IS OGUGU TOWN’S CULTURE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER IGALA TOWNS’?

IS OGUGU TOWN’S CULTURE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER IGALA TOWNS’?

Many people have talked about Ogugu people or town in Olamaboro LGA, Kogi State. But are they even Igala? Of course!!! A descendant of Attah Igala is Igala irrespective of where he or his descendants are.

Ogugu people are descendants of Okwo while others called him Okwo Obida. Okwo means sword, which connotes warriorship. At a point, Okwo had a problem in the palace of Attah, his father, and he left home. In those days, any Igala person or group leaving home must go with a deity, and this could be a white chalk or kolanut or piece of clothe from the main or mother god in Idah. This is to prevent witches attack or strange sicknesses in the new location they are going. It is also used as the symbol of the ancestors where they talk to the ancestors when there is a need. During war, the gods are involved too. Okwo did the same. But in his case, under the tree where he built a temple for the god, the tree became the place that owes stay and “talk” in the night.

Recall that not all owes are evils as some were even gods in the ancient Nile area. The deity of Okwo was later named after the owes as Ogugu. But one thing about the gods is that, they will do what you instruct but must be on justice and fairness. When a traditionalist tell his or her god that anyone who uses witch on the family should die, the person will be killed by the god even if he or she is part of the family members. In order to make the community free of bad or evil attitudes, a clan head can make some pronouncements. And all the descendants must follow it even when the man is dead. Okwo made some laws in addition to the laws in Idah. In marriage, Agalama is in all Igala marriage. It is done to ensure that the wife will never have any intimate affair with other man after marriage.

At a point, other Igala people found it not too necessary as whether done or not, the woman who commits such intimate sin must fall sick or die if she refused to confess immediately. It is happening in many Igala towns in Kogi State and even outside Kogi State like Enugu Ezike, Anambra, Delta etc. Agalama is no longer done but the ancestor are still on the guard. In Ogugu, Prince Okwo instructed that it must be done. He had his reason. In addition, his own deity became more popular and stronger than the mother own in Idah where he took it from. This is because of what he pronounced to the god. “No mercy”, but must be fairly and justly served. Ogugu is the god of Justice. As a result of the power of the one of Okwo, many Igala going outside Idah were going to get it to take along.

Today, there are many towns in Delta State and Anambra States or Enugu with Ogugu god. They all behave the same. But their root is in Idah where Okwo migrated from. It is not strange to see a varied culture of Igala princes. Aguba descendants of Idaka changed their greetings to Adeji and Ineji, though their Onu is greeted Doga. There are those now using Ajie in Delta State or Oda ojiji still in Kogi State. But one thing is certain, they are descendants of Attah Igala. Ogugu people are descedants of Igala Prince, and all their cultures are in other Igala towns.