Entertainment
Initiation Dance Enlivens Community
The people of Rumuche Community in Emohua Local Government Area (EMOLGA), Rivers State, were thrown into festive mood last Saturday, as they celebrated the initiation ceremony of Ugwu ‘Nganga’ age grade into the ‘Ugwu etor’ a senior group made up of three different age grades.
The event was marked with traditional dances and merry making.
Members of the ‘Nganga’ age grade, who are between the ages of 58 and 60 years danced at the Rumuche play ground to the admiration of families, friends and well wishers and will hold a Thanksgiving service, at six different churches including Baptist Church, Rumuche, Emohua, and St. Lukes Anglican Church Emohua, to thank God for making it possible for them to celebrate such an important event in their lifetime.
Speaking on behalf of the age grade, Engr. Marcus Okogbule Oriji explained that the day was historic and the ceremony unique because with their initiation into the ‘ukwueto’. It is their duty to serve the community for 12 years at the completion of which each of them will not be less than 74 years and ripe for a greater service to the community.
Engr. Oriji explained that the functions of the Ugwu etor include to ensure peace, progress, law and order in the community, mobilise the youths for communal services such as cleaning roads, cutting farm paths, protecting the community against internal and external aggressions and encouraging educational advancement of the youths as well as settling of minor disputes among others.
He stressed that whatever issue that is beyond them is passed over to Eleru-urie or council of Chiefs and if it is beyond them, it is then passed over to the Ohna council or the ‘Offor holders’ who constitute the highest traditional organ of governance and their decision on any matter is sacrosanct and final as far as the community is concerned.
The dancing ceremony called ‘Omaete eri’ according to him literally means, one who does not know how to dance which symbolises the fact that no matter how you dance or what you do, if you are not given a hand shake at the end by the older age grade your efforts are in vain. “it is a tradition that teaches us that no matter what you do on earth, some body somewhere must tell you if you did it right or not, it tells you that somebody some where is watching you,” he said.
The managing director of Moh-Hi Tech Engineering works, Port Harcourt, described the ceremony as an age-long tradition handed down from generation to generation and there is nothing fetish about it because you are not initiated into a secret cult and there is nothing primitive about it because most of the initiatees are highly educated and have attended various universities within and outside Nigeria.
The graduate of Southernton University, England and former lecturer with Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) said, “we kick against fetish and obnoxious practices, the ceremony is a tradition we have to keep to enable the youths imbibe and respect the custom and tradition of their ancestors which kept them together and ensured their progress over the years.
Engr. Oriji stressed that it is because the youths of today have deviated from the custom and tradition of their ancestors, that is why the society is engulfed by all manner of crime, but in Rumuche, where these traditions are kept, the crime rate is very low compared to other neigbouring villages.
He assured that peace and harmony will continue to reign in the villages especially as they have decided to take the bull by the horn to sanitise the community by adopting the principle of leadership by example. According to him, it is only when they allow lapses that the youths can seize the opportunity to cause havoc and dictate the affairs of the community. He, however, lauded the youths for their maturity, discipline and selfless service to the community, adding that their interest and well being will always be protected.
The Chairman of Nganga age grade, Mr. Chinotu Njokwu Olormi, thanked the members for their efforts which ensured thesuccess of the ceremony as well as friends and well wishers for their support and encouragement.
Nigerian singer and half of the defunct P-Square duo, Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy, has claimed that social media has reduced the prestige and value fans attached to musicians due to the mystique that artistes had before the era of social media.
Speaking in a recent interview with Lun Lifestyle TV, Rudeboy argued that social media, despite all its benefits, has shattered the illusion of artistes being mysterious and godlike.
This he said has reduced the buzz artistes previously enjoyed whenever their fans got the opportunity to see them whether physically or visually.
The ‘Reason With Me’ crooner explained that because artistes are no longer mysterious, fans are no longer eager to watch them in music videos.
He claimed that shooting music videos is now a waste of money.
Rudeboy said, “Music videos somehow now, because of this generation, is a waste of money. I am sorry to say this. But do you remember us [P-Square] before? You don’t see us anywhere. You just watch music videos, you see us and that’s it, or we come to your country, you see us.
“The reason you don’t see people faint for artistes anymore is because they see them on TikTok every day dancing and promoting your music. If Michael Jackson was alive now and doing promotional content on social media, nobody would see him and faint.
“Unfortunately, it’s too late for us to bring back the era of artistes being mystiques. How can you advise an artiste to post every day? How? Post what? You don’t need to.
“Social media brought positive change to the industry but it also led to ‘see-finish.’ Artistes are now too exposed. Fans see how they eat, cry. Before when artistes go to club, they stay in restricted VIP areas, but now when they are clubbing, everyone is filming.”
Afrobeats superstar, Davido’s aide, Damilare Aladegbola, popularly known as Dre, has offered a cash reward to whoever returns his phone, which he claims went missing during rapper Zlatan Ibile’s wedding ceremony.
Dre made the appeal in a post on his Instagram page on Monday, pleading with the person who allegedly took the device to return it in exchange for money.
“If na u carry my phone for Zlatan wedding, abeg return am, I go give you money please,” he wrote.
The aide also expressed frustration over what he suggested was a method being used to take phones at social gatherings.
He said he would no longer tolerate waiters asking whether guests had finished eating so they could clear their plates, alleging that the practice could provide an opportunity for phones left on tables to be taken.
“From now on, if I go any party or dey any party and any stupid waitress tell me say are you done eating so I can pack your plate, na swear I go swear for you cause na pattern wey una dey use pack phone for table be that now,” he added.
However, Dre did not identify anyone suspected of taking his phone or provide further details about how the device went missing.
Zlatan Ibile tied the knot with his longtime partner, Davita Lamai, during a traditional wedding ceremony on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The ceremony, held in Lagos, attracted several celebrities, fans and well-wishers, with Davido among the prominent guests and leading the groomsmen.
Popular singer, Chidinma Ekile has revealed that before transitioning from secular music to the gospel genre, she “ran away” from Nigeria.
Speaking at a recent Eezee Conceptz event, Chidinma explained that she travelled abroad and wanted to secure permanent residency because she didn’t want to return to Nigeria, but failed.
She revealed that while she was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only person calling her from Nigeria, so she decided to work with him upon her return.
“I travelled. I ran away from Nigeria. I was processing my papers not to come back to Nigeria, but for some reason, it didn’t work.
“While I was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only one who was calling me from Nigeria. He kept encouraging me, and I found the strength to come back to Nigeria. When I came back, I asked him to give me a gospel music contract because I want to spend time with God. And he gave me a contract that even my lawyer said seemed like a charity,” Chidinma stated.
The music star added that she did not transition into gospel music because she wanted to make gospel, but because she wanted a serious relationship with God.
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