By Mary Ugorji
An illustrious son of Umuodu in Owerri Municipal LGA in Imo State and former Acting state Chairman of APC, Hon. Chris Oguoma, has stated that Oru Owerre Festival is a rich cultural heritage that is celebrated yearly by the people of Owerri.
Speaking to newsmen in his country home, Oguoma disclosed that Oru Owerre is a display of the beautiful culture of Owerri people which even competes with Calabar Canival.
Oguoma disclosed that, brothers and sisters, family and friends gathered in happiness to showcase
love, liberation, peace and unity.
Narrating the origin of Owere, the first State Secretary of APC, noted that “every Owere man celebrates this day on every year either late June, early July or middle, we celebrate our origin called Oru Owere”.
He said “Owerri Oru is the commemoration of where we are living now, our progenitor who escaped from the trap of death from his brother, Ndu, from Uratta and came to this particular place where we have today.
“When he left Uratta he came and stayed in a place we call Ugwu ekwema, that is where we celebrate the grand finale of Oru Owere every year. Ugwu ekwema is at Egbu road near Relief Market, so when he came to that place he called his sister who was married to Ofo, Ofo is one of the sons of Egbu and his sister came with the husband Ofo and came with yam, ugba then he made a sauce of ugba, ate the yam and ugba ever then we still remember, observe and celebrate it in oneness on this particular day, that is to say, when he came, the first set of people he got in contact with were his sister who was married to Ofo, Ofo is where the call Umuofo today in Owerri, particularly we, from this Owerri, we have common affinity between us and Nekede particularly Umuagwu Nekede.
“These are the ones that live close to the zoo area-Old Road- because when we settled here there is this story that Oyima who i had some issues with the people, we heard that Odu was Oyima’s friend, at that time, Odu went to see his friend, Oyima and Oyima was not around, so Odu asked for the palm wine and then they brought a small boy who went to tap the palm wine for him to wait for his friend, unfortunately that young man fell from the tree and died, when Odu left, the villagers felt that it was planned between him and his friend”.
Oguoma said he wished that Oru Owere festival goes global like Calabar carnival, urging the people to always uphold it and engage in their age grades for the healthy and sustainable cultural origin
