Abstract

<p>In the ancient community of Iruekpen in Esan society of Edo State, exists the deity that personifies strength, power and prosperity. The deity in question is the Great Mother Ibiekumah Nojie. She is the goddess of fruitfulness and fertility. She is a water deity or goddess, which people today attributes as ‘Elimin No Ruwe khe Ede’ (Mammy Water). The source of the Great Ibiekumah Nojie generates itself from a powerful river, not just any river, but her own River of Life, Power and Protection called Ede Ibiekumah, that functions as the deliverer of Ekunma now known as Ekpoma. The Ede Ibiekumah is the one sure source of spiritual and physical water for the Iruekpenians. Only few favoured Ohens (priests) and few opportune visitors and worshippers of the deity have ever felt her physical presence. The Great Mother Ibiekumah is today still celebrated, venerated and worshipped in Iruekpen and some parts of Esan communities. The society of people in faithful dedication worshipped and gave their services to the great river goddess until foreign elements under the powerful arms of Western Christianity and its attendant Western values and ideas brought in socio-cultural pollutions and distortive values into the traditionally dedicated community. However, in spite of numerous challenges, the Great Mother Ibiekumah being one of Iruekpen's ancient deities overcame relegation and denigration from foreign influences. This epical and realistic life tale is re-enacted to tell the world that Iruekpen (an Esan tribe, in Edo State, Nigeria), socio-religious, cultural and indigenous practices refuses to bow to pressures and dictates of the West (the Europeans). This paper, therefore, examines the significance of the great personalities of Mother Ibiekumah Nojie in Iruekpen entire Institutional frameworks. It examines the great personality of the Great Mother Ibiekumah Nojie and her power of protection, preservation, healing, socio-religious and moral sanctity of Iruekpen people and the community at large. The main sources for this study will be primary and secondary sources. The primary sources constitute documents, oral traditions, and field notes. The secondary source is a work of historical reconstruction based on the interpretation of primary sources. Examples of secondary sources include scholarly journal article, encyclopedia, dictionaries, interpretation of a diary, biographies, newspapers, published dissertations etc</p>