Francis Tayor
As the wave making annual festival of Gbaraun Egbesu, lbolomo-ere and Amaseikumo enters the third day, the paramount ruler of the great ancient Gbaramatu kingdom in Delta State, HRM. Oboro Gbaraun ll, Agadagba Aketekpe who also doubles as the Chief Priest of Gbaraun Egbesu led other powerful traditional rulers, worshipers and believers of the Egbesu Deity to pray for ljaw nation, Niger Delta as a region, and Nigeria at large.
The Pere Oboro Gbaraun ll handsomely dressed on white attire was accompanied by his counterparts from other kingdoms who believes in the ljaw traditional religion worship system majestically arrived at the Gbaraun Egbesu holy temple early as 9:50AM to observe the spiritual ritual cleaning process in a chronological order.
All participants both men and women are dressed on white attire up and down symbolizing the sanctity and purity nature of Gbaraun Egbesu Deity
The Gbaraun Egbesu festival begins with men Ogele procession early as 7:30AM led by the Opu-Abade 1, High Chief. Gen. Benjamin Ekeremor round the community and back to the water front of Gbaraun Egbesu temple in singing, chanting, dancing and prayers for the kingdom and ljaw nation.
The men Ogele was subsequently followed by the women Ogele procession led by the lbebenemo-ere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, multiple Chief. Vero Emmanuel Tangbewei, singing cultural songs with chorus 'Gbaraun Egbesu ogele, Agadagba ogele, Opunene ogele procession has come', don't cross their path. The women Ogele procession was concluded with prayers for the god's divine protection, prosperity, healthy living and progress offered by the Chief Priestess of Ziba-Opuoru (lbolomo-ere) as they knelt down before Gbaraun Egbesu temple.
Thereafter, five minutes silent prayer section was declared by the spokesman of ljaw traditional matters in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Hon Barr. MacDonald lgbadiwei as the believers facedown to pray for good things upon their lives, families and businesses in the name of their powerful gods (woyin) lbolomo-ere, Gbaraun Egbesu and Amaseikumo respectively.
Other sacred spiritual cleaning ritual performed at the Gbaraun Egbesu festival was the burnt offering of cows, rams and goats which are the favorite meals to appease the gods in order to attract more blessings.
The prayer section was concluded by the Chief Priest of Gbaraun Egbesu, HRM. Oboro Gbaraun ll, Agadagba Aketekpe, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom as he offers prayer for peace in the land, prosperity, sweet life, progress, love and unity in Gbaramatu Kingdom, ljaw nation in particular, Niger Delta Region and Nigeria at large.
Meanwhile, there was display of Egbesu masquerade, agene dance as well as live band owigiri highlife music performance at night all put together for the entertainment of participants and other invited guests.
Varieties of food and assorted drinks was not left out as worshippers and guests numbering over fifteen thousands as at Day 3 of the festival was fed to their maximum satisfaction morning and evening on a daily basis.
It will interest the public to note that the overview of the famous annual festival of lbolomo-ere, Gbaraun Egbesu and Amaseikumo in Gbaramatu Kingdom is all about spiritual cleaning of the land, preservation of Gbaramatu ljaw cultural heritage, prayer for peaceful coexistence amongst the various ethnic groups in Nigeria, and uniting ljaw nation together for strength, progress and development.
However, the Gbaraun Egbesu festival will continue tomorrow Day 4 with other traditional rites ranging from thanksgiving, fulfillment of vows, renewal of vows among others
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