Ubulu-Uku, Delta State – During the New Yam Festival in Ubulu-Uku, the Onishe of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom, Emma Ejiofor, addressed journalists, shedding light on the cultural and spiritual importance of the Iwu Isho Festival. Speaking on the preparatory stages of the festival, Ejiofor explained the deep historical and spiritual significance of the Iwu Isho, which paves the way for the final cleansing of the land.
“Iwu Isho is the preparatory to the final cleansing of the land and it is done first before Iwu Ubulu uku, which comes up by the weekend. This Iwu Isho festival was on before my forebearer came into existence in this community where a bond was entered in the form of an agreement that he is the Onishe. Most people don’t know what Onishe means. Onishe means someone who looks after the land. He has the authority, and the King has the power. I know there is a great difference between power and authority. He is the authority, he is the administrator of the land,” Ejiofor explained.
According to the Onishe, the Iwu Isho has been a time-honored tradition, practiced in preparation for the final Iwu Ubulu Uku ceremony, which is conducted at the community’s sacred stream. Ejiofor emphasized that this practice is deeply rooted in the community’s spiritual heritage and reflects a longstanding bond with the land and the divine.
Ejiofor also touched on the historical role of the Umu-Alo, the group responsible for traditional kingmaking. “The Umu-Alo is where Alo comes from. Alo is our forebearer, and he was given the traditional ministerial role of kingmaker. He crowns the king and dethrones the king if need be. This is a generational arrangement,” he noted, explaining that these rites ensure the spiritual continuity of Ubulu-Uku.
Reflecting on the enduring legacy of their forefathers, Ejiofor pointed to the physical environment as a testament to their lasting presence. “This place that you are seeing here is where our forebearer lives. Time out, time in, this place is still like a home. The trees you are seeing are more than 500 years old. Our forebearer Alo lives here,” he said.
In his message to the people of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom, Ejiofor urged for a return to the values that define their unity as a community. “We should come back to how we came. What makes us to be called Ubulu should be held in trust. We don’t hold it on trust, what you see is what they call disintegration. My advice is to embrace peace, unity, and justice because that is the hallmark of our Christendom, traditional law, and everything that is created towards our conscience,” Ejiofor said.
Addressing speculation on social media about the title of ‘Onishe Ezemu of Ubulu’ contradicting ‘Onishe Ubulu,’ Ejiofor clarified that there are no conflicting titles, dismissing such claims as misinformed. “‘Onishe Ezemu’ was never a chief, he was a chief priest of the Onishe. He looks after the Ezemu shrine, but this ‘Onishe Ubulu’ looks after every deity and every administration in the community in our local palace,” he explained, adding that the Ezemu shrine and its role were banished over 500 years ago.
He further emphasized that these misunderstandings stem from a lack of historical knowledge, but that the unity of the Ubulu people remains intact. “With time, we will still come together and get this thing. But where we are, we are Ubulu people… Anybody that tells you that all these things are traditional or pagan worship means they have something to hide,” he concluded.
Pa Gabriel Awulu, the leader of the Umu-Alo family in the Isho and Ogbegoye community, expressed the significance of the Iwu festival during the annual celebration, saying, “This is the day we celebrate the Iwu festival every year. It was started by our forefathers, led by Alo. Today, our son, Emma Ejiofor, has taken up the responsibility and continues to perform it annually as a tribute to what our ancestors did for us.”
Speaking about Emma Ejiofor, Awulu explained, “Emma Ejiofor is the leader of the Onishe in our town. He represents the entire town in the traditional rites. If the king performs a ceremony, Emma Ejiofor performs it on behalf of the town.”
When asked about the controversy surrounding the title of ‘Onishe Ezemu of Ubulu’ conflicting with ‘The Onishe of Ubulu,’ Awulu dismissed it as illegitimate. “That title is illegal; it’s just self-proclaimed. There was a dispute involving our Onishe and the palace, and they asked him to stay away. In our community, we have three key authorities—Odemba, Odeve, and Onishe. Referring to anyone else as ‘Onishe Ezemor’ is wrong. Emma Ejiofor is the legitimate Onishe of Ubulu-Uku, and there is no such title as ‘Onishe Ezemu of Ubulu-Uku.'”
He further explained that while there was once an Onishe Ezemu, the title was discontinued due to issues in the community. “There used to be an Onishe Ezemu, but it was stopped when it was decided that only a stranger could bring peace by becoming the Onishe. Our family, originally from Okpanam, became the Onishe to restore harmony.”
Engr. Lawrence Ejiofor, a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, spoke about the significance of the Iwu festival, stating, “The Iwu festival is deeply rooted in the Isho community, which is where I come from. While there is a larger festival for the entire Ubulu-Uku, Isho celebrates its own first. It’s our new yam festival, a symbol of peace and gratitude after a successful harvest. As farmers, this is a tradition that has been passed down through generations.”
He also reflected on the value of preserving tradition alongside modernity, saying, “This celebration is a gift from our ancestors, and while we discard the harmful aspects of our traditions, we continue to uphold the good. Every society has its own culture, and we are proud to preserve ours, even as we adapt to modern times. The people who colonized us also kept their traditions, and so will we.”
The Iwu Festival, scheduled for its final celebration on Saturday, remains a crucial cultural and spiritual event for the Ubulu-Uku Kingdom, uniting the community in reverence for their ancestors and land.
