03/03/2024
Azumini Ndoki Ancient Kingdom is an autonomous community situated in Ukwa East Area of Abia State.
Azumini is one of the Ndoki clans located in Abia State amongst Akwete, Akirika, Obohia, Akanu, Umuogor, Mkpukpu Ile, Ohaobu and more.
Rivers State also, is one of the two states that have settlements of the Ndoki clan in Nigeria. Although we are on a research; compiling a documentary on the Ndoki clan, we will still reference if we find out that there are more than two states that has the settlement of the Ndoki clan.
In Azumini Ndoki Ancient Kingdom Ikoro is one of her revered festivals. Apart from the Ikoro festival, they celebrate festivals like Okekpe,Eru Onwa(Moon masquerade) Obiokpor and Okukpum. Each of these festivals are done in a particular month and season of the year.
The Ikoro Azumini festival is celebrated every February at the preparation of a new farming season. The festival is a symbol of their appreciation to God and the gods of the land for aiding them through the last farming season, celebration of the bountiful harvest and appease to the gods for a better farming season as the enter the new farming season.
The Ikoro Azumini festival is a festival of dance. In the ancient days, the days of the founding fathers of this great kingdom, the Ikoro sound was a sound of war. The ikoro accompanied the great warriors of the land to war and of course with the melodic tones.
The Ikoro Azumini Festival is a dance for men alone, and in the ancient days, record has it that it was dance ment only for strong and notable men of Azumini.
The women are not left at home though, they are at the standby, cheering their men up. The women help to decorate the men as they dance. Some of them come with special wrappers and headtie from home to decorate the men while they show their magical dance steps on the festival ground.
The dance is done 4 four times in a week of the month of February according to the date it has been fixed that year at the village square(Amaobu Azumini); remember it's an annual festival.
The festival can only be cancelled if the king (Onye-enwe Ali Azumini) is dead. If a village head (Onye-enwe uhu) dies, they will skip a day and dance for 3 days as Mark of respect for the village head.
The festival is done Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
On the first day, the dance is done only in the night and it is called Ikoro ujuu (Night Ikoro). It is then done morning and evening on the subsequent days.
No native of the land dares to miss the last day of the festival, especially in the evening because it is not something they tell someone; it is indeed a beautiful and historic sight to behold.
The king leads the procession of the evening session accompanied by his Onye-enwe uhus and council of chiefs.
At the entrance of the nobles to the festival ground, they would first recognise the drummers in the Ikoro House (Obi Ikoro) by giving them bottles of drink and even money before they make it to their seats.
As custom demands, the king and his village heads in the entourage of other chiefs and citizens of the land will dance round the village square visiting each the villages (uhu) at their town hall (onuobuu).
At his visit to each of the town halls, a member of that kindred will open a bottle of gin on their table, gives to the king in a gin glass (cupuru manya gin), this is a sign of respect and show of acceptance to the king by the people of that kindred. The king will accept the drink, takes a shot, and pass down to his village head, until a shot of gin gets to the last village head in the entourage. In the absence of the King, this rite is done by the next village head that is directly after the king in hierarchy.
When they visit the last kindred town hall (onuobuu), the King will lead the entourage back, to his seat, where he and his village heads will sit and watch the display of magnificent dance steps on the Ikoro dance floor. The king seats side to sides with his village heads, three on both his left and right sides as he has six village heads that rule with him, each representing one the six kindred (uhu) that make up Azumini Ndoki Ancient Kingdom.
To mark the end of the Ikoro the king will lead the dance again, round the village square (Amaobu), visiting all the town halls (onuobuu), bidding them farewell as a show that the Ikoro festival has ended.
When the king is done visiting the entire town halls, he is then carried on the shoulder of a very strong and honourable man, that will take him from the Amaobu to his palace.
The dance still continues at the village square (Amaobu), which later ends after the Ikoro House has been scattered and burnt down to ashes. In as much as the thatch that was used to make the house is still burning, the dance must go on, until every last piece of it has burnt to ashes.
Then and only then can the music stop and everyone will retire to their homes.
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