The fifth of July of every year has over the years been a special day in the calendar of the people of Unyeada in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. The period around July and August, according to their history, marks the end of the fishing season, when the people, who were migrant fishermen return home from all over the world where they had gone to do fishing to rest and prepare for the next season.
To mark the period, the people set aside July 5 to celebrate the season, thank God and feast guests and family alike. But for several years now, the festival could not hold because of the security issues in the community and other Andoni towns. Kidnapping, cult wars, assassinations had become the order of the day.
The situation did not only stop Unyeada people in the Diaspora from coming home, it also sent many of the local residents on exile. During this period, one of the community’s eminent daughters, Emilia Nte, who was the Chairman of the Local Government was kidnapped and killed.
But the story of the communities changed for good after their son, Hon. Erastus Awortu, became the Chairman of Andoni Local Government in 2021. Working with community leaders, the church and especially the Unyeada Kingdom Elites Assembly, peace returned to the community, the respective cult members who had gone to camp in the creeks were encouraged to return home to make peace and reconcile with their kith and kin.
It was with joy therefore that the people received the news that the 2022 festival would hold on July 5, with the sponsorship of one of Unyeada’s prominent sons, Mr. Bartholomew Ephraim. So, from all over the world, they came and revved up life in the community. From 7am, the processions, parades, free-mix and feasting started. Young men and women, the elderly, chiefs and even friends of the community from other towns in Andoni and the Niger Delta continually danced and celebrated in the community.
This year’s Fishing Festival was not the regular fishing festival. The usual fishing contests, where those who caught the biggest fish were rewarded and their fish shared with other members of the community, this year’s event were absent as it was celebrated mainly as a reunion and celebration of the peace that had returned to the community.
The King of Unyeada, HRH Israel Otuo, whose address was presented by Mr. Gogo Ujile, Unyeada told the story of the Fishing Festival, which they call “Ijok-Irin”, which he said showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Obolo people as the most creative and prosperous fishing communities in Niger Delta and Nigeria.
He said, “The “Ijok-Irin” in Obolo language is interpreted, fish festival marks the end of the annual fishing season of the Obolo people between the months of July and August. The festival is now an important tourist attraction in Rivers State,” he said.
“The origin of Unyeada fishing festival is traced to the very existence of the people. Obolo socio-cultural structure, like other riverine societies is built around the marine environment. This also influenced most of their belief system and tradition.
“It is a tradition of the Obolo people especially in Unyeada Kingdom, for fishermen to return home annually at the expiration of each fishing season (between July and August) to celebrate Ijok-Irin with their biggest catch (usually smoked). Before the advent of Christianity, it was regarded as a taboo in Andoni and Ijaw tradition for a fisherman to solely eat or sell his biggest catch. In fact, this can cause serious penalty of the erring fisherman and his family.
According to Obolo tradition, catching of the biggest fish connotes strength and bravery similar to hunting a leopard, it attract a royal blessing and award of the “Oguisi-Mbom” (King of Fish), from the King (Okaan Ama) of Unyeada.”
The festival also used to feature boat regattas that showcased the strength of and wealth of the five ancestral war canoe houses of Unyeada Kingdom (Otuo, Oyetile, Otibok, Etekan and Iyoba), which commenced from the Andoni River estuary to Imo River.
It also featured group fishing, which saw the people coming together in up to 60 canoes called Ogbo Njiin to drag a huge net and make a big haul of fish. “This ancient fishing practice has proven the ingenuity of earliest fishermen in solving problems, as it is generally believed that the methodology is very effective in preventing the school fish from escaping and allowing the fishermen a big catch.
“Unyeada people are known for their four fathom (7.3152 meters) casting net, the biggest casting net in the Niger Delta. This part of the festival was designed not necessarily for the biggest catch but to display the mastery of Unyeada people in their fishing occupation capable of attracting both local and foreign tourists and culture enthusiasts to Unyeada Kingdom,” King Otuo said.
Unyeada Kingdom Elite Assemble,
Engr (Mrs) Susan Eyoka
The festival was reformed in 1960 by the late Jonas Rufus Mbira (Unye Obolo III), which added the initiation of young men into a group known as “Ogbo-Anange” by the Chief priest (Oban-isijong Ama) and elders to the school of traditional warfare established by Unyeada ancestors.
Another aspect of the festival is the sharing of a sacred feast called “Ogo” to visitors who came to witness the festival. “The dishes which are prepared by octogenarian women known as, ‘Ugane-Ukuru-ekwet’ who are regarded to be clean,” according to the king.
The Ogo is made up of native salad spices (bush pepper, palm-oil and lime stone etc) with a big smoked fish (preferably of barracuda specie) and must be served in a wooden plate known “Okwa” with locally refined gin. This meal is regarded sacred because it is served to deities or special visitors to the Kingdom.
The king said the culinary culture of Obolo people is the best in Rivers State. “Most delicacies here, are essentially made from freshly caught organic seafood (crab, periwinkle, shrimp, cockle etc.) abound in the marine environment of Andoni. The popular Nigerian cuisine known as Native soup (usually it being cooked on Saturday evening) originated from Unyeada in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.”
The Chairman of Andoni Local Government, Hon. Erastus Awortu, who a special guest, said the glory of the peace that has returned to Unyeada and Andoni generally belonged to the youths, who allowed peace to reign. He also thanked the chiefs and Unyeada Kingdom Elites Assembly for their roles and urged them to continue to keep the peace.
Awortu used the opportunity to warn against people setting up illegal refineries in the creeks. We cannot allow because the rivers hold our fishes, periwinkles and other sea life. We cannot amplify poverty by allowing illegal refineries. We cannot allow a trade that allows a few people to eat and impoverish all others,” the Chairman said.
The Chairperson of the Women/Youth Affairs of Unyeada Kingdom Elites, Mrs. Susan Eyoka, told National Point that the festival is like the new yam festival among the Igbo and farming communities. “In most of the Niger Delta, the Ijaws are riverine people and are fishermen. So, Unyeada people are majorly fishermen.
“All Unyeada people that are scattered abroad come home for this festival. Wherever they are in Kalabari, Cameroon, across Africa and the world, Unyeada people come home to mark our festival,” she said and urged the people to embrace the festival as their own. She however appealed for support to the women of Unyeada, whose petty fishing and trading is seafood so that they can improve on and expand their trade. She said most of the seafood needed in Port Harcourt and other major cities were in abundance in Unyeada.
The festival featured traditional music, processions, masquerades and performances by visiting groups from Okrika and other Niger Delta communities.
