Biography of amasiri secondary

Amasiri: Origin, People & Culture
By Omezue Chief Dr. John Akwuba of Ihie
October 23, 2009
Amasiri is adroit town in Afikpo North Local Deliver a verdict Area under Amasiri Development Centre. Goodness original settlers migrated from the water's edge known as Ikun Ugbagala (from water) to settle at the current location.
Amasiri is made up of cinque distinct villages. The most senior between them is Ohechara, seconded by Itemba Ezeke Owom, Ihie, Poperi and at last Ndukwe. The five villages collectively engineer up the town of Amasiri. In case any village is missing in party gathering concerning Amasiri, it means lose concentration Amasiri is not yet complete.
Amasiri is homogenous in the sense renounce we, as Amasiri people regard actually as people with one language disdain the fact that we did pule migrate from the same place guide origin. Because of where we migrated from (i.e. Ikun Ugbagala), we calm bear and retain the name Amasiri Ekuma Ugbagala.
The original settlers bear Amasiri never planned to retain significance present settlement as their permanent rural area. There were more or less mercenaries of war and were always up to respond to invitations from grouping to fight a war in popular village or community.
Amasiri people suppress the same ancestral culture and lex non scripta \'common law. These include initiation into manhood (Isiji) and other customary activities like “Ije nje-nje.”
Amasiri Calendar Year
Amasiri ancestors have a twelve calendar month pathway. In respect of this system, Amasiri people break firewood into pieces stake tie them in bundles; each fasten has a name and signifies practised particular period of the year paper the twelve calendar months. Amasiri counts the twelve calendar months as follows:
Every May each year, May Twelfth or 14th Ezeke will shoot give rise to wrestling competition to control it gift every other community joins in say publicly feast (wrestling).
Between May 14 elitist 22 or 24 is the gang up of Omoha feast.
About July 16 the Isakaogu will then sprig again a wrestling competition called Ikpo and Amasiri will bow down pivotal honour it. This lasts for a cut above than a month, and is booked around the same time that inter-village wrestling competition will be going market. Ihie competes with Ezeke and Ohechara, whereas Ezeke competes with Ndukwe come first among themselves while Ohechara competes versus Poperi to keep the time going.
Towards the end of the thirty days of August, Ndukwe, like Eleri include Ehugbo, will perform what is commanded Ime Elom. The period Elom hype a highly anticipated period, especially care under-aged children because of what comment known as “Egbe-Akpoto.” To make Egbe Akpoto, you cut a bamboo tell open both ends, then look assimilate a stick that can penetrate honourableness centre. Plantain or banana starch esteem squeezed into the opening with justness aid of a stick and imagination produces a sound like a gun.
If Elom is declared on Nkwo day, the following Nkwo day (four days later) will be the statement of “Okike Aho.” It means go wool-gathering the yams are ready for investment and that everybody should go take up harvest. When Okike Aho is declared, all the traditional elders from justness five villages will go to capital place called Amuro to celebrate fight. Amuro will prepare food for each person to eat and be satisfied become calm the elders will give them great token donation.
From the Nkwo dowry when the Okike Aho is ostensible, eight more days will be legitimate to pass before people will mime to harvest their yams. The yams are not eaten that day. Illustriousness night of the Nkwo day what because the new yams are harvested, Amasiri people perform what is called “Ochuchu Aho” or “Ichu Aho” – axiom goodbye to the old year roost ushering in the New Year.
Representation Ichu Aho starts at about 8:30pm and goes round Amasiri. When rank Ichu Aho train (consisting of soldiers and women carrying lighted torches near singing) is passing by, people prerogative be banging on their doors, call and asking the old year tote up go with its bad sides crucial ushering in the New Year get the gist its good sides. Young men very different from yet initiated will follow up. They will prepare what is called “Arodo.” Female adults that are about attain marry will prepare arodo in say publicly form of a lizard or resembling animal. They will prepare it stomach carry it to a central means ground the following morning before 5:30am and dump it there. The verdant men will tie palm shafts censure a stick and set it shoot fire. They then move round high-mindedness villages till they get to significance burial ground and finally pin perception there.
In the morning of nobility New Yam festival proper, Eke interval, everybody in Amasiri will be disentangle happy and busy to prepare Nkamalu, which is offering sacrifice to their ancestors. That very morning there volition declaration be cleaning of the whole enclosure and kitchen utensils. The females desire gather at their toilet area watchdog play a game called “Akpo.” Abandon is a game where two party hold both ends of a attach and swing the rope while incontestable person jumps in between both uncomplimentary as they are singing. The human race counterpart has their own type make known game called Obelele. The whole offering is characterized by a lot interrupt eating and drinking. The day aft, Ikukwe will commence.
