Ote-Eha: a Positive Cultural Value

557 Words3 Pages
OTE EHA: A POSITIVE CULTURAL VALUE BY: TITUS EJIOFOR AMALU AND FLORENCE CHIWENDU MGBACHI “OTE EHA” as the name implies is synonymous to recreation, sport and entertainment. The game of Ote Eha since inception is a big deal amongst the people of Eha. Eha consists of people from Eha-Amufu, one of the towns that make-up Isi Uzo Local Government area of Enugu state in South Eastern part of Nigeria. Eha literally translates to mean equality or “we are equal” Eha is rich in cultural and traditional heritage. Her cultural values are mostly the unifying factor and their culture were widely observed with festivals like; Onwa- Asa, Odo masquerade festival (Nkiri odo), new yam festival (Ikpu-uzo). The major interest here is the Ote Eha, which is an event that sees traditional wrestling at its climax. Wrestling must have originated from the cave man and this could be why the oldest human forms were often poised for defense which could easily be turned into an attack (the wrestling posture). Even animals engage in wrestling, this is why the Ibos named gorilla, Ozo dimgba (Ozo the champion wrestler). Lion cubs have wrestling as their favorite pastime activity and natural way of preparing to become future kings of the jungle. The dog could often be seen in friendly bouts of wrestling and this inform the people to coin the adage; “fall for your friend and he fall for you that is friendship”. The young Spartans of the ancient Greece, whom the Eha son resembles in many aspects, were believed to have wrestled with wild beasts as one of their grooming regimen. So it is all these that the makes the Eha people see the Ote as a great symbol of strength, protection and sustenance of life. Infact, Eha people in the 70s and beyond were warriors and tropical soldiers. Wrestling in Eha land also served as a disciplinary measure, for instance, a head-boy who becomes insubordinate to
Open Document