We should return to our tradition- Ezenwobi Orafu
When
Okofia began
When
and how Okofia began is a mystery that no one can tell. I became the chief
priest of Okofia 20 years ago (1997), when I was still a civil servant. The
custodian of Okofia died then, and I was chosen to replace him. We have been
carrying out this annual ritual just as it was done in the olden days.
Okofia is a big deity in Nimo. There are oracles
under it in Uruokofia, Nimo. Anyone can sleep in its forest without been harmed.
There are many animals in the forest, snakes, lions, bush babies, all kinds of
animals but they are not harmful to people passing through the forest. There is
also a river in the forest, which cannot be seen by the people except the
custodian of Okofia. As I said earlier, we have been holding this annual
cultural festival in honour of Okofia deity. But the problem we are having
today is that the churches now fight us after they have accepted the teaching
of the white man, thereby not believing in our own tradition and culture.
There
are great testimonies of miracles and good deeds that Okofia oracle did for the
believers. Okofia protects, it gives wealth and children; it fights for its
children. In fact, whatever you ask Okofia, it will give you. People have
threatened to kill me in the past, as if that would put an end to Okofia. I
have been waiting for them to carry out their threat, but I have not seen them
since then.
Okofia
and Christianity
In
the past, the church and traditionalists work together. I remember my
fore-fathers attending harvest with farm produce though they were not Christians.
It is human wickedness and lack of consideration for each other that has
brought the current problem between the church and the tradition. The church is
now just interested in money. Can you imagine the church refusing to bury a
dead person just because he/she did not pay a particular levy? But it is said
that a dead person should not be levied, is it not a criminal act? The Bible
commands us to bury our dead ones but today it is no longer so. The churches
dwell so much on levies and contributions. The celebration of Okofia is for
everyone. The church has been fighting to destroy us but Okofia and its adherents
will never allow that. It is not possible.
Period
the celebration holds
It
is usually celebrated in November but due to the upcoming election and respect
for Nigeria, we decided to bring it down to October.
Has
there being changes now?
In
the past, people will eat with their friends in their houses before coming to
Okofia square to dance and enjoy themselves. But now, all the celebrations are
done here (Okofia square). with different masquerades on parade. Before, there
was a market here, but it is no longer functioning because the church has made
people to believe that what is sold here belongs to the deity. But they forgot
that markets are owned by deities- Nkwo Enugwu-Ukwu, Otu-Onitsha, and other
markets.
Succession
planning
I
have been mentoring people and showing them everything, so that when I join my
ancestors, they will take over. There are people who will take over from me,
although, there is particular kindred in charge of taking over the mantle. No
one owns Okofia in particular. For instance, if a titled person dies, there
will be an announcement in the four quarters of the community like Uru-Okofia,
Egbengwu, Etiti Nimo and Ifite Enu. So, Okofia cultural festival is not just
for any peculiar village but for all people.
Resolving
conflict
We
invoke God and Okofia every morning because Okofia is the messenger of God who
helps us to communicate to Him directly. What we pray for everybody, is long
life, good health and prosperity whether you believe in Okofia or not or you
are fighting us or not. We don’t pray for people to die, instead for the good
of all.
The
issue of reporting one to deity
It
is because deities are just and fair in their judgement that people often
report cases when they are having issues. Coming there, and as mediator between
Okofia and the people, you can offer us little amount at least for leaving my
job and helping them. We don’t charge them high. It is like going to see a
lawyer, do you go empty handed? Instead of going to a lawyer and experiencing
series of adjournments, you simply report the person to Okofia for as low as
N10,000 and be assured that your case will be resolved. It is quite unfortunate
that many people are abusing the process now by using oracles as money making
ventures. As a matter of fact, people that do that did not derive their powers
from the oracle but got their charm from other sources. No true custodian of a
great oracle would abuse his position. No, never or the oracle would strike the
person dead.
What
distinguishes Okofia deity and other deities?
All
deities are not the same and as such, they differ in various villages. Each
deity too, has some peculiar differences and what they regard as sacred. I
cannot even explain the reason why it is like that.
Last
word
Let
all persons both men and woman, return to our tradition. We have left our
culture, leading almost to the loss of the Igbo language. Our culture can never
betray us. This is also the reason why Nigeria is in a total mess. I advise
people to be straight forward and do to others what you would want them to do
to you. If this not following the way of God, I wonder what it is. What will it
profit a man if gains everything and loses his soul. Everybody should imbibe
truthfulness and love because it is what Christ has left for us. Love is no
longer in Igbo land. Whatever good you are doing to people, you equally do for yourself.
Corroborating
the chief priest, Chief Moses Orafu, said:
“I
started hearing about Okofia, since I was born. The deity is famous for giving
wealth and children. I am a witness. Each time I visit Okofia to make an appeal,
he doubles it for me. I was a pastor at DM, Light of God Deliverance Ministry,
Asaba but sometimes, the church deceives us by telling people that they are called
without knowing that they ought to be custodians of tradition. I almost died of
hunger operating and running the church until I was brought to Okofia who paved
way for me and I became successful again.
“We
tell people, whether Christian or traditionalist, you should always do what is
right. For instance, we don’t kill neither do we involve in anything evil. What
we do, is to rescue people from bondage. We also tell people never to forget
their origin and what they are known for. We are not happy that the church is
fighting the traditional institution that gave birth to them.
“Most
people in secret societies hide under the mask of churches to perpetrate evil
but we don’t do such. How can someone offend another person and instead of
apologising to him/her, they go to someone else to confess their sins? This is
what the white man has used to brainwash us. We should go back to the culture
of our land.”
For
Mr. Ezennia Agbazi, “Okofia has been helpful to us because it
stands for the truth. Okofia guides us and ensure that we live an honest life
and that we don’t cheat or despise one another. It has given me long life
because I am over 85 years now and still strong. If Okofia has not been good,
we would have stopped coming to it. There is love and truth in following
Okofia. We don’t take something that does not belong to us neither do we steal.
All we do is to ensure that people do the right thing.”
Emmanuel
Ibeabuchi had this to say “Okofia has been in
existence for long and we have celebrated it since time immemorial. The Okofia
annual festival has brought a lot of good things in the life of our people.
Many people have repented due to Okofia. Anybody who is a follower of Okofia,
becomes a born again because born again means doing what is right.
“Why
I am involved in this practice is that my fore-fathers served Okofia and they
lived long lives. I have good health and material possessions since I became an
ardent follower of Okofia. The truth is that Okofia solves our problems.”
Similarly,
Isaac Akutuwilo said “Okofia is the god
that we see. There is God and it is God that created Okofia and gave it power.
The children do not go astray except those ones that thread the wrong paths.
Such persons will not live long. I was a Christian before, but the attitude of
Christians makes one angry. That was why I left the church in search of Okofia
who has blessed me with children and material possession.”
One of the masquerades performing at the festival
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