Ine Festival: That Time Of The Year That Issele-Uku Monarch, Obi Nduka Glitters The More

By Patrick Ochei

Issele-Uku, an agrarian but fast growing township, is the headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State. It borders Issele-Mkpitime, Onicha-Ugbo, Idumuogo, Onicha-Uku and Idumuje-Unor in the same Local Government Area, and Ubulu-Okiti and Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area. It is one community whose origin dated back to over eight centuries when it’s people migrated from the Old Benin Empire to settle at this location called Isi-Ile-Uku for the purpose of preventing the influx of criminals from the Eastern part of the country into the Benin territory.

Kings had come and gone but the Issele Traditional Institution has remained intact, because of its strong adherence to the culture and traditions of the land, from inception. Our monarchical system is hereditary, making the town one of the best practiced primogeniture in Traditional Rulership.

One of the numerous festivals of Issele-Uku people is the Ine Festival, symbolising the celebration of the new yam. In the olden days, it was difficult for mere men to behold the king of Issele-Uku. If it happened by accident, it was usually fatal.

However, there used to be a day that the King must appear for the public to have the privilege of taking a glimpse of him. This day is usually known as the Ine Festival, where the King would have to emerge from the inner Chambers of his Palace to receive the Onotu chiefs, who enjoyed the privilege of coming to pay him homage in festival mood. Each chief would come with his retinue of family people and friends to pay homage to the king. That affords ordinary people and strangers the opportunity to see the king and watch the performances of the day. And the King’s emergence is usually heralded with a special dance by Ndi Eqwu Issoh, calling on those who know the king and those who do not know him, to come and see the king with this song “Imali Oba o G’Amali Oba o, Imali Oba, Obuna Imana Oba o, G’Amali Oba o, Amalim Oba o”.

Ine Festival is usually a special celebration. The Agbogidi of the community must do everything in his capacity to appear the best of himself in his royal regalia, to impress his visitors and strangers who would have come with bold faces to behold the king. Our Obi usually would appear resplendently dressed and glittering in a way that overwhelms human imagination. This happens annually, reason our festival is known as Ine Aho.

The 9th of September, 2023, is that time of the year that Issele-Uku Monarch must distinguish himself as the Ruler and Commander-in-Chief of the kingdom. Agbogidi Obi Nduka and the people of Issele-Uku have often looked towards this day in the past seven years with high hope and joy.

It is pertinent to note that for these years, Agbogidi Obi Nduka has not disappointed, he always looked resplendent. Thank God the day has come again, we are looking forward to seeing him glow and glitter the more over and above previous appearances.