The ancient Ijaw spiritual festival known as AMASEIKUMO – A Festival of Restoration and Prosperity, has been officially scheduled to hold from Saturday, April 19th to Friday, April 25th, 2025. Rooted deeply in the religious traditions of the Ijaw people, the AMASEIKUMO festival serves as a sacred period of spiritual cleansing, renewal, and blessings for the land and its people.
Derived from the Ijaw language, AMASEIKUMO translates as “May the town not be defiled”, a profound invocation for restoration, sanctification, and hope. The festival is observed through a series of traditional rites and rituals, performed with deep reverence to invite the divine presence of the AMASEIKUMO deity, who is symbolized by a revered masquerade.
The AMASEIKUMO masquerade, considered a divine totem, is the physical embodiment of the deity and is central to the spiritual ceremonies of the week-long event. According to tradition, the masquerade is heralded by a black masquerade, which functions as its forerunner — cleansing the path and paving the way for the main deity to enter, ushering in peace, prosperity, and spiritual renewal across Ijaw territories.
At the helm of the sacred ceremonies is Prince Omoh, who serves as the High Priest of AMASEIKUMO, the only individual permitted to wear a robe of pure white linen throughout the sacred observance.
The festival, while open to participants and spectators, observes strict spiritual taboos and prohibitions to preserve its sanctity:
1. Women on their monthly flow are strictly prohibited from entering sacred places.
2. Smoking, sex, and other immoral behaviours are forbidden throughout the festival.
3. Only the High Priest is allowed to wear pure white linen.
4. Male participants must undergo a traditional baptismal bath before entering sacred grounds.
5. Cameras and recording devices are strictly banned near the sacred places.
6. Women must cover their hair, and the wearing of trousers by women is highly prohibited.
Organisers and spiritual custodians call on Ijaw sons and daughters, traditional worshippers, and cultural enthusiasts to embrace this divine moment of restoration and prosperity, as the AMASEIKUMO festival promises a reconnection to ancestral heritage and a spiritual rebirth for the land.
