AGE GRADE SYSTEM

 

AGE GROUPS

In Etuno we have seven age groups which are responsible for the sustenance of essential duties in the administration of the community. The Etuno name for age group is ‘Opa’ which in some other context can mean age mates or peer groups. Below are their names and functions;

Openeperngwu (Opa a ne pere engwu)

which by transliteration means "the age group of those gathering themselves". It indicates an age group which its members are coming together for the first time to identify themselves as such hence the youngest and formative age group of all the older age groups up the hierarchy. To that effect it is worth clarification that all other age groups are offshoots of the ‘Openeperengwu’ as a result of promotion at six year intervals.

For example, the members of the ‘Azebani’ (council of elders) all once belonged to an ‘Openeperengwu’ at some point back in time, and kept on moving up the ladder to the present ‘Azebani’.

This foundational age group is, by tradition, formally birthed into existence during the New Yam Festival of an Aba festival year which holds at six year intervals and marks the upward movement of all existing age groups up the hierarchy by one step.

Qualification criteria for membership of Openeperngwu include attainment of age 21 or 23 and above, and having no elder brother who is statutorily still a member of the age group in question.

The group is not given any recognition in the community and may not be assigned any special duty. They are however given to the third age group for training and gradual initiation into manhood for a period of twelve years. The trainer age group is known as the ‘father’ age group. The leadership position of every age group from its inception is known as ‘Odovidi Opa’ and it is retained by the same person as they rise through the upper hierarchies except death removes him in which case the next oldest member of his clan and subdivision replaces him.

 

Oporupa (Opa Orupa).

This literally translates to "ridge age group". It is named after its primary duty which has to do with the town's topography by way of erecting ridges to check erosion and other agents of denudation in different parts of the community. Its secondary duties include the maintenance of roads leading to farms, streams; sanitation of markets and streets in general. Members of this group were formerly in the ‘Operenwu’ group but have been promoted after a period of 6 years into the second stage. This group acts as corpse bearers during any of the customary burial rites which involves a procession to and fro the market square with the corpse of the deceased. They are also responsible for the interment of the corpse and filling up his grave with soil thereafter. Like the first age group they also make appearance annually in August in preparation for the yam festival to clear roads, footpaths, public and market square accompanied with drumming and singing to keep them in top gear,

Opanaabetoku (Opa o naa ba ete oku).

This is the third age group which literary translates to "The age group which digs graves". Its sole duty is connoted by its name. They have completed all the trainings and have been accorded recognition in the community. The members chose a unique name for their age group having ben admiotted into full fledgd adult life. They can become ‘Ipoje’ title holders if they have the wherewithal for it. Before getting to this stage members must have participated in the following initiation rites and processes;

Ututanebe: This is a manhood confirmation dance-like procession to and fro the major thoroughfare of the community. Participants are dressed in only white shorts and white canvases leaving their trunks, arms and legs bare for the world to observe their bodily maturity in consonance with the objective of the procession. With the song ‘Itutalegbe a le gbe’ one can hear the trotting of feet on the ground as both feets lands heavily on the ground at the same time. All this is done under the supervision of the father age group who accompanies and coordinate the procession.

Ireta Apine: Before members of the second age group ascend the rock of adulthood (oshishirida), as part of their initiations, they are taken to a flat rock where lies are told against the members by their father age group to warrant fines. This takes place at Enachi Street in Ubobo quarters. All fines must be paid. It should be borne in mind that members are never given any opportunity to defend themselves against the trumped up charges against them.

Oshishire Ida: This literally means the climbing of a large boulder with a flat top. This is explicitly as well meant to showcase manhood and physical capacity. It involves a sleepless night of dancing and shooting of guns until they are moved by their father age group to the market square at dawn to be set free.

Some of the songs sung at the rock while dancing and shooting guns are: ‘Okotopo ma zivu pe, Okotopo.’ ‘ Se no ri kame o je bagashi’ and ‘Anazi fu a so ve, bagashi’

Agagana Oziza: This means cactus brandishing. Onine ata shi iriku This means throwing of stones into the forest.

Eze ani Ova (Ezanova) This means a Bini-like dance as Binis are referred to as Ani Ova (Anova) in Etuno Language. This rite signifies social outing by the members of the new age group in colorful agbada outfits bearing horse tail(omu) on their shoulders.

 

 

Openetenioku (Opa a ne teni oku).

This is the fourth age group which does all the undertaker duties on the corpse till when the Oporupa is ready to take it for a dance procession to the market and interment thereafter. They no longer dig graces but prepare corpse by bathing and covering it with clothes for burial.

 

Opaturopoga (Opa atura opa Oga).

Literaly, the word 'atura’ in Igarra means immediate younger sibling. This age group is immediately below opoga age group hence it's nomenclature. This is rather a multipurpose function age group and it is therefore versatile in role, hence a fall back age group which can be delegated, though only by higher ones, to perform miscellaneous roles depending on prevailing circumstances like emergency, distress moments, disasters, etc.

Opoga (Opa Ooga) -

This literally translates to "The age group that distributes". As the sixth age group, its main duty is the sharing and distribution of refreshment items during meetings, ceremonies and other traditional gatherings. They are to ensure equitable and rancour-free sharing of drinks, foods, cash, kolanuts, sovenirs, etc be it in general gatherings or anda-specific gatherings. Members of this group also perform the role of Chief Whip during traditional meetings of all kinds. In the absence of Opoze age group members, duties of Opoze age group in the kind of gatherings referenced above may devolve automatically on them.

Opoze (Opa oze)

This literally translates as "Age group which leads the way". From its name, the major function of this age group is to "si oze zu" i.e. to show the way. This indicates leadership role in both the legislative and executive senses. This is the most potent age group as it virtually controls every aspect of community life. It makes laws and enforces them. It prescribes punishment for offenders and adjudicates in disputes between members of the community but on non-intra anda issues. An ‘Opoze’ member could, on the authority of his clan head, intervene and adjudicate on the issues and disputes within his own clan (anda). Laws made by the ‘Opozes’ re to be ratified by the council of elders ‘Azebani’

After six years, Opoze members ultimately graduate to the final stratum which is known as the Azebani (council of elders) and are conferred with Azebani titles during the Irepa festival.