By Dada Ahmed.
(C) Facebook.
The 2025 Ekuechi Festival, marked by the Egbira people of Okene and Okengwe in Kogi Central, unfolded on Friday and Saturday in an atmosphere of absolute peace, tranquility harmony, and cultural splendour.
The Correspondent of The Reporters, who monitored the highly cherished festival across Okene, Okengwe, Obehira and Ageva throughout the two days, reports that the first leg of the festival, known as”Unehe”,featured vibrant singers thrilling milling jubilant crowds of young and the young at heart,home and outside Egbiraland,with captivating performances.
The Unehe usually herald the second day, bursting more to life as night masquerades entertained the crowd of mostly men with soulful chants, paired with artistic, high-energy dances that lit up the arena.
The audience responded with thunderous ovation,chorus and electrifying energy-sapping dance moves that sent powerful vibrations through the entire festival.
However, in keeping with long-standing Egbira tradition, most women were not permitted to participate in the second day of the festival, except those known as “Osoku”.
A community leader in Arigo, a suburb of Obehira, Malam Umoru Adavuruku, told our correspondent that the 2025 Ekuechi Festival was one of the most seamless and peaceful celebrations witnessed in Okene and Okengwe in recent times.
He commended the Ododo-led administration,Okene Local Government authorities, the custodians of the masquerades, community leaders, and members of the traditional council for the mature and orderly manner in which this year’s festival was organised.
“Gone are the days when many Egbiras avoided the Ekuechi Festival due to the unacceptable manner in which it was previously celebrated.
In recent times, the narrative has changed for the better, and this explains the massive turnout of people from home, abroad, and neighbouring towns,who came to witness this year’s festival,” he said.
According to various literature of festivals in Egbiraland,the Ekuechi Festival holds deep cultural and spiritual importance for the Egbira people, serving as a symbolic bridge between the living and their ancestors. It is believed that during Ekuechi, ancestral spirits (known as Eku) return to the community to offer guidance, blessings, and protection. This spiritual connection reinforces the Egbiras’ sense of identity, continuity, and respect for their heritage.
Beyond its spiritual essence, Ekuechi is a major platform for preserving Egbira tradition, music, poetry, and oral history.
Culture enthusiasts note that the chants, and performances by masquerades and singers are not mere entertainment,they carry coded messages, moral lessons, and historical narratives passed down through generations. Through Ekuechi festival, the younger generation learns and experiences the customs, values, and artistic expressions that define Egbiraland.
Ekuechi also plays a vital social role by fostering unity, reconciliation, and communal bonding. Families return home, communities gather, and social ties are strengthened through shared celebrations.
It boosts local economy, promotes cultural tourism, and reinforces the collective pride of the Egbira people both at home and in the diaspora. In essence, Ekuechi is more than a festival,it is a celebration of identity, heritage, and communal harmony.
