By Henry Omo-Ogbemudia
As everyone looks forward the 2025 edition of the Oza Carnival hosted by sons and daughters of Oza community in OrhionmwonLocal Government Area of Edo State, the initiator and founder of the annual Oza Carnival, Deacon Osagie Osaigbovo has said that the festival has the potential to reduce rural urban migration and boost agricultural production in the state.
Osaigbovo stated this in Benin City in a chat with newsmen last week while outlining the activities for the three day event which will commence on 28 December through the 30 December.
He pointed out that previous editions of the carnival attracted more than five thousand persons in attendance annually and had great impact on the economy of the state, Oza community and other neighbouring communities.
According to the initiator, the carnival will be featuring sports, exhibition of farm produce, beauty pageant, which he said will enable the youths discover their talents and become useful to themselves and the society.
“This Oza Carnival, we are seeing beyond this generation where the young ones will come and take it over.
“We are trying to encourage the youths to be very useful. Like in football, there are a lot the youths can participate in, the issues of the football, the cultural display, food and crops, beauty pageant, etc.
“There are a lot of concerts where the youths can be discovered, discover your talents and be encouraged by others,” he said.
Deacon Osaigbovo noted that before the advent of the carnival there were a lot of dilapidated buildings in the community, but since the commencement of the annual carnival, sons and daughters of the community living abroad felt challenged and are now coming to renovate existing buildings and building new ones to accomodate tourists and visitors during the carnival. He said the community has vast and fertile land which can be used to grow crops that can take care of the nation’s food challenges.
“Oza as a people, we have very fertile soil, we are good in agriculture, we have vast land for any kind of investment, you want to start a mechanised farm, we have vast land for you,” he said.
Oza Community is located in Orhionmwon East constituency in Edo State with fascinating customs and traditions as well as a rich cultural heritage. Oza was birthed after Udo and Ubini fought the “Akpamigiakon War” in 1487 according to information made available by the Carnival Organising Committee, where Ubini (Benin) won the war during the reign of Oba Oguola. After the war, Generals like Oza, Evbo Omede and other villages emerged from Oza Nogogo by peaceful means and gradual process as a result of the maltreatment meted on them by Ika people, coupled with the search for fertile land for farming. The Oba of Benin recognises the Ogisi of Oza Nogogo and Odionza of Oza.
Prince Osazuwa Eguagie, the Ohen Ukpo (Chief Priest) is the spiritual head of the community (to those who believe in the power and might of their forefathers).
Oza is predominantly made up of Bini and Oza speaking people with a population estimate of twenty thousand and eighty -one people (nine thousand, nine hundred and fourteen males and ten thousand, one hundred and Sixty-seven females). They are mainly into farming and produce yam, cassava, cocoyam, melon, plantain amongst others.
Oza has ten quarters (Oza Igbigbe), each recognising the Odionza as the head of the community. Oza people are education loving people with three primary schools – Oza Primary School, Odionza Primary School and Wisdom Academy Primary School, – and two secondary schools (Oza Grammar School and Wisdom Academy Secondary School).
Oza Grammar School has produced up to seven professors with five in the University of Benin alone. Oza Grammar School has a land mass of about 20 hectares with conducive atmosphere for learning.
Oza people are peace loving people with vast expanse of land for agricultural and food crops cultivation, conducive environment for learning, moonlight recreational games and festivals such as the epoch making Oza Carnival.