All is now set for the full rites of passage for kindred elder, Abah Onah of Ogene Village in Edumoga District, Okpokwu LGA of Benue State in Nigeria. The elder died late last January but the burial could not follow immediately because of intervening Christian events then at hand.
Like his fellow villagers in most of the communities around the area today, the elder was an active player in the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) as well as the Holy Family (those wedded in the Church).
Although the rites are mostly Christian practices, it could be involving because of his age and communal standing. Aside from hosting diverse visitors, many phases of the process involves serving food, animals and drinks at every stage between April 9th to 12th, 2026 when the burial is completed.
Saturday, April 11th, 2026 will be the most culturally significant phase as that is when the entire process is taken over by diverse cultural dances, particularly the ‘Oglinya’ dance which invokes heroism in the days gone by. A Family Thanksgiving Mass at St. Theresa’ Catholic Church, Ogene on April 12th, 2026 brings it to a close, the end of an era for family members and the community.
Elder Onah combined in himself elements of the tranquil of the traditional community as much of elements of the modern, making him a huge oral source of the transition vis-à-vis explaining many of the contradictions of today. His death at a time the generation with the most complete knowledge of communal ethos and pathos is almost extinct makes it a big loss.
A father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Okpani Onah is survived by eight children, amongst them Idu L. Onah, publisher of Abuja based National Record online newspaper, Mrs Janet Agbo, Mrs Maria Ameh, Mrs Jumbia Etuka; Mrs Margarete Oji, Mrs Mary Oheitonye, Mr. Onah J. Onah, and Dr. Juliana Ejeikwu.
