At last, the ancient community of Awka, the Anambra State capital, will soon hold the most popular festival called, ‘Egwu- Imoka’ (Dance of the gods). The festival was last held in 2020, following the assassination of the acting chief priest of the deity, Ezemuo Ikegbunam (Ese-Imoka) by unknown gunmen.
Speaking to The Guardian on the plan to revive the Imoka Festival, which is usually performed in Awka’s first lunar month, the ‘Akadiani Awka’ (the principal custodian of traditions of the community), Patrick Nweke, disclosed that the anger of the ancestors, necessitating the neglect of Igu Ofo Isi Aro prayer rituals since 2016, and new Awka calendar dating (Iguaro Oka) in 2021, resulted in unwarranted killings and kidnappings, among others, in the community.
Nweke pointed out that the performances of both rituals on March 25 and April 23 this year, gave rise to the ritual, which is the condition precedent to endorsement of the festival.
