By Saka Sheidu:
It is increasingly clear that some religious uninformed are sadly mixing Ebira masquerade culture and traditions with religion. This has led to avoidable misunderstanding and, in some cases, violent incidents. It has therefore become necessary to put the records straight, to adequately educate the uninformed ones amongst us,to forestall future ugly events.
Before the advent of Christianity and Islam, Ebira people were firmly rooted in traditional worship of God, whom they strongly believe in His existence as a Supreme diety called by many names to underscore His awesomeness and power of creation. Such names include OHOMORIHI, IHINEBA, ORICHA just to mention but a few. His exultation is second to none.
They also believe in the existence of lesser gods called “ORI”, who are thought to represent the Supreme God and through whom they can offer prayers, supplications and burnt offerings to God Almighty.
Sacrifices in form of burnt animal offerings – goats, dogs, cattle – during extreme needs of the people, to appeace God, such as drought, epidemics and agricultural pestilence.
As a child, I witnessed Ebira traditional worship practices carried out by my grandparents and their siblings. Although my father and his siblings converted to Islam and I was thus naturally born into a moslem family, I never ceased from witnessing the traditional way of worship by my grandparents.
I will use this experience to describe the practice of traditional religion in Ebiraland generally as the style of worship has a common thread running through it.
My grandfather and his siblings, half brothers their, their wives, their nephews and nieces, would all gather in the early mornings in my grandfather’s compound (Ohueje) because he was the eldest. They would be seated around a grapevine tree in the middle of the compound, the foot of which were piles of broken rock pieces and stones.
Special kolanuts and a bowl of fresh water were then brought. My grandfather often led the prayers, being the eldest but he would sometimes delegate another of his most senior siblings to lead the prayers.
As the prayers began, all the women present would go down on their knees. Those women who could not show up from their apartments, because they were occupied with children’s Caroline breastfeeding, would announce that they were on their knees.
My grandfather would pick one of the kolanuts with the right hand, dip it into the water and with the outstretched right hand bearing the kolanut, he would begin his praises, exultation and prayers to God for robust health for all, peace, progress, increased farm yield, safe trips, protection on all sides, productivity, provisions, blessings of the womb, etc. He would intermittently dip the kolanut in the water as he prayed and extolled God’s awesome and amazing virtues. God was indeed lavishly praised and all his different names were highlighted with encomiums. His first recognition was God, Almighty.
The second recognition, in his honor roll is Mother Earth. Mother Earth would be recognised as the enabler of bountiful harvests, from whom we came and to whom we would return in the end. He would be praised, extolled and beseeched for mercy as well as he dipped the kolanut in water at intervals.
The third recognition goes to Womenfolk. In Ebira traditional worship, women have a special mention because they are believed to have unique talents and extraordinary powers. The God of women would thus be praised, extolled and beseeched for peace in the home.
The last recognition goes to the Devil. But unlike the earlier ones, the Devil would be publicly shamed with curses upon curses.
The next stage is the sharing of the kolanuts. It would be done in the order the prayers were offered – Almighty God, Mother Earth, Women – with more prayers and libations. However, the bioactive part of the kolanuts would be removed as the share of the Devil/ Enemies. Instead of water being poured on them, the pieces would be put under the foot and thoroughly rubbished as more curses were rained on the Devil/Enemies. As the bioactive part of the kolanuts are killed in this process, so also the evil designs of the Devil/Enemies are rendered impotent and of no effect whatsoever.
The prayer meetings took place first thing in the mornings without fail and conducted in our own God given language. The process is the same for all families throughout Ebiraland.
The consequences were little or no sickness and hospitalizations, heavy rainfalls, bountiful harvests, less enmity, peaceful coexistence, amazing fertility of men and women, homes themed with people, longevity etc. Our grandparents lived to 100 years and above. Generally speaking, the blessings of God were stupendous.
Did you see any masquerade featuring in the prayer sessions? How then is Ebira traditional religious worship synonymous with masquerade culture? It amounts to crass ignorance of the facts to so think.
For me, what we urgently need to do is the revival of Ebira traditional worship model in all of Ebiraland to enliven our youths. It served our forefathers very well and I have no doubt in my mind that it will equally serve our generation and future generations of Anebira.
I am not here to denigrate any religion , but you will agree with me that the difference is clear between then and now!
Please let’s remain peaceful, cool, calm and calculated in the face of any provocations.
May OHOMORIHI bless us all. Okoyiza oshoyiza ree oo!
#SakaSheidu#.
