways. Whips made from the young malleable branches of palm tree, known as, ‘mgbajara or akpata,’ that are twisted nicely, are used to flog members of the group, to test their strength in withstanding opponents and intruders. They are also used to scare opponents as they use the whip to display fetish-looking acts. Some of the masquerades and their followers are seen carrying water in baskets, which defies the rules of science.

The festival attracts indigenes and foreigners, generating revenue for the local economy in particular and Nigeria at large. The Arondizuogu people are notable farmers and prosperous individuals. The festival showcases their rich cultural heritage, promoting tourism and commerce in the proxy communities

The Ikeji Arondizuogu festival involves the entire Arondizuogu community, including men, women, and youth. The Ekpe group, age groups, and associations across the communities participate in the festivities.

Significance/Relevance:

The Ikeji festival is a significant/culturally relevant celebration  in Arondizuogu, promoting cultural preservation, community development and tourism in the region. It is considered one of the best surviving traditional ceremonies of the Arondizuogu people that serves as a unifying force, drawing back the sons and daughters of Arondizuogu from far and wide, both from within Nigeria and from the diaspora, to celebrate their shared heritage and reconnect with their roots.

The festival has survived high measures of antagonism and has come to be accepted as an intangible cultural heritage, worthy of preservation.