Okere Juju Festival Ends In Fanfare
The 527th Awankere celebration began at the Ekun shrine, with father, mother and children masquerades whipping the ground to cleanse the land.
The 527th edition of the Awankere Festival, otherwise known as ‘Okere Juju’ has finally come to an end amidst fanfare and rumptious celebration, attracting personalities and dignitaries from across the globe.
The event commenced at the community shrine known as Ekun. Otsogwumale, the father masquerade who is always adorned in pristine white cloth and Okpoye, the mother adorned in raffia sack cloth, along with the children masquerades who are over a hundred in number, danced their way through the community.
With two cane whips called Ukpasa, the masquerades whipped the floor. This helps to eliminate any form of evil in the land, according to custodians of the tradition of the community.
The beauty of this festival is the friendliness of the masquerades and the perfect blend of colours in such creatively unique way.
Dignitaries were present in Okere, to partake in the blessedness of the festival. They include; Honourable Member representing Warri South constituency I, Augustine Uroye, Oritseweyinmi Agbateyiniro, Warri South LGA Chairman, Chief Oma Eyewuoma, the Ologbotsere of Warri, the Egbema Community of Warri North, the Igbo Community of Warri amongst others.
Warri Sentinel also observed sponsored side attractions in the event by various companies.
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