The traditional ruler of Obosi in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, His Royal Highness, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, has said that over 200 octogenarians will be honoured with Ogbueshi titles.

Mr Iweka made this known to journalists on Friday. 

He explained that the Ogbueshi title is a festival used to celebrate the elderly who have attained 80.

He said that the celebration, also known as Iteogbo, is an age-long cultural heritage of the people in the community.

According to him, with this initiation into the Ogbuefi title by those who have attained 80 years (Oforka age grade), they have been exempted from all manners of levies and communal works.

He said, “We began honouring these categories of elders as part of our respect for their having attained this height. Some of our neighbouring communities have emulated us and today they come to us to know how we have been able to uphold this for years.

“On Sunday, the Christians will get to church to thank God for a successful initiation and the traditionalists will also get to their shrines to thank God.’’

Earlier, the Prime Minister (Onowu) of the community, Austen-Anibogwu, while corroborating the traditional ruler’s position, added that there were moves to make the occasion a tourist attraction and affiliate it with national festivals of other tribes.

“It is an age-long ceremony celebrated every three years. As this Oforka age grade will be initiated on Saturday, March 3, those age grade members that will follow them will be initiated in the next three years. In every family that is celebrating the occasion, a cow must be slaughtered and that is why they are called Ogbueshi (literally meaning killer of cows),” he said. 

(NAN)