Understanding the mystery surrounding Abadezongo spiritual pot in Odimodi, Ijaw community
To the people of Odimodi community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta state, Saturday, January 28, 2023, may have come and gone, but the echoes of what happened on that day remains. Similarly, to the young and old, male and female in the community, it is an open secret that the community is blessed with so many cultural festivals.
But one indisputable point is that out of this legion of cultural festivals that dots this ancient Ijaw community, the Abadezongo masquerade stands out.
The festival is held in honor of the Abadezongo deity, believed to be the god of peace and prosperity.
The Abadezongo deity is reputed for giving children to barren women and wealth to those that requested of it as well as purification of the town.
ALSO READ: Jubilation in Odimodi community as Abadezongo masqurade appears 10 years after
According to the worshippers, Abadezongo is as old as the community and enjoys a mysterious qualities. Very symbolic is the awareness that Abadezongo Masquerade has a mystery with powerful spiritual purification process and healing pot that is well revered within community.
This spiritual pot called Seimo-fere, going by what custodians of culture within the community are saying, contains a mixture of water collected from several rivers at different tides, times and natural herbs. The spiritual Pot according to reports must be well and fully prepared and tested to carry its spiritual essence before the Abadezongo festival will begin. Throughout history, this spiritual mixture has served the function of spiritual cleansing, fortification, and healing.
Giving insight as to how the Abadezongo deity and its celebration came about. Chief Simon Pukon Elex; the Bebefiyewei of Iduwini Kingdom, during an exclusive interview with GbaramatuVoice, explained that the founder was Korkiyorko, a fisherman. He noted that the man encountered Abadezongo deity while on his fishing expedition on the sea.
In his words, “the Abadezongo is as old as the community and is not an ordinary masqurade but inside this masqurade, there are alot of good things and powers that are in him. Example of such good things is that barren women who come to ask for children from Abadezongo during the festive period usually return with testimony while others that ask for wealth always have their prayers answered by the god.
Going further, he explained that the masquerade being celebrated is not one, but two different masquerades. The first one, he explained is black while the other is white. “The black Masquerade is called Abadezongo while the White Masquerade is called Finkorobina. When you check their dancing steps very well, you will discover that they are different steps, and the black Masquerade is more powerful than the white Masquerade, he concluded.
It is on record that, many who had come into contact with this spiritual pot have been cured of different infirmities, and poisons, their heart desires met, fortified, and cleansed of their sins.
Collaborating the above account, another elder in Odimodi community said that the Abadezongo masquerade is dreaded and known to give deep machete cuts on spectators once they are caught during the chase.
He however, added that the beautiful thing is, once the person that received the matchet cut is taken to this pot and the mixture is applied to the sustained injury, the wound heals immediately with zero traces of pain and infection. In most cases, the wounded would see no reason to visit the hospital for the injury as it is completely healed.
On his part, a Erekedoumene Yangaboy, a believer of Abadezongo deity also told GbaramatuVoice that the spiritual implication of the matchet cut is that those who were cut by the masquerade are purified, cleansed, and fortified against every unforeseen danger that was coming the way of the person.
He stressed that the pot may look ordinary but it remains an object of miracle to businessmen, contractors, the barren, job seekers, and the sick.
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