User talk:Mohla.ahmed

AUCHI EGHOGHO FESTIVAL

The Auchi Eghogho Festival is a cultural reunion event for all age-groups in Auchi Kingdom. It is a festival based on the age-long manhood/age-group tradition of the Auchi people. The manhood/age-group tradition is locally referred to as “Irhua” in the Auchi dialect meaning, initiation into manhood. According to folktale, the “Irhua” tradition dates back to the 15th Century when the people who occupy the present location called "Auchi," emigrated from Benin during the reign of Oba Uwaifiokun. Due to imminent invasion from the Benin Kingdom and incessant inter-tribal wars, Uchi, the head of the Auchi community found it imperative to establish a standing army of young and virile men who could be called upon in times of wars or communal activities. This army of young men became so indispensable in the community that they began to act as warriors, deterrent to slave raiders as well as being the custodian of law and order throughout the community. As the community developed and most of these young men grew into mature adults with other personal responsibilities, it became necessary to introduce a system of stratification where they could be graded into regiments according to their ages. To further develop this tradition, the heads of the community found it practical to establish a system of initiation into the revered age-group vested with responsibilities of protecting lives and properties. Thus, every young man in his early adulthood age was initiated into an age-group/manhood with the above responsibilities. As Islam took root in Auchi, the manhood initiation became a trado-religious celebration performed by every young Auchi man between the ages of 20 – 23 years every other Eid Kabir (Big Sallah) in the market square accompanied with a group initiation name and spiritual blessings from the Otaru (King) of Auchi.