In the rich tapestry of Ijaw cultural life, the Amaseikumor Festival continues to stand tall, not merely as an annual event of heritage and colour, but also as a spiritual anchor for the faithful and a sacred passage of hope. The 2025 edition of this revered festival in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, brought forth yet another living testimony to the divine intercession associated with this sacred gathering.
Two women, Mrs. Peres Lawrence from Egwa I and Mrs. Favour Moni from Opuba in Arogbo-Ijaw Ibe who had fervently sought the fruit of the womb during the 2024 pilgrimage to the Gbaraun Egbesu Temple, were divinely remembered. On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the fifth day of the Amaseikumor Festival, they both delivered bouncing baby boys during an intense six hour worship and prayer session at the deity temple. Their joy was not merely personal; it was communal, a reaffirmation that Ibolomo Ere, the spiritual mother of children, still hears and answers.
These births symbolise more than fulfilled desires. They are a cultural affirmation that the Amaseikumor masquerade, the “Promise Keeper”, remains not just a custodian of tradition but a divine intermediary bridging ancestral faith and present hope. For a society yearning for reconnection with its spiritual roots and cultural strength, such stories breathe new life into the soul of Ijaw identity.
The role of the 2025 Amaseikumor Festival Medical Team, led by Dr. Clarkson Agagha, deserves commendation. Their humanitarian service, rendered with selflessness, speaks volumes about how tradition and modern care can work hand in hand for the common good. We also commend the sponsors and organisers of this year’s festival for sustaining an age old legacy that continues to shape lives, births, and beliefs.
As we look forward to seeing the sixth day of the festival, featuring wrestling competitions, football, local games like draft, and the much anticipated night show, it is crucial that we remember the spiritual essence of these festivities. Amaseikumor is not just celebration; it is cultural reawakening, an invocation of protection, prosperity, and unity among the Ijaw people.
Let us not allow modernisation to dim the light of our traditions. Instead, let these moments, like the births of Peres and Favour’s sons, remind us of who we are, where we come from, and the divine forces that still walk with us.
Long live the Amaseikumor Festival!
Long live Gbaramatu Kingdom!
Long live Ijaw culture!
