ODU FESTIVAL is a cultural practice that has been in existence for ages.
It's a ritual that does the magic of bringing the likes of people under one umbrella, it does the magic of fostering unity amongst the Alago tribes.
A ritual that happens annually cannot be overemphasized. The joy, love and peace it brings in the land make everyone anticipate it every year and when it finally comes everyone makes sure they participate fully in carrying out every part of the cultural practices.
The shooting of powder guns, the funny dressing portraying ancient lifestyle and the dance from every clan in the village is fun.
One Amazing aspect of the festival is when the masquerade appears at the course of the festival does a back flip, It's an interesting performance that happens occasionally during the festive period, people will always shout for joy as it does a 7 back flip after a short dance steps to spice up the festival.
Civilization has done some little adjustments on these rituals as most of the things carried out no longer happen.
The festival symbolises the the reenactment of founding of the Alago tribe a masquerade does the cultural dance display symbolising the presence of the ancestors which is always accompanied by a young virgin girl called (Oya ko Odu) she represents his wife but in the recent time, as I earlier mentioned civilization has faded that part as it's sometimes difficult to find a young girl that will play that part.
The festival is a festival that is believed that the ancestral gods come into the physical through the masquerade called ODU to give the ancestral blessing of a better year ahead it gives blessing that gives bounty harvest from agricultural practice, bounty harvest from river as for those who happen to be fisher men and gives it blessing that fosters unity and peace amongst the people regardless of their religion.
Thats one cultural practice I will never let go no matter how far civilization takes me. My children will come to learn about it. It's a way of keeping ancestral history.
It's always fun to be there.
Images are Mine