Ahead of this year’s celebration of Igue Festival, a yearly traditional festival of the Benin people in December 2024, the Association for Cultural and Economic Renaissance of Edo (ACERE) is set to re-enact this historic event through live theatrical performance. The live production, titled, Igue – the Annual Thanksgiving Festival of Benin Kingdom, written by Omorodion S. Uwaifo, will be staged at the Agip Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, on Sunday November 24, 2024.
It will be the first theatrical production of ACERE, a non-governmental and apolitical organisation dedicated to the cultural and economic growth and promotion of Edo. The performance, as stated by the playwright, Uwaifo, an engineer, turned prolific playwright, with many titles on Benin dramaturgy, to his name, chronicles, ‘‘the events that birthed Igue, dating back to 1441, even earlier. The occurrences defined the life of Prince Ogun, crowned Oba Ewuare I, and eulogised as Ogidigan, for his triumphs as warrior-king.
“He renamed Benin, Edo, to honour his saviour of that name. He built the inner moat and walls of Benin City. He created guilds such as Ikpema for drummers, Owina for artisans, Igun Eronmwo for bronze and brass casters and Igbesanmwa for elephant tusk carvers.
” The playwright said of the dramatic piece, “Igue is also a human story and the basis of the yearly festival of thanksgiving by an adoring people of Benin Kingdom since his (Oba Ewuare) reign as Oba.” This historic piece that define.