The Age-Grade System in Abiriba Community: A Reflection on Okezie Age-Grade

Abiriba is no doubt one community with a very rich cultural and traditional heritage. East of the Niger with undeniable self-help development strides that serve to build the individuals as well as the town, Abiriba is made up of three main villages: Ameke, Agboji, and Amogudu. It is a complete reflection of an egalitarian society adorning a monarchical system of administration, with Enachioken as the traditional head and leader of the three traditional rulers (ekwu okpa-eto). Some aspect of our cultures are unique and quite peculiar to us and there is no doubt that these have cumulatively made we the people of Abiriba the successful people we are today. However, this has not always easy to notice that we have had very negligible government impact in our community development.

For instance, among the people of Abiriba, the pride of a father is depicted in one naming his first son after his own father and the first daughter after his mother. In addition, and quite intriguing though, naming traditions are paternally oriented but when it comes to inheritance, Abiriba is a matrilineal civilization to the extent that descent and inheritance are traced through the mother’s family.

Specifically, the Abiriba age-grade system represents a binding force and critical piece of our culture that sustains our people. Altogether, the age-grade system, as a cynosure of our culture helps us to form the structure and foundation of our families and our world view. This piece of our culture reminds us always that we are part of a binding history that defines our past, shapes who we are today and who we are likely to become in years ahead.

In the main, the age-grade system is our main agents of development for both our human resources as well as our township. Essentially, our age-grade play the critical traditional role of policing the community and punishing offenders, regardless of age and status.

Formation

The age-grade as it is, is usually constituted by a group of individuals within the same age bracket. For Instance, the Okezie Age-Grade was named in 1993. It is important to note that after the formation, the Age-Grade will go through several cultural rites that are observed at various periods of life or season to showcase achievement of developmental tasks of both the individual members as well as to the community in line with Abiriba philosophy of life. The rites are intended to remould the moral, mental and spiritual orientation of the initiates towards their world and their roles in it. The knowledge imparted to initiates is designed to create the awareness that henceforth the individual does not live for himself alone. It further underscores the fact that the community and divinities have a stake in his life, since his actions affect the very bond that binds the human and spiritual communities. Thus the individual is taught that the structures of the Abiriba community are divinely given and that the maintenance of the expected social role and relationship is a religious duty.

Izara Afa

Izara Afa is a maturity rite that symbolizes the transition from youth to adulthood. It is performed by people over 35 years and whose age grade is due for recognition with a name by the community. This rite serves as an enlistment as a bona-fide son or daughter of Abiriba as well as a soldier and defender of Abiriba land. It is therefore, sort of an initiation and induction into sonship of Abiriba kingdom and this, more than anything else, binds us together into brotherhood of Abiriba kingdom. The ceremony involves royal procession across the community culminating with the unveiling of the developmental project which the initiates embark on to mark the event. The okezie Age-Grade did their Izara Afa in the year 2004.

Igwa Mang (Fulfillment of vows)

This is a ceremony performed by an age grade to give account of its stewardship in terms of its military as well as civil service to the Abiriba community. It is usually performed by men and women in their late forties and early fifties. It is marked by a separation from the people on a designated day of the customary four-day week and naturally, they spend the night in the bush and perform rites that amount to fulfilment of their collective and personal vows which they made before the commencement of their military service. Thereafter the initiates move from there into the community with a colourful dance procession. The community and their respective families recognize their heroic feat through verbal and non-verbal appreciation. Thus they are reincorporated into the society as old adults.
Typically, the Igwa Mang ceremony is the time every inductee showcases affluence and success story and what he or she has done for the community. For example, when the Okezie Age-Grade did their Igwa Mang in 2010, Hon. Ossy Prestige showcased a stretch of road he built in Agboji village as well as a retinue of Abiriba indigenes he had established in business.

Orie Itueye (Iburu Omu)

Itueye on the other hand is a rite to pronounce and declare the Age-Grade that will retire at a particular time (uke ji agbala). Significantly however, the Age-Grade that does itueye becomes responsible for resolving conflicts in the community as well as provide advisory services to the community until their retirement.

Tomorrow, 7th day of July 2010, the Okezie Age-Grade will mark their itueye which will involve such notable and distinguished personalities who in their own rights are prestigious titled Chiefs of Abiriba Kingdom, having excelled in character and led a successful family and business life. Such people are Rt. Hon. Ossy Chinedu Prestige, Aka na Azu Oha of Abiriba and member representing Aba North/South Federal Constituency, Chief Barr. Jackson Agbai Abba, the Kukunda of Abiriba and CEO, Dover Hotels, Lagos, Chief Eleanya Agu, a one-time President of Aba Sport Club/Aba Chamber of Commerce, Rtn. Ndukwo Uba Obasi, immediate Past President of the Aba Chamber of Commerce and Hon. Nwaka Inem.

Ime Uche (Retirement from Active Community Service)

Uche is the last cultural ceremony conducted by age grade members above sixty years of age to mark the end of their community surveillance function and retirement from community service. This rite marks the transition from old adulthood to living ancestorship (Onye Ichie). The uche rite consists of symbolic separation from the community marked by erecting a traditional canopy with George clothes of beautiful colours at the community centre where a night vigil is kept on the night preceding the event. The ceremony is marked by presentation of gifts to the celebrants by his family, wife, children, in-laws, friends, and general public.

Customarily the celebrant does not also sleep in his house on the night of the Uche day. It is presumed that the celebrant would be attacked by visiting wicked spirits sent by enemies who are envious of the gifts the celebrant will received during the day. Another peculiar thing with Uche is that it is done in the celebrant’s house which is one major reason every Abiriba man will strive to build a befitting house in Abiriba land before his Uche ceremony.

Tomorrow, as the Okezie Age-Grade of Abiriba embarks on their itueye we pray the almighty God who has produced very successful men and women from their midst to continue to protect them ahead of their Uche in 2024.

Hon. Sir Abraham Oba KSJI
Member, Representing Aba Central State Constituency