Agbarho Kingdom Agog With Ibi Festival

Some sons of Agbarho Kingdom dancing during the festival

By Balogun Mabamije

The Agbarho Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state was yesterday agog with the Ibi Festival, which is celebrated biannually.

Addressing newsmen during the weeklong festival celebration which began yesterday 6th November, 2021, the President General of Agbarho (Urhobo) Improvement Union, (AUIU), Chief Igho Odiphri said the festival was celebrated for the unity, peace and development of Agbarho kingdom.

Chief Odiphri said the Ibi Festival was normally celebrated in the month of November with dance performance by different communities that make up Agbarho kingdom, and as such, community leaders used the opportunity to teach the young ones the different Urhobo traditional dances and cultural values.

The traditional palace of the Osuivie of Agbarho Kingdom

He said all Agbarho communities would take their turn to perform and communities that did well won prizes at the end of the festival, just as he added that from tomorrow, two communities would take their turn to perform and entertain the people.

Chief Igho Odiphri, President General, Agbarho Urhobo Improvement Union

Added to the dancing, according to Odiphri was the shooting of gunpowder to mark the festivity, which expressed the joy of the people of Agbarho Kingdom and inform the outside world that the Ibi festival had begun.

The President General disclosed that during the festival, each community used the opportunity to pay homage to the king of Agbarho kingdom known as the Osuivie of Agbarho Kingdom.

He urged the youths, residents and the entire people of Agbarho kingdom to continue to maintain peace during and after the festival.

Some persons who spoke to our correspondent said they were happy as they danced to Urhobo musical songs supplied by Urhobo musical band.