June 25 (THEWILL) – The annual spiritual cleansing of Mein Deity titled “Dirimbia 2024” has concluded in Ogobiri town.
The three-day celebration is a symbolic spiritual cleansing of the kingdom and features sacrificial offerings, drink offerings, food, song and dance to purify the community in honour of the kingdom’s supreme deity, Main Dirimbia, and to pray for peace and progress for the sons and daughters of the Main and for the Ijaw people as a whole.
The High Priest of God Main Dirimbia, General Godday Smith (Agadagba III), who officiated part of the sacred sacrifice at the Supreme Main Dirimbia Bow in Ogobiri, the seat of Main Kingdom, said the main focus of the cleansing in the first quarter of 2024 is to pave the way with sacrifices and prayers in preparation for the big event scheduled for November 2024.
The high priest of Main Dirimbia’s God, Bunanaowei (King of the Forest), cited peace, protection and development in all Maine lands across Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Ondo and Ijaw ethnic groups as benefits of the special sacrifice.
Bunanaowei suggested that the Ijaw people have some distinctive norms, values, customs, traditions and belief systems that have been passed down from generation to generation, among which their supreme deity, Maine Dirimbia, figures very prominently.
He stressed that Main Dirimbia has existed since the beginning of the world and urged people to believe in and accept it, but said it does not affect the lives of Christians in any way.
The festival, which saw the participation of many head priests and traditional worshippers from various clans in Ijaw land and featured song and dance processions accompanied by the beating of drums, became a very notable event in the history of Ogobiri and Maine kingdoms.
Gen. Godday Smith, popularly known as Bunanaway, who hails from Bekeboru community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State and Kabeama community in Sagbama Town, the heart of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and Indiamaji area, reiterated the need to preserve the unique culture and traditional heritage of the Ijaw people to attract spiritual blessings.
The Supreme Priest of Maindirimbia expressed gratitude to the Amanaowei of Ogobiri, Prince Samuel Yekwe (Agusere IV) and the good people of Ogobiri for the warm welcome and peaceful funeral during the landmark cultural revival and renewal ceremony.
Earlier, at the Maindirimbia sacred grove in Ogobiri, the traditional head priests of Akan Maine Kingdom, King John Aki Koto (Akanni Gboro III), Head Priest Adegbe Amassoma, Head Priest Agusi Oweitari of Benikuru of Odoni community and Head Priest Osuopele Agadagba III of Ozogbo, Delta State, described the day as a new dawn for Ijaw land, saying they have finally resurrected the Most High Maindirimbia and commended him for his selfless service especially the financial contributions that contributed to the grand success of the celebration.
They noted that it is the will of Almighty God that Main Dirimbia and other deities of Ijaw land exist to guide and protect the people from deadly diseases, premature death, outside invasions and more.
The celebration featured a traditional dance performance by the MC storyteller and his Izon traditional dance band, while the dance band of Tri-Tribal Chief Kennedy Duduk added colour to the cleansing ceremony.
Amos Okioma is a correspondent for THEWILL.
