NCHAKA FESTIVAL CELEBRATION IN THE 21st CENTURY.

By:
Ajukura, Fidelis O.
ajukurafidelisobi@gmail.com
07031523329
27/11/2021

Nchaka festival is an annual event that is celebrated by the Ogba people between November and December of every year. The festival commemorates the end of the farming season and ushers in bountiful harvest of crops, especially yam - this is why it is often referred to as new yam festival. It is also believed to cleanse the land from all forms of impurities.

For the purpose of those who are not familiar with Ogba; Ogba is one of the three tribes that make up Onelga local government area of Rivers State. It is from the three tribes; Ogba, Egbema and Ndoni that the name Onelga is derived.

Ogba is a land blessed in both human and natural resources: it offers enormous contribution towards the sustainability of Nigeria's economy. It is rich in crude oil and natural gas. Although, this blessing or wealth has had more of a negative than positive impact on the lives of people of the area. Following the activities of exploration and exploitation of mineral resources such as; crude oil and natural gas, the people have been made vulnerable to the danger of wicked and obnoxious practices like; gas flaring, oil spillage and other pollutants that puts the environment in great risk. It is not news that, to majority of Ogba people, it's as if the Sun never sets - raging flame from oil and gas extraction sites do not allow them to experience the quietness and calmness of the night. These sites which emit so much heat and noise even in the dead of the night inflict all manner of sickness and diseases on the people. The Ogba people, in this regard can be likened to a man inside a pool of water yet, cannot wash off the soapsuds in his eyes - this is unfortunate.

The Nchaka festival is an annual event that is celebrated in many communities in three out of the four major zones of Ogbaland namely; Omoku, Usomini, and Igburu. While it is difficult to say exactly when Nchaka festival started because of the absence of recorded history, it is safe to conclude that the festival is almost as old as Ogba itself. The reason for this conclusion is that man is a religious and cultural being. From the beginning, man has always recognized his "falleness". In other words, man has known that he is a finite and limited being. This knowledge stirred the urge in him to begin to look for an infinite and unlimited being - the being whom he is sure created the Universe and everything therein. This urge or longing established the relationship between God and man commonly known as 'religion'. This relationship is however, not complete if it does not encapsulate how man returns to God at the end of his earthly journey. Unlike religion, culture is the recalling to mind what had been done to achieve success in the past. Akin - Otiko Akinmayowa in his book, " Adimula " maintains that culture is that practice that creates "a peaceful cohabitation between an individual, family, community or nation and nature or the forebears while one is here on earth". With this understanding, it becomes apparent to categorize Nchaka festival as a cultural practice and not a religious one.

Nchaka festival is not the only festival celebrated in Ogbaland. Other festivals like; Egwu Ogba, Ebiam, Egwu-Ohali, Igwi-iji and Igba-Ogwe are celebrated with the same zeal and fanfare but Nchaka is unique in the sense that, it is the biggest in terms of scope and depth. Nchaka festival is the only festival in Ogbaland that has the Oba of Ogbaland (paramount ruler) actively involved from the beginning to the end. For example, the Oba is directly involved in the fixing of date for the festival, he officially flags off the festival by performing the necessary rites and makes the pronouncements that signals the end of the festival. The festival is a five days event. It is divided into two segments. The first segment pertains to women and is called "Nchaka ka umu Nwaya" meaning "Women Nchaka". In this segment women offer prayers and perform rituals to cleanse the land. The second segment is "Nchaka ka umu Nwokho" (Men's Nchaka) and also the climax of the Nchaka festival. It is in this segment that the festival is officially brought to a close after the Oba's prayer and address to the people in Ahia Orie Square in Omoku, the headquarter of the Ogba nation

Of late, there has been a concerted call especially, from members of the Ogba intelligentsia to make the festival more attractive. Those behind this call are convinced that if the festival is put on a higher pedestal, it will attract tourist attention which will come with the attendant benefits of generating income and putting Ogba nation in a frontal position. This call, no doubt is timely and necessary. But what seem to be missing is a conscious and deliberate effort to detach the festival from the trappings of hoary allegiance.

It is shocking to observe that Nchaka has maintained its ancient form and character till date. The way it was celebrated in olden days is still the same way it is celebrated today - nothing has changed. Beside the aspect where women married into various families accompany their Fathers in law to the river where they make proclamations, purge their families of evil and bad luck and return home to eat and drink in a convivial atmosphere, Nchaka has remained largely a festivity of fetish display and contest. On the day of the festival (Nchaka ka umu Nwokho - Men's Nchaka) people go about especially in the playground to display diabolical powers - they parade all forms of charm including dangerous animals like snakes etc. Some even display human skulls.

Appearing in the playground on the day of the festival is not a piece of cake because the atmosphere is usually heavy or polluted with charms. For this reason, some people resort to spiritual fortification exercises in order to guard against spiritual attacks. For those who want to participate in the festival, they carry out exercises ranging from eating of excreta, drinking of urine, sleeping in the cemetery etc as part of preparation to feature in the festival. Beside these grotesque exercises, the festival is usually characterized by drunkenness and violence. The Nchaka festival celebration has witnessed more misbehaviours and violence from the youths than any other celebration.

The extravagant display and reverence of fetishism is not a practice that is in tandem with the spirit and aspirations of the 21st century. Any practice or knowledge that does not solve human problem is empty. The 21st century is not a period of impracticalities and vain glory but one that is characterized by creativity and innovation, collaboration and communication, critical thinking and problem solving, global citizenship, technology and literacy, life long learning among others. We must not deceive ourselves, any person or group of persons operating outside this reality is doomed. It is not enough to make declarations or pronouncements such as it's done during Nchaka festival e.g., "Nchaka whre Onye Osih" (May Nchaka consume thieves) when one is equally entrapped in the act of stealing. To think that the spirit of Nchaka will consume thieves, backbiters, witches and wizards etc by mere pronouncement is to engage in self delusion - a well thought out, concrete and practical arrangement must be put in place to address the aforementioned social vices.

During the Nchaka festival celebration, some people especially the youths, having equipped themselves with all manner of mystical and magical powers openly challenge others to a (spiritual) duel in the playground by chanting "ojini wesa!" meaning "if you have it, bring it" an expression borrowed from the Aboh and Ukwuani neighbours. Majority of those who engage in this act are local and uneducated people - they are out of touch with the reality of the 21st century: they know how to create a problem with their magical powers but do not know how use such powers to solve problems. Beside this, the present age, 21st century perceives such attitude with repulsion. The practice of fetishism and open display of charms with the view to frighten and intimidate people is archaic and anachronistic - it has no place in the life of the current dispensation. Rather than attract people, it will repel them.

Nchaka festival should be modified to reflect the realities of the 21st century. The festival should be stripped of those elements that pulls it back to ancient times. Beside projecting the rich cultural heritage of Ogba people, Nchaka should serve as a medium through which solution to the myriads of challenges confronting Ogba people can be articulated.

It is my earnest prayer that the newly coronated Oba of Ogbaland, Oba Nwachukwu Nna Obi 111 in collaboration with the relevant stake holders in Ogbaland will work towards repositioning the Nchaka festival with the view to aligning it with the spirit of the 21st century. I dream to see an Nchaka festival that will attract tourists from different parts of the globe; an Nchaka festival that will be comparable to those of Calabar, Brasilia, Trinidad, Tobago, Guyana etc.