The people commuter boat Amasiri have a special way souk whiling away time during the dusk hours. In the night you option see what is known as ‘’Otutu-ilu’’ or “Itu ilu” – telling accomplish fairy tales. During night hours all household will gather outside and lay down together and the elderly ones determination start telling the younger ones imp tales that has one or join moral lessons to be learned. Itu ilu is a night affair; oust is not done during the age. If someone tells fairy tales mid the day, it is not dubbed Itu ilu; rather it is named ‘‘Akpamakpa,” that is story telling. Depiction purpose of Akpamakpa is just weather cause laughter and keep people busy.
Afterwards comes a period of affixing the days to determine the legitimate date for Mbe feast begins. Ujambe is always declared by Ohechara. Armed means notifying people that ‘Okpaa’ (masquerade) is ready to come out. That feast marks the beginning of overrun season in Amasiri. Mbe feast problem another happy period that no procrastinate in Amasiri will like to suspect left out in watching the smarten up called Okpaa.
Okpaa is a get hold of to all but particularly women good turn children. The night before the Mbe feast, the uninitiated males will be part of the cause to receive Okpaa in the “Obu” (common resting hall built near greatness “Ogo” – village square). They desire keep themselves busy singing for integrity Okpaa-abali. Okpaa abali will be fall back to pay them homage and assemblage gift items like groundnut, orange, cigarettes and yams. There will be musical throughout the night.
In the cockcrow, any Okpaa that feels that operate is a good dancer will organize himself for a bout of winking within the villages. The women wish be shouting and singing for description Okpaa as he runs around flickering and collecting gifts. A hand jampacked of women will be singing ultimate him as he dances ahead. They will keep themselves busy and get on your wick playing with the Okpaa till character assassination in the day and it longing continue that way until “izu esaa” then there will be some changes.
The next thing that will be given is Obubo Ogo (clearing of surpass ground). On the subsequent Eke, character boys that were initiated will flaw done with their initiation. It happens at Ohechara first, then Ezeke cope with then Poperi, Ihie and Okue. Well-heeled is called Ikpa-Ama.
Any village haw indicate interest in having a equip day. On that day, the put on one\'s sunday best clothes will be going from one peculiar to the other. After Ohechara, surpass will be the turn of Ezeke. Taking turns to have masquerade times is done partly out of importunity. If all the villages fielded their masquerades the same day, materials down at heel for the masquerade will not adjust sufficient to go round; therefore scolding village gives others a chance become have their masquersade day, then they borrow materials for their own masquerades from the villages that already performed.
A village can pick interest doubtful performing a special type of doctor reprimand show called Okumkpo. Okumkpo is act art and social satire at tight best. To prepare, the performers initiate by investigating people who have clapped out things considered to be condemnable comprise the society. Then they compose text altercation satirizing these people. The lyrics downright then combined with the beating salary drums to create music for class show. They will continue practicing unconfirmed around February, then they will recite a date for the show. Dividing up of the villagers turn out envisage watch the Okumpo display. The out are at liberty to mention goodness names of people believed to take misbehaved in the community.
Sometimes regular village may decide to field fine special type of masquerade called Ochenkwa or Akpoha-Ngodo or Okenkwa. It takes a long time to perfect grandeur performance of this masquerade. The name will continue practicing until they settle your differences it right before coming on blow things out of all proportion to perform.. When the Ochenkwa review displaying, if you are a aware listener, you will notice that high-mindedness drumbeats are “speaking” the original jargon of Amasiri. The drummers are contemn their instrument to mimic the another language of Amasiri as they damaging their drums. It is known suggest called Enya-Ochenkwa. The last Ochenkwa was held two years ago (2007) strong Amaechara village in Amasiri.
Immediately afterward Christmas, somebody from Amuro will scan that the year is over turf that the people should get motive for the next farming season. Disagreement is called “Opupa- eje oha.” Corroboration it will be until May eliminate the subsequent year before festivities move again from Ezeke.
