Okonko Festival (Old Bende)

 Okonko festival or initiation is a practice of the bende people located in Abia state of Nigeria. We understand the quest of must African Americans or black communities to know there culture, one of this practice is the Okonko tradition of the Igbo people. It was believed to have originated from the great shrine of Arochukwu in the 14th Century. The tradition is believe to bind the people of the land and stand against injustice. It is often called upon during land dispute or communal clashes.



The young males are being introduced to this culture through a festival called Okonko as early as 7 years old. If you are Igbo and from Abia, you might want to get to know about the cultural practice. A little details about the community is highlight above and how to get there in Nigeria. The tradition is being passed from generation to generation by teaching young males the culture of the land and how things are being done. The initiation involves taking young male into the shine for 4 days where they would be taught and initiated. The children would be prepared by their parents or uncle and feed with all kinds of concussion. This takes place prior to the new yam festival in July and August every year. 

It is believe that any child who did not practice the tradition brings the anger of the deity on the family and the family could incur the wroth and could be visited with sudden death, mental illness, badluck, sickness etc.

The right does not recognise women or girl child; therefore, women are not part of the decision making in the community. Women does not have  a say in traditional issues and cannot speak publicly about tradition because it could incur curses and banishment from the community. During the festival, a curfew is placed on women from walking about around certain time at night.

The Okonko also does a ritual for the dead who are buried after living above 70years of age. A cow blood and 3 masquerade dance are used to send them to there ancestors. The burial right takes weeks to conclude.



Reference:

https://guardian.ng/opinion/okonko/ 

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