August 25, 2023
IKeji Festival, which takes place in Arondizuogu in Imo State, holds annually in April and sometimes coincides with the Easter celebration. The IKeji Festival spans four days with the celebration used as a time for thanksgiving, felicitations, and propitiation as the festival marks both the end of planting season and the beginning of harvest. The celebration is filled with masquerades with much music and dancing. Each of the four designated days has special activities. Ikeji Festival is believed to have as many as four versions of it’s origin. The first version talks about how a warrior named Dikeji from Arondizuogu conquered a village and made it compulsory for the defeated ruler to pay him tributes. The tributes stopped coming after some time, which made Dikeji to return to that village and behead the king. He took the head back to his home town where the event was celebrated as IKeji Ugwo
The second version talks of another individual named Izuogu, who is the founder of Arondizuogu. He went to Arochukwu where he was kidnapped. He was fortunate to be saved by three masked figures believed to have come from Abam. Upon gaining his freedom, Izuogu led a celebration that was initially regarded as Jim Aga.
The third version is a bit odd as it is connected to the slave trade. The Aro people always had the Omu charm to protect them, so they were never afraid of being captured as slaves. In a scenario where they were captured without their Omu charm, all they had to do was utter the words “Aka Ike Jim” meaning, strong hands are holding me, and the slave masters will release them in fear of incurring the wrath of the famous “Juju” of Arochukwu. The cultural celebration began as a commemoration of the Aros, killed during the slave trade.
The last version asserted that the festival is connected to the new yam festival. Yam is very important to the IKeji Festival. In the ancient Arondizuogu society, only men are allowed to plant yams. The Aros take some of their names and tittles after yam. Such names are as follow: Ugoji- the eagle yam, Ezeji- the king yam, IKeji- the strong yam, Umeji- the loveth yam, Oparaji- the son of yam.
The Ikeji Festival is centred around this Fourth version connected to the New Yam Festival. On the first day known as “Eke”, the best farm produce is brought to the Eke market, where they are sold off to the public at a very cheap price.
The second day is called “Orie”, slaughtering of livestock, and feasting is the order of the day. “Afor” being the third day will see the masquerades such as Ojionu ,Nwaburuja,Mgbadike ,Ozoebune etc come out to display with several dance groups joining them.
The fourth day, “Nkwo” is the grand finale of the festival. The big masquerade, “Nnekwu Nmanwu”, makes its appearance, dancing with regal steps to the sound of “Nkwa Egwu”.
Nkwo-Achi, which is the center of the whole celebration, witnesses dances, magical displays that defy the laws of science and nature. How efficient your charms are will be known on that day as they are tested out. The main “Juju” contest involves the loosening of a ram tied to a pole by a piece of string, which the ram ordinarily could easy break away from, but unable to. Other people are now given the challenge to untie the ram and only the most powerful charm can accomplish such a mission. Somebody with the strongest protection from any juju of whatever type is expected to leisurely walk to the ram amid heavy attempts with juju from other people to knock him down, maim him, or kill him. Only the brave can participate, while the not-so-brave will either abstain from or remain with the crowd as spectators. Only the brave can stand forward from the crowd, one after another, and approach the tree to untie the ram. However, each contender will be attacked by forces to stop him from reaching the ram. If overwhelmed, he will beat a retreat back to his starting point. Eventually, the bravest among the masquerades participating in the competition for that year’s festival, after overcoming all odds, will reach the ram, untie it and take it home.