When the drums of Umu Asele Obodo Dike begin to thunder, even the wind holds its breath. We are the children of warriors — men whose shadows still command respect in the sacred lands of Onitsha Ado. No battle ever bent their knees, no fear ever silenced their roar.
Tonight, the great spirits of our forefathers will rise with the dawn. They will dine and wine with us once more. The new yam — fresh from the womb of the earth — will be laid before them. And beside it, the sacred dogs will be offered, their spirits sent ahead to carry our gratitude to the realm beyond.
When the masquerades emerge from the ancestral grove, their footsteps will shake the earth. Drums will roar, and songs will pierce the night. Then, as tradition demands, everyone will retreat into hiding — for only the brave men, the true sons of Umu Asele Obodo Dike, can stand in their presence without trembling.
I am a proud daughter of my father — a flame kindled from his courage. My heart swells with gratitude for the harvest that has come, for the blessings that await, for the spirits that walk among us.
But tomorrow… tomorrow is not for the faint-hearted. The drums will speak, the warriors will dance, and the ancestors will draw near.
For in Umu Asele Obodo Dike, the feast is not mere celebration — it is remembrance, it is courage, it is the heartbeat of victory reborn.
