By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
YOUNG supposed virgin girls with breast exposed to public glare have been initiated into womanhood at Ogu kingdom in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The initiation ceremony, known as Iria an ancient one, was held on Saturday amid pom as celebrated Iria.
It’s described as Okrika/Ijaw ceremony which dates back to the 17th century.
Iria signals the formal transition of girls, who are usually virgins, into womanhood with certificates obtained from the Ogu Council of Chiefs for passing through the test.
The ancient ritual is considered a rite of passage for young girls as they clock puberty and begin to mature physically.
To pass through the test, the girls must, first, be virgins which will be ascertained by older women of the town.
Thereafter, the girls will be kept in seclusion where they will undergo training on womanhood.
A successful outing from the seclusion qualifies the girls to be given certificates as attestation to attaining adulthood who are ready to marry as gleaned from a post by @Christy Logan.
Iria initiation ceremony echoes the very popular, UNESCO-approved Ovia Osese Festival among Ogori people of Ogori Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State which is usually celebrated every second week after Easter.
But in the case of the Ogori version, the girls, who are usually between 15 years and above, and may not necessarily be virgins, are not allowed to go bare in the public glare.
They strap aso oke around them from waste down with coral beads adorning their necks and heads like crowns and are henceforth at liberty to welcome suitors for marriage.
The development came to be overtime as a result of the irresistible influence of Western religion, especially Christianity at which behest the ritual, cultural sub-code is not being held.
However, to have a ritual replacement for them, little virgin girls known as Ivia Egben of age seven to 13 are donned with coral beads (Ebele) and red chalks called Iburu, dance half nude in the public.
Iyodina Eyisinayo III (right) presenting gifts to each Ovia at Civic Centre
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