Despite the absence of government’s presence, the people of Yenakan, hometown of ex – Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezeani Allison Madueke, invited other Atissa Communities as it played host to the Uge Adiafaa Atissa Yenakan 2019 reports Amos Okioma.
The Uge Adiafaa Atissa cultural festival is an age long culture of the people of Atissa in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
It has been in existence for the past 100 years and is celebrated by the 12 communities that constitute the Atissa clan.
The uniqueness of the festival is the rotation among the 12 clans and this year,s edition was hosted by Yenakan, the home town of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Dezieani Allinson Madueke. Hence, it was tagged, ” Uge Adiafaa Atissa Yenakan 2019.”
The people have not only treasured the festival, but hold it in very high esteem. It is a semblance of the new yam festival during which prayers were offered for bumper harvest and God protection of the farmers.
The festival was founded by the late Chief Fredrick Adugu Simangi ( Ogbotom Edede 1V of Atissa Kingdom ) 100 years ago.
In an address by His Royal Majesty King Godwin Igodo Jp, Ksc, the Ogbotom Edede (vii ) Ebeni – Ibe Atissa said this year’s edition was very unique because it marked the 100 years of the festival, hence it is dubbed the Centenary celebrations.
According to him, “This festival is the only cultural celebration by the people. That is why it has become an opportunity to attract its sons and daughters to the kingdom both within and in the diaspora together, stressing that it also serves as a rallying event designed to foster brotherhood and cultural re – invigoration .
“We as people, we must continue to define and re-define our identity and promote those positive aspects of our culture while doing away with those that carry negative consequences “
The royal majesty stated that being the host to the seat of power in Bayelsa State, they area widely admired for its peaceful disposition and they will continue in this admirable way to enhance and encourage economic growth and development.
Besides, he urged any member of the communities that has grievances, especially those relating to chieftency tussle to sheath their sword and toe the path of peace as efforts must be made by themselves to dialogue in the spirit of give and take so that the grievances are amicably resolved.
He also admonished the youths to shun cultism, gangsterism, banditry and brigandage which are ill winds that blow nobody any good.
“To our youths, I see you for who you are; the leaders of tomorrow. Get yourselves prepared to take over the baton of leadership.You must therefore get good qualitative education or skills. You should be hands on to take over effectively. It is not our culture to kill or maim our fellow humans,” he said.
He also commended them for being very co – operative and always ready to key into all events that are being lined up for this year’s epochal Uge Adiafaa and extolled the courage of the women which has resulted to bountiful harvest .
Also, the chairman of the Central Working Committee (CWC), HH Ovieakini Amos, said that the festival was a cultural showpiece of Atissa to the world, stressing that it promotes unity and steadfastness of their people, tightens their bond of relationship with their Epie kiths and kins, unites their sons and daughters in the diaspora, promotes unity, serves as means of passing their culture from generation to another.
He also called on Bayelsa State government to come to their aid in providing social amenities such as transformers to enable them and other communities within their precinct to enjoy electricity in spite of their proximity to seat of government which is a stone throw. They also pleaded for roads to connect Famgbe to Ikolo and shore protection for Ogbogoro.
He lamented and decried their sons and daughters that have been in government for their failure to attract development to the rustic communities despite their nearness to the Bayelsa State seat of power.
In their list of demands were the construction of bridge, dredging of the Epie Creek for easy navigation and ease of farming and fishing and the rehabilitation of the moribund water tank. They commended Hon Oforji Oboku for the construction of Concrete Walk way which enable to enter the community after being ferried across the Creek at the Federal Medical Centre.
The Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Gboribioghah Jonn Jonah, in his response, described the Uge Adiafaa as one cultural festival, a potential tourism aspect that can be exported to foreign countries as veritable income, which he has being attending since he assumed office and commended them for using it to foster their cohesion and a platform of unity among the twelve communities and also commended the peaceful disposition of the Atissa Youths and leadership of Atissa Kingdom. He called other communities of the state to emulate and charged its youths to shun cultism and other social behaviors.
“I am always fascinated by the dance procession of the women that appeared in different dress.
“On their requests for social amenities, he told them that government was desirous of spreading amenities to all nooks and crannies, stressing that the Yenakan community will not be an exception.
“Development is defined by the least developed areas,” he said.
In an interview, the chairman of the occasion, HH Okpoebi Righteous Gwegwe JP, Ogiligba 1 of Atissa kingdom reiterated the importance of the festival to include fostering of unity, love and oneness among the twelve communities of Atissa, adding that as a cosmopolitan city for the advantages of being the state capital their expectations from government had been very high and that the festival was devoid of fetish and not tied to any deity, hence the festival was culminated with a non-denominational church service.
Another chief from Ovom Community , Chief ThankGod Gagbe, concord that over the years they have been using the Uge Adiafaa to promote their cultural heritage and for tourism promotion, stressing that such has been responsible for variety of activities lined up for the festival by modernizing it with thug of war between the men and women and dance competition where trophies were always given to deserving communities after the the dance procession by the women in different apparels and presentation of basket full of yams to the Roysl Majesty for his prayers to the women for bumper new harvest season.” We also used the festival to celebrate our liberation, he said.
Another flavor to this year’s, Uge Adiafaa was the conferment of chieftaincy titles on some deserving sons and daughters of the clan who have distinguished themselves in their chosen aspect of human endeavors.
According to the HRM King Godwin Igodo, the conferment of chieftaincy titles was for leadership, Authority and Glory of God.
One of the conferees, Chief Noble Akenge, a foremost Environmentalist and former Special Adviser to Goodluck Jonathan, eulogized his people for considering him worthy for the chieftaincy title, which he is going to cherish and it will spur him to continue to do his best in anything he embarks upon especially to help humanity to grow and develop.
He promised never to disappoint the confidence his people reposed in him .
Besides, the festival was attended by all the Ebekens of Atissa kingdom (paramount rulers) , traditional title holders in Atissa Kingdom and Ebenitom Fina Eken of Atissa Kingdom (women leaders).
Also in attendance were politicians such as Senator Representing Bayelsa Central, Senator Douye Diri, Arc Reuben Okoya, one of foremost contenders for the November 16 candidate and Hon Oforji Oboku among others.
