OPUTO FEAST IN UMUERI

OPUTO FEAST IN UMUERI
Oputo feast is the feast that marks the end of the celebrations and burials in the community. It comes at the first month of the the native calender year. It ushers in the farming season to the community and brought to the end of celebration in the town
There is an organized carnival in the community during the festival in which various Masquerade displays their arts. On the twelfth day of the month (Been the third Market week) all able young men that have entered into the Masquerade cults would all go Masquerade abode in the forest known as (Ebe) to welcome their new masquerades, since its believed traditionally that Masquerades are part of departing Spirits.
On the third to fourth week they would all gather in the square of their Major Deity ( ie in Adegbe Umueri, the meeting point is at Ama Ocha square Umunagu Adagbe Umueri) to entertain and celebrate themselves by playing and running round the square according to tradition with oviation and chants from different villages that have come with their masquerades.
The entire village that make up community would come along with their well dressed and prepared Masquerade. In Umuchenzi Village of Umueri, Exogamous Village such as Mgbago, Iruozobia and Amukwa all come to display their respective Masks. For Instance, While Iruozobia that has the beautiful Ogbuebunu masquerade also accompanied by Ogbava, Ogbuodu and various other Masks comes with their chants, Amukwa display their Odobo, Apanti and other masquerades. Mgbago Villages are also not left out in the show of the mask, as they would brings along the famous Ebeteke . All these Mask and their entourages would also be accompanied by their elders and youths so as to give moral and emotional support to their Masquerade.
This Masquerade Festivals are not limited within each clan as other Umueri Villages host it turn by turn while Others attend the festival along with groups of different masquerades to the carnival. Such Villages like Ugume, Ogbu, Umudiana, Mgbede etc are all well represented during the carnival
The Celebration is organized on Village by Village basis. It Starts with Umunchezi and the rest follow suite for their own carnivals. This Festival invariably ushers in the farming season because the farming season starts as soon as the carnival ends and a new moon is sighted.

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