8/27/2014

Urhobo culture and the ‘water’ metaphor

Urhobo culture and the ‘water’ metaphor

Delta State Correspondent, Ebenezer Adurokiya, describes the exceptional cultural significance of “Ame” (water) among the Urhobos in Oghara during a cultural performance to celebrate the conferment of a chieftaincy title on an illustrious son of Oghara, Chief Henry Ogheneochukwo Ofa, last weekend.

WATER is often described as a universal solvent, a quintessential element that is common and most essential to the sustenance of mankind. In the African society, water is life. Like the revered kolanut in the Eastern part of Nigeria, he who brings water, among the Urhobos, is said to have brought life.

The evergreen ancestor and originator of Afro music, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, depicts “water” in one of his hit tracks, as having no enemy. To eat, cool aching heads, bathe, wash, cook, farm, give birth and bury, among others, attract the use of water.

In Oghara, Ethiope West Local of Delta State, water means more than the usage listed above. With the absorption of wrong deviant values by a section of the youth, water is a metaphor used to describe a benevolent personage who has distinguished himself or herself in the society through hardwork. “Ame,” meaning “water” in Urhobo language signifies the multi-purposefulness of an exceptional character. Like water serving a universal purpose of giving life, the personage is believed to have played a leadership role perfectly well to be seen as an indispensable blessing to his or her society.

Significantly, the celebration of the conferment of “water” of Oghara on the commissioner representing Ethiope West, Okpe and Sapele Local Government areas on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Dr Henry Oghneneochuko Ofa, last Saturday, marked the climax of the ceremony that began on August 16.

The Ovie of the ancient Kingdom of Oghara, HRH, Christopher Ejeyabu Erijitomah, who ascended the throne of his ancestors two years ago, was marking his second anniversary when he conferred the chieftaincy title of “Ame” on the DESOPADEC boss on the ground that he is water personified in the life of the entire people of Oghara Kingdom.

For a kingdom that just came out of a turbulent period before and after the demise of the former Ovie of Oghara, HRH Oreki II, no time would have been more appropriate to calm the tensed nerves of the people than now. As water is used to put out fire, Ofa, who has been acting the role since his appointment as DESOPADEC commissioner by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, has been in the forefront to quench hunger and thirst, cool “hot” heads, and meet developmental needs of people of the three local governments.

Speaking on the significance of the investiture, the Ovie of Oghara, HRH, Christopher Ejeyabu Erijitomah, said Ofa deserved the title owing largely to his immense contributions to the entire Oghara Kingdom and the advancement of humanity in general.

No comments:

Post a Comment

To get the world and your friends informed.. Feel free to share every news you read on this site on any web or on any social network by clicking on the SHARE BUTTON ABOVE or share it by any other means but ensure to always share with the site link(web address) for reference and to avoid being SUED for intellectual theft.......post a comment after reading as well..,...we are here to serve you the best

use anonymous to post a comment if necessary