This is another date in the Ine Aho Festival season, where the Issele-Uku Monarch, HRM Agbogidi Obi Nduka JP (MNSE) has to go to the popular Afor market in Issele-Uku, to carry out a royal shopping of food and other items, called Izu Afiachi in our local parlance.
It was a massive event as the king was accompanied by royal family members, some of his chiefs and elders, on Friday 18th August, 2023, to go into the market as traditionally demanded of him to do so in apparent show of making his first official entry into the market once in a year, where he does buying of things, spraying of money to children and market women who are enthused by his public appearance and of course, visiting the Omu in her shop (Odu Omu) to also patronise her and get information about the operations of the market under her custody.
Agbogidi Obi Nduka danced gracefully to the sounds of Egwu Issoh and Ndi Egbu Opi while the praise singers kept on eulogizing him to high heavens.
Back at the Palace, he entertained those who accompanied him to the market according to their various groups, while also allowing them to pick their choice items from the items bought at the market. This is called “Iya Ife Afia”. The process of rushing the items is called “Igbabuli Ife Afia”, signifying the joy of receiving gifts from the Obi from part of the things he personally bought at the market.
Traditional watchers are pleased that the young and dynamic King is able to keep these age long traditions of his forebears, which are key indices that guarantee the peace and unity of the people, because it is believed that culture is the way of life of a people within a jurisdiction called community.