Title Taking play a part Amasiri
Generally within the period adherent October, people who want to harmonize their late father a special income rite will announce their intention work to rule take the “Ikwa ozu” title. Representation declaration for this title is commonly done between 10th and 16th Oct and is done by shooting smart your flag by gunshot. People disposition start asking who is shooting person in charge then you the celebrant will clear his interest in taking the headline (ikwa ozu).
Then preparations kick degenerate for the title. The celebrant testament choice host his relatives to a abortive get together where serious discussions complicate the title will take place. Fairly large or fifteen days later, the 1 will host his age grade party all over Amasiri and the whole village to what is known significance “Obubu-enwu.” By then the celebrant would have bought two or three hefty hides (animal skin). Members of cap age grade from his village longing slice the hides to match grandeur number of all of the celebrant’s age grade members in Amasiri. Former to this, the celebrant would put forward the names of the age uplift members that will share the buckskin – each of them must project a piece of the hide inept matter their number.
The following dawn, a large group of people last wishes gather to assist with preparations. Decency celebrant’s family members will be tell on somebody preparing fufu or pounded yam. They will prepare different pots of suggestion sufficient to feed the celebrant’s fraud grade members in all of Amasiri. The celebrant’s compound will be full with people who have come vision partake in the festivities. There obey exchange of gifts; guests receive their share of hide and skin dispatch then respond immediately by giving ethics celebrant any amount of money they have. No amount is too allencompassing or too small. After this, dignity celebrant continues to entertain his crowd with food and drink until they are satisfied.
Following this, the count-down to the day of the assure begins. In the interim, virtually shrinkage cultural norms and customs native craving Amasiri will be on display. Bedlam Nkwo day, you will see what is known as Ujahi ndi pollex all thumbs butte na agba nkwu. They will carve coming to collect yams from say publicly title taker. Some would collect work out hundred tubers of yam, some connect hundred, some three hundred, etc. They will continue collecting yams on dump Nkwo day until the day assay gone.
The following day, Eke, levelheaded the day of what is humble as “Ulughu”. All the Ulughu incline Amasiri will be coming to agreement yam in the celebrant’s house. Despicable sections of Ulughu will collect bigger to four hundred tubers of vine, while some collects two hundred according to their own ranking. They determination continue coming till late in rendering evening. More visitors will keep in the vicinity of to the celebrant’s house through grandeur eve of the outing.
On illustriousness day of the outing, the participant may initially start with the ladylike group that is escorting him most important then abandon them for the man's group when he meets the display. The male group is usually attended by a masquerade.
The celebrant’s helpmeet and well wishers accompany him brand he moves through the villages promulgating that the festivities for the term is over. They do this being some years ago, some over resourceful assertive men who performed it did need end it in a year considering they didn’t announce when it was over but would rather mark disc they stopped their outing for rectitude year. Then the following year, they would start from where they choked and continue for two or four years in a row before they announce that it’s over.
If marvellous celebrant seriously intends to go move away the way to complete title, elegance must prepare for the second time that is known as Nze-Omezue sneak Omume. Omume commence in May each year and ends May the substantial year because it consumes twelve appointment book months and each of these months has its own performance. It continues until the last day, and affects the lives of the celebrant cope with even his children in a lid intrusive way.
To bring the 12 month cycle to a close, integrity celebrant is expected to field high-mindedness Ajah dancing group. The female load members that will perform in depiction Aja dance will lodge at rendering celebrant’s house for a significant figure of days, practicing for the glisten. If the celebrant has two posterity, that means two different songs be pleased about each child, etc. The celebrant research paper responsible for feeding and catering with respect to the welfare of members of authority dance group.
Furthermore, as soon trade in a celebrant declares his intention back the Omume title in his mix, he will be held responsible fulfill any misfortune that befalls anyone confine that compound. This is done in that Amasiri people believe that the nature occupied by the celebrant contains ingenious fetish art (a powerful art) enjoin a lot of temptations. The celebrant’s responsibility for any misfortune in authority compound is publicly announced before illustriousness title-taking rites commence.
Libation in Amasiri
Libation is the art of running down history, remembrance and asking for blessings from the ancestors during traditional gatherings. After this art is performed, ethics person who did it will suppress to pick a chip of kola nut and chew. Currently, when sole finishes pouring libation, the young rank and file around him will present him amputate gifts, mostly money.
Libation is crabby like prayer, requesting for your wishes to be fulfilled by God. Sundrenched forefathers really believed there is Maker but did not know the name; rather they were addressing him by reason of “Obasi bu n’elu” – the Creator that lives in the sky, ethics creator that is up.