Ùdhò Ny'údū Úpātá Announces Dates For Folklore, Ōgwû Ekpeye Festival

By Comr. Oyagiri Monday

A joint traditional meeting involving representatives of the Úpātá Traditional Council (UTC), Elders and  Sceptre (Owor) holders held on Monday, September 14, 2026 at Ulá Úpātá Community, the ancestral home of the Úpātá people, has announced Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 (Ûdhîé), as Úpātá Folklore Day.

The folklore (Èlë Úpātá) ceremony which will hold at the Ulá Úpātá Community ancestral playground, is a traditional rite that heralds the main Ekpeye Festival (Ōgwû) fixed for Friday, September 25th, 2026 (Ékë Ōgwû).

After the flag-off of the folklore rites, communities will gather from dusk till dawn for traditional storytelling and exorcising of evil spirits (Ûçhî Ãgbälá).

In preparation for the festival, women are expected to be at Áyä Oshi Ehuda (market) on Wednesday, September 23 (Îzū Ãyā õshï) and on Èwhó (September 24th) the males are expected to conclude preparation for Ékë, being the beginning of the festival (Ōgwû).

Consequently, the Ñyê-ïshï Èlé Úpātá Lôwétü Lî Ny'údū Úpātá III of Úpātá Kingdom, HM Ny'údū Dr. Felix Enene Otuwarikpo, fnipr, urges all Úpātá communities to celebrate the festival with peaceful disposition and love.