The History Of Amaseikumor Festival In Gbaramatu Kingdom Which Began 14 AD
The Amaseikumo Festival is one of the ancient traditional celebrations handed down by our ancestors to be observed annually by the people of Gbaramatu Clan (Kingdom) by the founding fathers.
Amaseikumo, as the name implies, means good living, peace, unity, prosperity and protection to the people of the communities in Gbaramatu Clan (Kingdom).
It is an ancient deity that emanated from the river and was being celebrated by the entire Gbaramatu Kingdom Communities in accordance with its rules and regulations.
The celebration of Amaseikumo came into being at about the 14 AD and the chief priest then was, Late Pa Obuko of
AZAMA TOWN.
Usually the period of Amaseikumo Festival was observed between the month of January and February yearly. Oporoza Town, the natural Headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom served as the centre and venue for the yearly celebration of the Amaselkumo Festival. During the period of the festival, it is mandatory that all the communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom attend and take active part in the celebrations. The Amaselkumo Festival itself is a combination of several masquerades.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FESTIVAL:
The Amaseikomo Festival is the most important and highest celebrated festival in Gbaramatu Kingdom during the ancient days and as at now. As a result Gbaramatu Kingdom holds this celebration in a very high esteem because of its significance as follows:
PEACE: At the end of every celebration of the Amaseikumo Festival, the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom usually enjoy unprecedented peace and unity within and outside the Kingdom. Therefore, it is known that the Amaseikumo itself is a deity of peace.
UNITY: The celebration of Amaseikumo Festival is a standpoint and a glaring symbol of unity that offer the entire people of Gbaramatu Kingdom the opportunity to gather and unite together during and after the celebration of the festival. This is so as the communities in the Kingdom do unanimously attend and actively participate in the festival with joy and happiness in accordance with the rules and regulations binding the celebration of the festival. It is a festival celebrated indeed to unite, restore and affirm the brotherhood of the entire Gbaramatu Kingdom communities, as the people firmly believe that, unity is strength.
PROSPERITY: In addition to ushering unprecedented peace and unity, the people of the Kingdom also enjoy abundant blessings after the celebration of the Amaseikumo Festival. The blessings flow in diverse ways in terms of abundant catch by the Fishermen, hunters, farmers, traders, etc. the people in addition enjoy good health, safe delivery of pregnant women and good neighbourliness.
PROTECTION: In addition to prosperity the Amaseikumo Festival, after its celebration bring all round protection to the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom. This is so as the people no longer experience premature death, accidents, ill-health and strange diseases etc.
This was one of the surprises that, made one Divisional Officer (DO) of the colonial administration then, who asked to know the secret behind the Amaseikumo Festival as the people usually experience these unprecedented blessings. He sees it as a mystery and decided to know how the festival was being organized.
The last Chief Priest who served and administered the Amaseikumo deity and the celebration of the festival was late Chief Ogun Kala-egran who was also a Warrant Chief of the British Colonial Administrators. He doubles as the Chief Priest as well as the Regent of Gbaramatu Kingdom during the time.
