The Great Ogidi Worrior Behind The Igbo Phrase “Ogidi Adiro Ano N’uzo Eme Nwafor Ogidi”
Back in the days, a great Worrior lived in Umuru Village of Ogidi Kingdom in Idemmili North LGA of Anambra state. Okeleke Anekwudo was described as the greatest in Igbo Land in his time.
Before Pericoma started dancing the Worrior dance called Abia was Okeleke. Dancing to the Abia rhythm, Okeleke will raise a full sized ram by bitting the neck with his teeth. His matchet facing down as attached to his waste with a special rope.
At this point he has become half man and half spirit. While the next warrior is waiting for him to release the ram at the burial of a great man, Okeleke will wave the ram to his shoulder and at a dangerous speed he is gone and seen in his Obi.
The great Okeleke does not run from dogs as he has the speed of attacking and killing the dog even before it backs at him.
When he calls out his Ogolo masquerade from the anthill, it will climb a storey building and jump from one to another to the delight of his spectators. His masquerade brought down the great “Aya Akuzikwo Nsi” masquerade of Nnewi when it stood on the way to a burial function. Nnewi people shouted masquerade has killed masquerade.
His powers both physical and spiritual was an adventure to anyone and masquerade that encountered him in his days. But when he used matchet on a pregnant woman, the law came after the great Anekwudo of Ogidi kingdom. He was arrested and sent to prison.
On the eve of the great Nwafor Ogidi, Okeleke asked the warders to allow him attend Ogidi Nwafor and promised to be back after celebration as “Ogidi adiro ano n’uzo eme Nwafor” (Ogidi will not celebrate Nwafor on the road but in Ogidi). They declined but on Nwafor day, Okeleke was seen celebrating Nwafor In Ogidi as usual…….
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