ASABA CULTURE AND TRADITION
CREDITS:Chief B.A. Elikwu,
Asaba: History & Development,Madam P.A. Okonji(Ogene)
APU-Atlanta Brochure,Oturaza Almanac 1997
ASABA TITLES
Asaba has two main group of titles; one obtained by joining a title association and the other is conferred on an individual by the Asagba of Asaba and is called OLINZELEThe main titles in Asaba in their order of superiority are Mkpisi, Alo, and Eze.
MKPISI
This is the first Association into which all males are initiated to comfirm their citizenship. It is done every 20 years and is a perequisite to the ALO and EZE titles. Note: That you did not participate in this initiation does not mean that you are not a true citizen.Nor would it prevent you from gaining other Asaba titles.ALO
This is a very prestigious title which cannot be taken by one whose father is alive and is a necessary prerequisite to the EZE title.The iniatee among other things must slaughter a cow that will be shared by other Alo title holders of his village. The Alo title holder is greeted as "ogbuefi" Meaning: killer of Cow.His regalia comprises a decorated fan from the skin of the cow and and an elephant tusk (otulaka")
EZE
Eze means 'king".Besides the Asagba of Asaba this is the most expensive, prestigious and demanding title that an Asaba person can hold.
Before some of the restrictions of this title was loosened, an Eze title holder cannot spend a night outside the city limits of Asaba, eats at exactly the same time every day. His iniation last 40days and is greeted every morning with the royal dance "egwu ota".
When an Eze dies, his burial ceremony lasts 4 weeks and he is buried sitting down with a piece of white cloth.
The regalia of an Eze consists of a red cap adorned with palm fiber and eagle feathers, a horse tail "uya" and a cow tail"nza" and an elephant tusk "otulaka"
As the highest title holders in town the EZEs sit next to the Asagba in all meetings.
Asaba has other non-age restricting Titles of Merit. Some are confired by the Asagba, Others by the villages.
