Steemit Engagement Challenge Week 2 | Ikwerre's Cultural Festival | @iamchukwudi

If you live in Ikwerre or come from Ikwerre, you should be a very happy person! Especially when you feed your eyes with our rich cultural displays.

Ikwerre is a major local government area in Rivers State, Nigeria, and is one of Igbo groups in Rivers state, best described as an Igbo-sub-group since our language is relatively similar to the Igbo language. Ikwerre is more than just the name of my place, it is also the name of the language of the Ikwerre people - we speak Ikwerre!

In Rivers State, Nigeria, the Ikwerre people are more than just a local government, there is Ikwerre people in other local government areas in the State that are not primarily from the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Ikwerre people in general are unified by their age-long traditions, festivals and cultural activities, among all, one which has caught my interest the most is the:

Wrestling festival

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The Ikwerre Wrestling Festival

Festival wrestling is one of the vital cultural activities in the Ikwerre land and among Ikwerre people.

This festival is a festival of strength, skills, power and endurance among men. It is also a festival of music, as during this festival, music is played with drums of different shapes and sizes, such as the popular Ngele, Mbamba, Ikwiriku and Ekwenkalu.

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In this wrestling festival, the objective is simple, throw down your opponent so that his back touches the ground and be declared the winner. As a result, during the wrestling festival, men try different maneuvers to ensure that they bring their opponent to the ground, however, it requires more than skills, strength also plays a very important role here.

Timing and Rationale of the Wrestling Festival

To add to the uniqueness of the wrestling festival, and have the people always anticipating, the wrestling festival is usually an annual event.

The wrestling festival could be seen as some form of sublimation - an endeavour to channel bad energy into something productive. But it is more than a psychological act of sublimation.

Elders in Ikwerre belief that the wrestling festival is important in "peace-building" among the Ikwerre people. It is a very essential tool used by the administrators of Ikwerre communities to sustain peace among youths.

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You will appreciate the usefulness of this festival if you live in modern day Ikwerre! Youths are unengaged and are channeling their useful energy into unproductive and potentially destructive activities. Thus, the wrestling festival is undoubtedly pursuing a noble course.

Duration and Activities

This cultural festival is designed to last for three (3) days, and can be witnessed by all members of the community, men and women, adults and children.

It is usually competitive, with different community champions representing their respective communities, and at the end of the competition, a winner decided.

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Women play a significant role in this festival, by preparing nice meals and singing different wrestling songs to beef up the atmosphere and support the wrestling men. Women also play the role of admirers, as most of them eventually fall in love with the strength and structure of the male wrestlers.

Ikwerre Wrestling Festival vs WWE

Ikwerre wrestling festival is a festival for the brave and fit. It is a showcase of muscular strength, and basically involves grappling-techniques, joint locks, take downs, and clinch fighting.

Most wrestlers after minutes of wrestling come out without a scratch on their skin. Wrestling is always done in a cushioning surface, mostly a flat ground with enough sand on it to prevent injury of any form. Wrestlers are also checked to ensure are safe for their opponents - it is vital that long nails and weapons of any form are not used.

Unlike WWE wrestling matches, the Ikwerre wrestling festival is a fun activity, competitive though, but devoid of bets and high-stakes to warrant violence. Little wonder, children and women can be spectators, it is always a delight to witness.

Historical Appeal

Fighting and wrestling has always been part of African cultural displays, in fact, a tint of this can be found in almost all African societies; typically, the ancient Egyptian society.

Among Nigerians, the Igbo's has an age-long history of including fighting/wrestling activities as part of their cultural festivals, especially during the iconic new yam festivals of the Igbo people.

Wrestling and combat sports occupies a prominent and significant place in legends and literature, you can refer quickly to the book - Things Fall Apart - and quickly remember the impressive skills and strength of Okonkwo.

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Final Words

The wrestling festival in Ikwerre is an iconic festival through which Ikwerre men display their strength and braveness. It is a noble wrestling contest that is generally safe and entertaining.