AZI CEREMONY

AZI CEREMONY.

This is the grand child festival celebrated by the grand parents. Members of both the woman's and the man's age group usually co-operate with the celebrants. Its special significance is the joy, which the birth of a grand child gives to the grand parents. It has since been regarded, as women's Irepa festival because it is the only particular one in which women play greater parts than men. A woman who has not been able to celebrate it is never happy, particularly when her age group members who have performed it snub her.

Azii is celebrated in three phases. The first phase is when the grand child is born. All members of the grandmother's age group are quickly summoned to dance through the streets thus heralding the news of the birth of the grand child. The second phase is jointly organized by both grand-parents. A large basin with pounded yam is prepared for the family members to which beer and pitto have to be added. On that day it will be formally announced the date fixed for the Azil grand finale. After sharing money among members of their age groups, the couple will be informed officially of the date fixed for it. Ikede music is then staged by the woman to Utua quarters or vice versa.

The third and last phase is a very costly one considering the articles to be purchased and the general expenses to cover important aspects of it. The preparation of different dishes including the dominant pounded yam, moinmoin, rice, akara, etc accounts for one of the major items of expenditure. Pitto and beer come under costly miscellaneous expenses.

Monetary gifts to be made to two or three clan members including members of one's age group is the third aspect of heavy spending. Between two and three hundred kola nuts have to be shared.

After the financial transactions, members of the age group will send for the Eze-Anova music drums. The drums are beaten and the songs will follow. The celebrants are carried shoulder high while the dance moves to Utua or Uffah as the case may be. They are accompanied by members of their age groups, clan members and other well-wishers. Osi ze yimi waye, waye kosi ze yimi is one of the popular songs of Anova dance. On getting to Utua or Uffah, Ikede music takes over. An invited artiste gives a number of songs in praise of the celebrants. The men will leave the women who now control the Ikede dance. On the following day the woman goes round with a bevy of ten to twenty girls to thank her mates, friends and relations for the good turn done her. In the evening of the third day different dishes are prepared for sharing among the female age group members.