Igue festival (also known as King's Festival) is a celebration with its origin in the Benin Kingdom of Edo State, southern Nigeria.[1] One tradition states that the festival date coincided with the marriage of Ewuare to a wife named Ewere.[2] Celebrated between Christmas and New Year, the festival includes the Oba's blessing of the land and his people.The Igue festival also honors the memory of former Obas and spans a period of seven days.[3] During the Igue ritual season, the Oba is prohibited from being in the presence of any non-native person.[3]
History
editThe Igue Festival was initiated in the 14th century during the reign of Oba Ewuare I, who reigned in Benin between 1440 and 1473.[4] Following Oba Ewuare I's experience whilst fighting as a prince for the Benin throne, he was known as Prince Ogun, the son of Oba Ohen at that time.[5]
The Igue festival, however, now consists of several other festivals put together by Oba Akenzua II. This is because he wanted the festival to last for a couple of days due to the current movement of people and the Igue festival has become a terminal for many other festivals celebrated by the Benin people.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ Ryder, A.F.C. (1981). D.T. Niane (ed.). General History of Africa: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century. Paris: UNESCO. pp. 339–370.
- ^ Egharevba, Jacob (1960). A Short History of Benin. Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.
- ^ a b "Igue Festival: A unique Benin celebration". Daily Trust. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
- ^ "Vanguard News". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ^ a b "There' nothing fetish about Igue Festival — Chief David Edebiri". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ^ Osahue, Stevenson; Omoera (2008-12-01). "Igue Ceremony as a Theatrical Performance: An Appraisal". Department of Theatre and Media Arts, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. Kamla-Raj 2008. Studies of Tribes and Tribals 6(2) (2): 111–115. doi:10.1080/0972639X.2008.11886584. S2CID 194787661.
External links
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