Along the languid bends of the Niger Delta, where the gentle tide kisses the shores with whispers of history, the Ayakoromo community in Burutu Local Government Area is standing on the threshold of a momentous occasion – its fortieth annual convention As the dawn of 29th December 2025 approaches, the air is already thick with anticipation, shimmering with the promise of culture, camaraderie, and pure celebration. This is not merely an event; it is an unfolding chapter in a story four decades in the telling – a vibrant tapestry of tradition and unity.
From the very first day, guests will be welcomed into a carnival of delights, beginning with warm arrivals at 10 o’clock, before the rhythm of ancestral drums unleashes a traditional dance at noon. As the sun dips gently westward, football matches will rouse competitive spirits at four, energising both participants and spectators alike. One can almost hear the laughter and chants echoing across the fields, drawing hearts closer together.
The following morning, 30th December, the community’s pulse will quicken with the Ogele Dance at 8am – an age-old spectacle in which movements become poetry and bodies speak without words. An enlightening paper presentation at 10 o’clock will feed the mind, laying pathways for thought and progress, before the midday review of the constitution rekindles the community’s commitment to its shared vision. And then, with the turn of the clock to one, a lively debate and resolution session will invite spirited exchange, proof that the essence of Ayakoromo lies not only in festivity but also in the wisdom of discourse.
New Year’s Eve, the grand finale on 31st December, will be a crescendo of tradition and protocol – with final constitutional reviews, debates, and resolutions that promise to leave a lasting imprint on the community’s governance and future direction. Yet amid the formalities, the soul of the celebration will never be far – the sound of drums, the flash of ceremonial masquerades, the jovial roar of live music from JFred Best May, all interwoven into a feast for the senses.
Indeed, the convention will be a kaleidoscopic panorama of competitions and performances. The much-loved Quarter to Quarter Dance Competition will see contestants unleash their finest moves in a spirited contest, with prizes that will glisten as sweet rewards. The famed Tompolo Dance Steps will ripple through the crowds, reawakening memories and forging new ones. Even the Drinking Competition shall pour forth laughter along with the beverages – a jovial nod to the humour and warmth that shape Ayakoromo’s social heartbeat.
Honoured dignitaries will grace the celebration: -- the distinguished Hon. Dr Braduce Angozi, the charismatic Hon. Julius Pondi, the formidable High Chief Kestin Pondi (Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited), and Hon. Julius Takeme, chairman of Burutu Local Government, among other eminent personalities, traditional rulers, and guardians of the community’s legacy. Their presence will lend ceremonial gravitas to an already historic occasion.
In the midst of festivity, wisdom will also take its rightful place. TANTITA Security Services Nigeria Limited will present a keynote address on pressing security issues, offering timely insights and safeguarding the peace that Ayakoromo holds dear. This fusion of celebration and contemplation will serve as a testament to the community’s balanced spirit – joyous yet responsible, vibrant yet vigilant.
It is said that some gatherings are like the tides – they come in, leave their mark, and retreat into memory – yet Ayakoromo’s 40th annual convention promises to be a tide that refuses to ebb, carving its presence into the hearts of all who attend. Under the Delta sun and to the music of the land, a people will rise together, rejoice together, and look towards the horizon together.
In truth, this is an event not merely to be observed, but to be lived. The general public is warmly invited to step into this living celebration – to taste its flavours, to feel its rhythms, and to carry home the echo of a community that has danced, wrestled, sung, and built together for forty glorious years.
EBIKABOWEI KEDIKUMO - writes from Ayakoromo Town, Delta State
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