TREE WORSHIP IN ESAN

TREE WORSHIP IN ESAN

Few trees in an area heavily forested had this honour in Esan. The universally respected tree, though not a god, was the UKHIMIN (Neubodia leavis) of the BIGNONACAE family.

It was a symbolic tree said to be particularly blessed by Oghena. It was planted in the farm, as the caretaker of crops; then it went by the name of UTUN. It had to be planted in a new compound and then was known as IHIANLOTO.

Planted in a line in front of the main house. it was called OGBIODIN, the protector of the compound and all it contained. Planted at the inter-village boundary, it marked as the ALU-OKOVEN. ALU ERELE, the site at which the jealousies of one’s companions were warded off. It was not a separate entity; the worship was usually done at the IHIANLOTO of the compound, and all the women and children used this tree in common for this purpose.

The only other tree that was worshipped as a god was the UNOKO (lROKO). In a few places typically in Idumebo, Irrua. it was the god of the whole village and its annual worship replaced the yearly feast of the community.

Repeat with the ever popular INIKPUKPE, at which all unmarried girls go on a procession over a distance of one mile from Idumebo to Onojie’s Eguare, naked. If you are a bachelor, you will find yourself returning to the village after this ceremony.