BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
For the people of Ekka community in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, the annual traditional wrestling festival otherwise called the ‘Mgba Ekka Festival’ is a means of settling disputes and ensuring that members of the community bear no grudge against one another.
Asides from the peaceful co-existence being facilitated by the age-long wrestling competition among the youths, the first three winners in the contest customarily go home with beautiful maidens which they marry as wives without paying the bride price.
This, it was learnt, was a means of appreciating the strength, valour and gallantry of excelling in wrestling bouts. The custom encourages youngsters in the village to up their stakes in physical build up.
Meanwhile, the tradition of honouring winners with free brides appeared to be fading away as the winners of the 2022 ‘Mgba Ekka Festival’ were, instead, offered university scholarships without having the prizes of beautiful damsels.
At the recent communal game, the Nigeria Wrestling Federation was urged to visit the Ekka community to scout for young and talented wrestlers.
The Town Union President, Fidelis Mgbebu, during the 2022 celebration of the annual traditional wrestling festival at Oguji Mgba Ekka area of the community, noted that the wrestling festival was a unifying event in Ekka community.
He stated that the fight was set to settle disputes in the build up to the popular New Yam Festival.
He said, “The festival is highly respected by the people of Ekka. In the olden days, if you were one of the three best winners, you had an automatic opportunity to choose any bride from the community without payment of bride price.
“Mgba Ekka is to Ekka people what Christmas is to Christians. It is a festival of unity; it gives us the opportunity to eat the new yam together as one big family at the wrestling ground.
“It gives opportunity for settlement of disputes because our tradition forbids one from leaving the wrestling arena with grudges in his or her mind. It was usually attended by all indigenes both young and old but the competition is mostly among young men while others watch and cheer them up.
“These hidden talents of our people need to be harnessed. So, I call on the Nigeria Wrestling Federation to come over to Ekka to tap the treasures of our people for the development of the community and Nigeria especially in the world of sports.”
Two wrestlers in the 2022 Ekka wrestling festival got university scholarships offered by Benard Odoh following their great display of bravery, competence and strength.
Odoh, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the state, lauded the bravery displayed by the winners, Ogechi Akpoke and Kingsley Ojukwu, during the contest.
To ensure the continuity of the festival, the APGA governorship hopeful pledged to establish a standard wrestling arena in Ekka.
He also promised to provide kitting items and welfare to the wrestlers if he wins the forthcoming election.
Odoh stressed that “I thank our people for the natural spirit to survive and conquer. This annual wrestling festival shows that our culture is still rich. I appreciate Ekka as a community and the organisers of this annual event which reminds us of our roots. The only sad thing I see here is that in 2022, we ought to have refined this culture.
“This is not the appropriate way to organize it. There should have been a standard wrestling ring, pavilion for spectators, proper kitting for the wrestlers. So, having witnessed this year’s celebration and pointed out these shortcomings, if God helps me to win in the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state, I shall transform Ekka community to Cultural Iconic Center. By this time next year, the difference will be clear.
“We have watched the wrestling competitions. I know the organisers have prizes for the overall winners but two of the wrestlers stood unique for me. That fair boy who wrestled with the tall boy. That boy is twice his weight and height but he showed great bravery. The best way to help our people is by giving them sustainable opportunities not by giving them cash or motorcycles.
“That boy, Ojukwu Kingsley, and Akpoke Ogechi, the first female who showed interest in the tournament, will be on my scholarship from first year to final year to study any course of their choice. This university scholarship starts from the next academic year if they already sat for the last JAMB examination.”
At the end of the week-long competition, Chineme Nwibo came first, Nwangwu Dirichukwu came second while Onwe Chisom clinched the third position.
