Mid - Nov: Diwali
Mid - Dec: Hanukkah
Dec. 25: Christmas
The period from November to December marks the end of one period and the beginning of another, and in the southwest of Nigeria, the Edoland people (Benin people) celebrate the Igue Festival. It is a festival of good luck and thanksgiving observed throughout the middle of December and marks the end of one year and the beginning of the next.
Mid - December: Iguȩ
The date for Iguȩ is not fixed as Christmas day is, rather like Eid; the date for Igue is calculated through the Benin Lunar calendar. The Benin Lunar Calendar differs from the Gregorian Calendar in that it is based on a five-day week instead of seven.
Greetings
It is customary for the Benin people to exchange special greetings during Igue. In short, they wish you a happy new year.
A well-wisher would typically say
Isȩ no Gbe - Happy new year!
And the recipient will respond with either
Ogbe Isȩ na - Happy new year too!
or
Ogbe ma gba ro - This year, we will be together!
Performing Iguȩ
Iguȩ is the culmination of a series of ceremonies initiated by the Oba (Monarch). The royal family (the monarch’s children) performs their rituals three days later. Afterwards, the public is invited to participate in the celebration three days later. The festival varies from region to region, but two items are essential: kola nuts and coconuts.
During Iguȩ, coconuts and kola nuts are used with an animal to give thanks and offer prayers for making it to the end of the year. We appeal to our heads to guide us through the New Year. The kola nut is broken after prayer, and the animal is slaughtered and cooked. The social status and financial circumstances of the family determine the type of animal used on the occasion. The most common are chickens, pigeons, and guinea fowls.
Energy in our Heads
Sanskrit refers to the energy centres in the head and body as chakras. The Edo belief system doesn't stray too far from that. Traditionally the Edo people believe that the divine force animating and energising human beings resides in the head. This individual energy is related to and is part of the Sum Total of the overall Energy that keeps the whole universe in continuous motion. Thus, it is appropriate for the Edo people to start all prayers by touching their heads, specifically the middle of their foreheads.
Festival of Good Luck
On the second day of Ugie Ẹwerȩ, the Festival of Good Luck unfolds, commemorating the captivating tale of two 14th-century queens, Queen Ubi and Queen Ẹwerȩ, whose story has evolved into a powerful symbol of banishing evil and inviting prosperity to the land.
The festivities kick off at the break of dawn, around 5 am, as children and teenagers kindle firewood sticks. They race through towns and villages, a lively spectacle, chanting,
"Ubi rrie, Ubi rrie" (Ubi is departing).
Their energetic journey leads them to the sacred Ẹwerȩ bush, where they toss the ignited firesticks into the foliage and pluck the revered Ẹwerȩ leaf—a potent emblem of good fortune and blessings.
With spirited exuberance, the youth dance their way back to their abodes, holding the symbolic leaves aloft, and singing,
"Ẹwerȩ de-e kie ne Ẹwerȩ" (Ẹwerȩ is approaching, open the way for Ẹwerȩ).
Moving from house to house, they share the bounty of the Ẹwerȩ leaf, tearing off fragments and presenting them to the residents, uttering the words,
"Ẹwerȩ mwen Ẹwerȩ ruȩ" (my blessing/good luck, your blessing/good luck).
In a reciprocal gesture, the inhabitants of each dwelling reciprocate with offerings of money, food, or other heartfelt gifts.
A Demonic Festival
In recent years Iguȩ has been regarded as demonic or idolatrous by many of the younger generations who favour the Abrahamic religions, such as Christianity and Islam. However, that is a misnomer. Belief in an absolute entity as the Great Architect of the universe and all that is in existence is central to the Benin philosophy. We are able to interact directly with this entity through the energy in our heads, the Godhead. It is an entity that embodies both masculine and feminine energy.
Iguȩ is a time for families to come together and pray for themselves and their nation. And in so doing, they acknowledge their personal responsibility for making the society fit for all. It is a colourful event, with street parties, masquerade dances and parades throughout the city. Food is in abundance, and no one is left out!
Despite the jollities, the festival of Iguȩ has a deep history that started over a thousand years ago. And we will share that with you in the next year!