Rivers Community Ushers In 2019 With Wrestling Festival

History was made in Emohua Community in Rivers State on Saturday, December 28, 2018 as the people of ‘Rumu-olo’ rolled out their ancient wrestling drums to celebrate the peaceful end of 2018 and to usher in the new year, 2019 as well as to mark the maiden edition of the rebranded system of traditional wrestling in the community amidst pomp and funfare.
In his address at the well- attended historic event, held at the Rumuche play ground the Paramount Ruler of Emohua clan, Eze Vincent C. B. Okor (Mgbo Xii) said “wrestling contests in Emohua Community is an age-long tradition that showcases the rich culture and tradition of the people which serves as a panacea for unity, peaceful co-existence and entertainment.
The Justice of the Peace noted that the old traditional system of wrestling had been rebranded and modernised to make it more attractive to the youths and to encourage their participation. He also disclosed that the wrestling calendar had changed from the rainy season to December when the people enjoy dry weather. He said: Wrestling in ‘Rumu-olo’ is now a celebration, an annual event to give the people an opportunity to come together every year to celebrate God’s awesome mercy and to enjoy the fruits of their labour with families, friends and well wishers during the yuletide.
The Royal Majesty and Peace Ambassador expressed delight with the massive turnout of able bodied youths of the community and its neighbouring villages and described it as a positive development and her binger of a new dawn of peace, unity and development in the area.
He also congratulated the organizers of the event for their foresight, stressing that their efforts would help to galvanize the youths and help to keep alive the age long wrestling culture of the people of Emohua, as he urged other illustrious sons of the community to emulate the laudable achievement.
Also speaking, the chairman, Emohua Council of Chiefs, Chief (Dr) Esezi Obilor-Rukaric stated that the purpose of the rebranded wrestling fiesta was to promote peace, unity and even development in the community and to encourage the youths to embrace and promote the age long culture which had been relegated to the background due to the influence of western culture.
Earlier in his welcome address, the spokesman and chairman, Security Committee, Emohua Council of Chiefs, Chief (Barr) Gabriel M. Enyi said: “the real origin of traditional wrestling is lost in myths and legends the prehistoric Emohua man was famed to have wrestled with the animal Chimpanzee and from that esoteric encounter, what came to be known today as traditional wrestling evolved.
He reiterated that wrestling as a combat sports involves grappling techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and take downs, essentially a practice and an acknowledgement of strength and one victorious was admired by all, he took home great prizes, he was the authentic hero of the people. In the days of yore when men were men and women were won by those who deserved them, the champion wrestler was a civilized law unto himself in the community.
“He enjoyed enormous freedom and privileges not available to ordinary members of the community. In most instances the community built houses and married for him expecting that the marriage will bring forth other champions.
“Today traditional wrestling has been repackaged and remodeled by the “Elekwuoro” in collaboration with His Royal Majesty and it still occupies a pride of place in Emohua Community compared to other sports and cultural activities. Traditional Wrestling is to Emohua what football is to Brazil,” he stated,” he stated.
A member of the organizing committee, Deacon (Engr) Nnamdi Chukwu noted that one of the aims of the wrestling contest was to train and prepare the youths for wrestling contests within and outside Emohua Community and to encourage them to be actively involved in reviving the wrestling culture which helped to unite the ancestors.
He urged the youths to channel their strength towards meaningful ventures instead of engaging in diabolic misadventures that lead to crime, imprisonment and untimely death.
Highlights of the event included cash awards, presentation of certificates, scholarship awards and other incentives as well as the chieftaincy installation of traditional wrestling instrumentalist, Chief Gabriel Onyukwu popularly known as ‘Bob Go Slow’ as a traditional Chief in Mgbo royal House of Emohua, cultural dances by ‘Elekwuoro Rumuolo” led by Elder Chinotu Olomi and is Ukwu Nganga age grade, hosts of the wrestling festival and other since attractions.

Jacob Obinna