For those who have a fair knowledge of the world beyond the physical, the the celebration of 7-day Amaseikumor festival is the venerable of goddess of the sea, associated with most riverside communities from time immemorial
It is believed that in ancient times, these goddesses offered protection, provide wealth, health to the people consequently, every year, the people often expressed appreciation. The Amaseikumor festival celebration by the Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom started about 14 AD with the Chief Priest Pa Obuko of Azama town performing the first traditional rites
Speaking at the venue of the celebration, Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo said the festival represent the celebration of one of the best culture and tradition of the Niger Delta people and that “we must do everything to promote this saying this is our identity as a people”
The grand finale of the 2025 Amaseikumor festival attracted visitors from far and near in Ijaw land. About 20 members of the National Assembly were present including some prominent Nigerian celebrities like Davido, Obi Cubana, Kanayo Kanayo, White Money, and about 20 traditional rulers from across the country
The ancient town of Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom was a beehive of activities during the grand finale held in Oporoza, Warri South West Local Government area, Delta state.
The seven days feast has everyone talking about it as metamorphosed from a mere cultural feast to a global carnival festival, where traditionalists, tourists, media houses across the world, including Cable Network News (CNN) stayed in Oporoza for seven days till the grand finale of the Amaseikumor festival.
Many adherents, including top traditional rulers and their subjects converged at the ancient Oporoza town as various activities threw first time visitors with surprise as cultural dance groups symbolizes wealth and prosperity from the sea goddess.
The ancient masquerade masquerade festival of Southern Ijaw town of the coastal region, few kilometers to the Atlantic Ocean believed that the sea goddess brings joy, and smile on the faces of the Ijaw people because it is a time of veneration, supplication, celebration, appreciation, unification, jubilation and also a time of sober reflection, and playful adventures of dancing, feasting together brings the people into renewing the covenant of deep bonding and kingship shared by common ancestry collective destiny.
Amaseikumo is an ancient sea goddess being worshiped from generation to generations. The adherents believed that the sea goddess means different things to different people. To some adherents the goddess represents fertility of the womb. To others it is the root of financial wealth, protection and longevity among the Gbaramatu people. Do not be surprised when the Niger Delta freedom fighter, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo and other adherents danced in their best Ijaw cultural dancing steps to honour and worship the sea goddess to showcase the rich Ijaw cultural rich heritage.
The Gbaramatu kingdom spokesman for traditional matters High Chief ( Hon) McDonald Igbadiwei made some revelations to visiting. journalists in Oporoza on the first day of the festival that the media can cover everything about the Amaseikumo festival and tell the world about the rich Ijaw cultural heritage that there is no human sacrifice. That Amaseikumo festival is more like a carnival, no secrets, but sacred and full of fun and entertaining with various processions and masquerades electrifying ( leg works) dance steps of Ijaw masquerades kept from generation to feneratiins.
He said no woman is barred from the temple too, except women in their flow. So,he added ”the female journalists if you are in your flow do not near the temple as there is spiritual consequence for disobedience .
For the male journalists, he said, ” if you met woman last night (had sexual intercourse), you cannot enter the temple with your camera without being cleansed” he warned.
The Amaseikumor festival beyond the mere fanfare and gyration, it goes beyond a mere festival. It is the feast of the soul and destinies of several Ijaw adherents. The believers in this faith had a total supplication and worship are being spared from calamities, financial prosperity, good health and so on. This same belief is held down from generations to generations. It stands strong despite the widespread of foreign religions in their midst. They had more converts as Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo who came to the center stage as the priest of Amaseikumor who holds frequent holy feasts in the locality from time to time., spreading Amaseikumor around Ijaw nation.
