Obhiya (Music)

This is a track of afan music by Chief Umobuarie Igberaese and his ensemble. Please, sit back and enjoy it.

The Afan Ensemble

At the age of fifteen, Umobuarie had started entertaining people within his village on the afan. Also, with Josiah Egbele, he had initiated some performances to places like Agbede, Auchi, and neighbouring villages and towns where they entertained the people with afan music and dance. The gifts, which they received ranged from drinks, clothes, money, to livestock such as rams. Furthermore, he made efforts to ensure much wider dissemination of his musical prowess to the entire Esan community and beyond. He initiated an ensemble comprising himself, Josiah Egbele and Aigbefoh Ojeifo. Others were Okhiulu Abhulimen and Isuekebho Izoria.

Pa Josiah Egbele, who was second-in command for about 50 years, died in 2002. Aigbefoh and Isuekebho had earlier died. Okhiulu’s interest in music participation gradually waned. These were replaced by Isaac Okoagua, Okoedo Ofino, Abibu Omosun and Aboiralo Odumugbo.

The afan ensemble journeyed to towns such as Ubiaja, Ekpoma, Uromi, Auchi, Irrua, etc. Enigie (kings), chiefs, communities and individuals opted for afan music to grace their coronations, marriages, burial ceremonies, naming ceremonies, as well as other important occasions and anniversaries. At other informal settings, some of these rulers notably the enigie of Igueben, Uromi and Irrua would invite the afan musician to their palaces to entertain with stories, music and dance.

A very few of the stories of afan have been reproduced in black and white for the reading audience. Published by Oxford University Press in 1976, Black Justice is an assessment of the "different levels" of traditional community through "the eyes" of UGHULU, ISILUA and OGUNAMEN, three notable stories of the afan. The novel is written by David Umobuarie on whose permission the photograph on this post has been used.