The name Ohafia is derived from Oha – ofia (forest dwellers) because the Ohafia people were noted for their bravery in primitive war-fare and ambush lying. It is known as the land of great warriors. Ohafia is a town in present day Abia State and is made up of 26 villages such as Elu, Ebem, Amaekpu, Asaga, Akanu among others. It has an estimated population of 900,000 people
The Ohafia war dance is owned and danced only by the Ohafia people. Apart from the famous war dance, they also have many cultural festivals such as the Igba Uche.? The dance precedes the advent of Europeans in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. They had great warriors who never lost in any battle. The warriors would chant war songs during such inter tribal wars and after wards, beat their drums each time they defeated their opponent. During any battle, they made souvenirs of their victims’ heads which they cut off and take home leaving the lifeless bodies to indicate that the person was killed in battle. During the dance, the rhythmic body movement indicates that the victim’s head had just been chopped off from the body. The dance is incomplete without the presence of a severed human head.
Able bodied men from the age of 25 years are qualified to partake of the dance. Dancers are however, selected from each kindred in Ohafia and those to be selected must have imbibed the dance steps of their fathers. The lead-dancer carries the Ugboagu or Agbagagba (Lion board) containing three severed human heads (males) decorated with plain white George wrapper and a calabash full of blood. He also carries a bigger bowl on his hand to appease the gods while leading the group. His face is also decorated with red and white chalk while the other dancers put palm fronds across their mouth to indicate danger.
The three severed human heads are decorated with “Okpu agu’ (woven warrior cap). A similar cap, worn by the dancers is also decorated with eagle feathers. The bare footed dancers, two on either side of the lead dancer, are accompanied by the drummers who are mostly elderly men and some historians that weave the antecedents of famous Ohafia warriors into the songs of the day.
In the past, the dance was restricted and only staged during special events like welcoming of warriors from war fronts, burial ceremonies of highly placed individuals as well as new yam festivals.
But in this era of civilisation, human heads and calabash filled with blood are no longer featured in the war dance. The calabash is now filled with palm wine in place of blood particularly as the dance is also staged for entertainment during important occasions like house warming ceremonies.
While describing the warrior-life of the Ohafia ancestors, elder James kalu says, “The Ohafia people in the olden days were warriors who engaged in battles and slave raids for their slave merchants. So, at that age- 50 years and above, when the warriors have survived so many wars and are ageing, the community deemed it fit to retire them. By tying the palm frond on the shield, it meant that a particular Ohafia man has ended the art of war on behalf of the community.
Today, Ohafia people can be found all over the world and in every imaginable profession. While many have found success in places far from Ohafia, most retain a bond to their ancestral home. Those who reside in Ohafia are as industrious as their brothers and sisters in diaspora. Ohafia women are hardworking farmers and many of those who engage in white-collar jobs, also engage in some farm work. Despite modernity, the war dance remains a fundamental part of Ohafia culture that cannot be forgotten in a hurry.