By Dennis Mene
On the 28th of December, 2024 will remain an historic day in the history of Ibirifo Community in Ethiope West Local Government Area, as Chief Winifred Egbejule bearing the title of the Oyeifo of Warri Kingdom join Indigenes of the Community for their Annual Ètsè Ódón festival 2024.
As documented in history, Princess Oyeifo is distinguished as the only full sibling of Olu Iginuwa, born to the same parents, and she migrated from Benin to join her only full brother Iginuwa at the inception of the Warri Kingdom.
She proceeded to Ibirifo with a pregnant child and her first child, Omifo, to meet Iginuwa, and later passed away, being buried in the Ibirifo Community. In the Olu Palace at Ode Itsekiri, the hut to your left is a tribute to Princess Oyeifo.
Chief Oyeifo is a distinguished Chief in Warri Kingdom, serving as representative for the Entire Oyeifo Descendants.
It was astonishingly surprising that as soon as she sat down with her entourage, the river mysteriously erupted for about five minutes, welcoming her home in a manner that left her and everyone around her utterly flabbergasted.
After the Etse Úmáléókùn, she was well welcomed and there was lots of discussion and fun, as the new Community Trust Chairman, used the opportunity to introduce other members of the new executive to her. She was filled with joy and ecstasy.
It was great to see an Itsekiri Chief join their people in Itsekiri land outside the 3 Warri LGA.
The festival which began on the 20th December 2024 with traditional rites ended on the 30th December, 2024 with a masquerade display in the Ibirifo community.
Dennis Mene, writes from Warri.