Imo Awka festival
imo awka festival imo oka imoka festival ancient cultural event celebrated annually people awka kingdom month may order venerate god imooka shrine symbolic denoted special whitebellied monkey widely respected revered messenger shrine festival basically celebrated appreciate imoka god favour request much better year ahead festival allows people awka look inward thank imoka god shielding external invasion pray peace prosperity town imo awka festival emanated worship greatest female god revered awka known imoka deity imo awka festival could traced back ancient time time awka people always attacked threatened neighbour one terrifying oppressor king okoli ijeoma ndikelionwu planned attack land getting know planned invasion king okoli elder land sent delegate akoto land known full potent herbal doctor invite one would develop charm would fortify awka warrior returned renowned herbal doctor name okoyeke prepared charm fortify warrior warned charm must venerated community become effective imoka described protective medicine aid fight enemy monkey dedicated imoka deity nwafia people laid siege attack people awka imoka god sent emissary monkey forest inform attack sense danger repelled attack defeated enemy hence became taboo kill eat meat monkey date severe consequence event resulted worship charmgod imoka avenger god awka people therefore imo awka festival initiated commensurate worship imo awka festival two week event commence female paying homage imoka dancing opu eke dance first day festival always avbo afor market day evening oye market day preceding feast trumpet blown abia drum beaten ikolo imoka sounded marshal egwu imoka festival feature four major event edemmuo ogwu oghugha eqwu opueke egwu imooka imo awka festival showcase several kind masquerade display imoka shrine observed masquerade never featured added liveliness festival interesting part festival feature beating cane called nronta two male group simply flog one refuse beat back surrender mock battle usually beating male folk female folk could watch essence battle test one strength endurance pain festival concludes visiting imooka stream final day heralded heavy downpour rain fall late afternoon festival suspended due state awka town cont