The inhabitants of Ogu kingdom in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State celebrated their annual Iria festival, an ancient event designed to welcome young female virgins into womanhood.
Three young ladies were awarded certificates for completing a test by the town’s elders and chiefs during a ceremony conducted on Saturday, December 3, 2022.
According to Niger Delta Insider, the females must first be virgins, which would be certified by town ladies, in order to pass the test.
Before the ceremony, the young girls are held in a chamber where they are fed and groomed.
After completing this process, qualifying females are awarded certificates indicating that they are now adults ready for marriage and womanhood.
This ceremony is claimed to have originated in the 17th century.
The Ogu/Bolo people have a distinct and diversified culture, from their festivals to their ethnic costumes and food. As a result, some individuals regard them as stunning but largely unimportant. The Iria puberty and marriage ceremonies, wrestling, traditional dramas, burial rites, ceremonies for the installation of chiefs and traditional rulers, and many other rites and performances are important traditions in the culture of the Ogu/Bolo people. Some of their masquerades, which are colourful and artistic in terms of make-up or accouterments, are a familiar sight across the town and the entire Local Government Area, particularly during festive occasions.
In theory, these are either religious, historical, or personifications of the people’s rich stories. And their great performances, backed by the refreshing poetry of lyrics and music, highlight the people’s excellent sense of drama and amusement. A wide range of dances, each with its own distinct style, are also available. Pots and drums, wooden gongs, horns, and xylophones are examples of musical instruments. All of these are manufactured locally by artisans who follow an ancient tradition. Carving masquerades and ceremonial canoes is a revered art, and carvers’ work has dramatically developed over the years. These carvings’ simply useful forms are gradually being given greater dimension and polish that represent the people’s intrinsic regard for aesthetic qualities.
The dances, plays, and masquerades portray the people’s religious, social, and working lives. In turn, the people’s lives have been strongly influenced by their culture. As a result, a spiritually uplifting circle has been formed. The effect of his distinct cultural history may be traced back to the Ogu man’s (Okrika-Ijaw)[4] confidence, love of truth, fair play, and healthy interactions.
