By USMAN ABUDAH

It was another celebration of cultural heritage of the Afenmai as people from all walks of gathered for 2014 Afenmai Mass Assembly of Masquerades Outing.

Rt – left- Dr Edo Omozuwa, representing Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chairman of the occasion, Prince Suleman Afegbua, HRH The Otaru of Auchi and Saliu Ahmed, The Sadiq of Auchi.rof. Elechi Amadi (2nd left) Prof Ebele Eko (3rd) flanked by well wishers at the event

The well attended event witnessed the presence of traditional rulers, culture enthusiasts including the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who was representative of Dr. Asani Edo Omozuwa  and others.

The day started in a colourful note as instrumentational strokes in a mixed rhythm from the various Masquerades and Traditional Troupes, rented the air as spectators moved into their seats. Chairman of the occasion, Prince Abdulmalik Suleman Afegbua, the Executive Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council took his seat and the hosting royal father, H.R.H. Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III, the Otaru of Auchi came in while the Eluemosi Dance Troupe of Fugar took the stage, exhibiting a dexterous weaving pattern of dance steps dictated by its soothing team of instrumentalists.

This was followed by a specially rehearsed female ensemble of Ogbona held the audience in captivity with its deliverance of folksongs in Etsako dialect with an embellished Aigbi format line of songs of praise, pain and abuse, very well known to the people.

The Aluaye female Troupe of Okpella (a much travelled troupe) took its turn and Prince Afegbua couldn’t contain himself as he sent out one of his aides to enter the stage and spray the dancers on his behalf (he is also from Okpella).

The Isiko (hunters dance) troupe from Auchi took its turn: the starcatto strokes from the pot drums capped in varied snake skins, produced a smart pattern of dance steps evidently demonstrated by the
male dancers, depicting the tactics of hunters while in the bush.

Barrister (Alhaji) Nurudeen Asunogie, who delivered a paper on the theme “Rhythms of the Drums & the Gongs, Don’t lie”, held the audience in absolute quietness with his style of emphatic deliverance, which prompted the chairman of the occasion to Christian him “as our own Wole Soyinka”.

After that, the main speaker, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka who was busy in Portharcourt for the World Book Capital  but was represented by Dr. Omozuwa. In his address, The Nobel Luareate said. “Greetings to the Ancestors. I am sorry that I cannot join the living who will welcome you to the ecumenical city of Auchi during your brief visitation.

However, I have no doubt that your children will give you a proud welcome and that you would take fond memories of the reception back to your abode. Continue to intercede on behalf of progeny that they may soon overcome these troubled times and prove themselves worthy of your blessing”

The applause was deafening and the master of ceremony, Felix Umoru took the pains to explain the contents in Etsako language which was quite soothing to the audience.

The vivacious Aimi Masquerades of Ogbona, a troupe that had excelled in its performance at the Black Heritage festival in Lagos in April 2010 at the invitation of the Nobel Laureate, took over, but they performed below expectation as it didn’t keep to its cue to perform with only a masquerade rushing to the stage. Usually, its format of stage entering is for the bushy Idu masquerade to come to the stage and later the troupe would emerge. Obviously, it was a messy turnout and the Artistic director fumed over this inexplicable blunder.

The Royal father urged the Artistic Director not to relent on this his yearly promotional effort in propagating the artistic contents of the Afenmai people and promised to make it an issue before the Edo
North Traditional Rulers Forum towards joining hands to ensure a continuity.

In his remarks, the founder of Afenmai Heritage & Cultural Studies and Artistic Director of the outing, Prince Usman Abudah said that he would continue with the project despite lack of sponsorship from , the different tiers of government.

“  I would continue with this self sponsored project. Most painfully, the local government councils in Edo North are never forthcoming, no response to written correspondence, personal visitations to their respective locations are turned into searching for my letters and on top of it all, some troupes nurse the suspicion that Usman is given money by the government.

In fairness to Governor Oshiomhole of Edo State who attended the maiden edition in April last year at Auchi was very forthcoming with a financial donation to kick start a permanent location for the body, but the recent edition was embellished in self-egoistic attitude at the State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Orientation, but these won’t kill my spirit”.