UKWATA ABBI

UKWATA FESTIVAL OF ABBI

The UKWATA FESTIVAL is the major feast of the Abbi people of Delta State of Nigeria. It is an important annual festival which is usually celebrated in the month of February. It was first celebrated a very very long time ago. The festival marks the end of the year's farming activities of Abbi people and ushers in another farming year and other activities. During the period of festivities, people do not engage in farming as they remain at home and enjoy themselves and make merriment. From the day the festival date is fixed, yam tubers are harvested and stored in barns till after the festival when new farm are made as part of the new farming year's activities.

The Cannon Man firing the canons to signify that the festival has started

Fixing a date for the Ukwuata Festival It is the prerogative of the Okpala-Uku (the traditional ruler of Abbi) or the Uko-Okpala ( the Regent) as the case may be to fix and announce the date of the festival. This is done by summoning the elders(Ikpala), chiefs(Inotu), Oyiwa and the Otu-Ole age grades to a meeting in his palace, on a particular Eke-Nta Market Day. It is in this meeting that the duration and date for the festival is decided. The duration is usually either 17days("OGE-ISE") or 25 days("OGE-ESA"). Once a date and duration has been agreed upon, it is first announced in the Palace and later in the town. The 2004 festival was fixed for 28th January to 21st day of February meaning that is an "OGE-ESA" or 25 days celebration.

Significance of the Ukwuata Festival It is used to mark a period of PEACE AND HARMONY. Immediately after fixing the festival date, a proclamation prohibiting fighting, quarreling, demanding debts summoning one another before the elders (Ikpala), INOTU (Chiefs) and burial ceremonies, is made . Anyone having a grievance against another has to wait until the end of the festival before taking action. The purpose of this is to ensure peace and harmony during the festival. The festival fosters Unity, re-union and interaction. On hearing of the festival date, home-feeling will be aroused among Abbi sons and daughters living outside Abbi. Preparations for the festival will be geaned up as it affords them the opportunity of a re-union and inter-action with their families and friends. A special day of expecting our sons, daughters, well-wishers and friends has been fixed by custom, known as "Nkwo Ndi Ebieyi(Strangers Day). Families will happily be expecting the arrival of then- sons and daughters and when it occurs a loud ovation will rent the air, welcoming them. Those, whose people have not arrived will continue to expect them. In some cases their expectation will darken into anxiety- anxiety into dread and dread into despair, as those expected failed to show up. nevertheless, the day is a happy day generally as merriment's will continue until the following day -the UKWATA DANCE DAY.

A band entertaining some group people who came to see the feast

A group of females dancing to some music The Otu-Ole Age Grade Camping Eight (8) days to the UKWATA DANCE DAY, the OTU-OLE age grade will camp at the out-skirt of the town and remain there until a day to the UKWA DANCE DAY. This is known as "Ina Uno Ukwuata" During this period, Ukwata Dance will be practised to enable them select the best dancer. The customary order of camping is Elovie quarter starts camping eight days to the Ukwuata Dance while Okwele and Umia will proceed to their various camping sites seven days to the Ukwata Dance Day. During the 2004 Ukwuata festival, a football competition was introduced as a waiting of keeping visitor and well wisher entertained pending when the feast starts at about 2.00pm.

A cross section of indigenes, visitors and tourist watching the football match

A crowd watching the dancer carrying the Ukwata entertain some Inotu

Ghetto Boys Dance Group from Ozoro that graced the festival

Igba Dance Group performing during the festival

The Ukwuata Dance

The Ukwuata Dance day is the climax of the Ukwuata festival. It is on this day that the Ukwuata Dancer come out from the shrine with "UKWUATA" to entertain Inotu(Chief) in the three quarters of Abbi and the Okpala-Uku at his palace. It is on this day that the town become agore with dancing carnival on the streets of Abbi. It is also on this day that most sons, daughters of Abbi and well wishers converge at Abbi town to enjoy the dance carnival.

The Ukwuaka being escorted from the shrine after the cannons have been fired It is the duty of the leader of the OTU-OLE age grade to produce, with the help of other members, the Ukwata Dancer of his quarters. The arrangement is such that each of the three quarters, ELOV1E, OKWELE and UMIA will perform the Ukwuata Dance one after the other in the three quarters. The order of performance is UMIA first, followed by OKWELE and lastly, ELOVIE. This order of performance has been adhered to from time immemorial. Usually, on this day of the festival, the main street of Abbi (OLILE) is crowded to capacity with people who have come to watch the Ukwata Dancers and the procession of boys and girls, men and women dancing and singing from one end of the town to the other. The Chiefs (Inotu) of each quarters, have a special place where they seat in their respective quarters and where the Ukwata Dancers come to perform for them. The Ukwata Dancer also perform before the Okpala-Uku or the Uko-Okpala, as the case may be. It is really a happy day and the scene is usually very entertaining. Another important aspect of the festival is that after the performance of the Ukwata Dance, natives start from the following day (OLIE) with appeasing their ancestors, praying for peace, long life and prosperity. This will continue until the end of the festival. The Ukwuata Festival is really very entertaining, making every countenance bright with similes. You are always invited.

The crowd struggle to have a glimse of Ukwuaka The Ukwuata Dancer carrying the Ukwuata(a white eagle seat on some local craft)

Inotu(Chiefs) of Umia Quarter watching the Ukwuata carrier entertain them with his dance

The Ukwuata Dancer performing before the Inotu(Chiefs) of Umia Quarter