Igbo tales. "Ekpe festival of the Ngwa people"

First of all, my gratitude goes to @cwen for this golden opportunity...the first of its kind that I've seen so far on the Steemit platform...to showcase the rich Igbo culture. Next is my dear old grandad who didn't hesistate to give me all the information I needed for this write-up. Though I am from Imo state I chose to write about Abia state because I partially grew up there, hence, I witnessed some of the cultural practices such as the Ekpe Festival.

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Ekpe Festival of the people of Ngwa of the southern Igbo, Abia state is celebrated at the end of the year in the month of December as a festival designed to thank the creator for protecting the lives of the people in the passing year and to implore him to do more in the coming year. It is also to expel the evils of the passing year and to bring good things and blessings in the coming year.

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Ekpe usually is celebrated on Eke market days. The place of action for the festival is usually the center of the village square, with the shrine of the village as background. At the village square, the drummers and singers form circles round the chief actors amidst colourful spectators. The sacrificial lamb is a goat tied to a stake. After much singing and dancing, the chief actor (the priest) cuts the head of the goat off with one stroke of the matchet. The people rejoice, prayers are offered and the main singing group exits to the town while others follow.