UTUTANEBE

OZIOYIYIRESHA

This means child naming ceremony.

By Igarra customs, a new born baby is christened on the seventh day. The ceremony starts with prayers and the rites of naming are performed by an elderly man who is usually specially invited for that purpose. After the opening prayers, the parents of the baby hand it to the elderly man who puts very tiny quantities of water, palm oil, salt and sugar or honey into the baby's mouth in turns as he offers prayers that align with the significance of each of these ingredients in Igarra customs.

This is followed by a whispering of the baby's proposed name very silently by the parents into the ear of the elderly man who then announces it aloud to the audience after which the parents are called upon to explain the basis for their choice of the name or names. Refreshment follows before closing prayers.

Sugar or honey signifies prayer that the child may live a sweet pleasant and fulfilled life; while palm oil signifies a prayer that the child will not be harmed by whatever he will ingest in his life time, and salt signifies a prayer that the baby's life time shall be preserved full of joy and happiness. Water signifies life in abundance.

UTUTANEBE DANCE

 This is a manhood confirmation dance-like procession to and from the major thoroughfare of the community. Participants are dressed in only white shorts and white canvases leaving their trunks, arms and legs bare for the world to observe their bodily maturity in consonance with the objective of the procession. With the song ‘Itutalegbe a le gbe’ one can hear the trotting of feet on the ground as both feets lands heavily on the ground at the same time. All this is done under the supervision of the father age group who accompanies and coordinate the procession.

IRETA APINE

 Before members of the second age group ascend the rock of adulthood (oshishirida), as part of their initiations, they are taken to a flat rock where lies are told against the members by their father age group to warrant fines. This takes place at Enachi Street in Ubobo quarters. All fines must be paid. It should be borne in mind that members are never given any opportunity to defend themselves against the trumped up charges against them.

OSHISHIRE IDA

This literally means the climbing of a large boulder with a flat top. This is explicitly as well meant to showcase manhood and physical capacity. It involves a sleepless night of dancing and shooting of guns until they are moved by their father age group to the market square at dawn to be set free.

Some of the songs sung at the rock while dancing and shooting guns are: ‘Okotopo ma zivu pe, Okotopo.’ ‘ Se no ri kame o je bagashi’ and ‘Anazi fu a so ve, bagashi’

AGAGANA OZIZA

This means cactus brandishing. Onine ata shi iriku This means throwing of stones into the forest.

EZE ANI OVA (Ezanova)

 This means a Bini-like dance as Binis are referred to as Ani Ova (Anova) in Etuno Language. This rite signifies social outing by the members of the new age group in colorful agbada outfits bearing horse tail(omu) on their shoulders.