228 years old Igarra’s ‘Aba festival’ gets endorsement

As part of efforts to promote culture and tourism, Edo state Government yesterday has endorsed the 228 years old Aba festival held once in six years in Igarra, Akoko-Edo local government area.

The state government represented by a Director in the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Kate Ibe stated this at a press conference organised by Etuno Youth Association, (EYA) where it outlined activities to mark the event, which would hold later this year.

She said the festival has already been documented and forwarded to the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC) for official recognition and endorsement.

“The Aba festival is the first festival in our list, we have the list to NCAC for proper identification. Every festival in Edo state was submitted; they have been documented and will be sent to the international bodies. We are not leaving you people alone”. She stated.

Briefing newsmen on activities to herald cultural festival, Chairman Central Organizing Committee, Obed Alli, said the festival had long been rated by Total E & T in 2006 as the sixty most indigenous cultural festivals in West Africa.

Tracing the origin of the festival, Alli said it was celebrated as a victory by hunters over the initial settlers of the land now known Etuno (Igarra).

“The Aba festival is the most spectacular singular even in the celebration of Irepa festival. It is the highest crowd pulling of all Irepa festival events. It marks the climax of activities as it indicates the end of six-year traditional administration tenure and the beginning of the new one, which would last for the next six calendar years.

“It is an age long, internationally acclaimed festival which is held every six calendar years, it is adjudge the sixth most important unadulterated indigenous cultural festival in the while of West Africa by Total E&P in their 2006 yearly publication”.