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.
8/27/2014
Urhobo culture and the ‘water’ metaphor
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