The presence of the global media organisation, the Cable News Network, CNN, at the ongoing 2025 edition of the Amaseikumor annual festival in Oporoza community, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West council area of Delta State, currently underscores the trend of the ancient festival towards a global appeal.

Amaseikumor, a festival which features the triple cultural and religious activities of Ibolomobo-ere, Gbaran Egbesu and Amaseikumor, is an ancient celebration that is believed to attract protection, wealth, peace and other positive blessings on the people by the Creator.

It is believed that the festival also helps to create among the Ijaws the awareness of their origins—who they are as Ijaw people before the coming of the colonialists—and the awareness of their cultural practices that is deeply rooted in purity.

Over the last half of a century and more, the decline in the cultural practices of the Ijaw people have given birth to- ignorance of the sacred laws binding on them as a guide to life as well as the negative branding of their belief system as archaic by foreign elements, the results of which has brought about the misplacement of the significance of the festival.

The deviation has led to social deviance common among the youths such as rape, drug abuse, cyber and other fraudulent crimes, blood oath, and their likes that are against the Ijaw culture and traditions, which are also inimical to its progress and development.

As a special people, the Ijaws have an affinity to the divine Creator. For instance, in the Amaseikumor festival, Gbaran-Egbesu is likened as the National God who must be worshipped in holiness and truth. Thus, before engaging in the exercise all Ijaw sons and daughters must purify themselves and ensure they are spiritually clean. Amaseikumor, which means the practice of ridding the land of evil in order to attract blessings from the Creator, is the final celebration of the festival.

As the Gbaramatu people retrace their roots and reconnect with the ancient practices of their forebears, the desire that it transcends from the local to an international phenomenon takes center stage as the disciples of the Ijaw tradition canvasses for a more broader recognition and participation.

But more importantly, as culled from the words of the Leader of the Legislative Arm in Warri South-West Local Government Council, Rt. Hon. Ekpemupolo Idukedoumene Samuel, "Amaseikumor represents progress of a people. After the completion of the programme, for us as a people, we experience wealth, good health, progress. That is the same thing that is in for all the participants of this festival. Once you are here in the Amaseikumor Festival, open your heart to connect with divinity. At the end of the event, whatever heart desire you have, they will granted to you," he opined.

But asides the cultural and religious practices, the Amaseikumor Festival, which is growing bigger each year, has also become opportunities for commerce as sales vendors across various fields (health, foods, fashion, finance, sports, etc.) showcase their products for free and commercial patronage.

It is hoped that with the involvement of foreign media for a foreign audience in conjunction with local brands to help sensitize the people, the Amaseikumor Festival will gradually become a full tourist attraction in few years to come on order to boost the rapid growth and development of the host kingdom, while also preaching purity and godliness.

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