The Okete-Ochai Attah was founded by Egwu Idoko, the elder brother of Ayegba Idoko, the great. He (Egwu Idoko) came to the site known as Okete Ochai – Attah with the traditional idol known as OKETE – INNAH
By this time it Egwu Idoko’s turn to take the title of the Attah Igala. However, feeling too old for the tittle, he called his younger brother Ayegba and told him to take the title. He told Ayegba he was too old to perform the functions required to maintain the chieftaincy. For example, if there was war at the palace gate, he would not be able to do anything to prosecute the war.
After Egwu Idoko explained his reasons for not wanting to become the Attah Igala, Ayegba Idoko, run away from the family to an unknown destination for three months. When his whereabouts was eventually discovered, nine servants of the Attah, called Edibo, were sent to go and bring him home. Then the family elders gathered to inquire from him why he should send himself on exile. Ayegba’s explanation was that:
- The Attah chieftaincy had always rotated among the elders of the family. So, for his elder brother Egwu to reject it and ask him to take it, he was afraid of the ancestors and run away
- It would be odd for him to become the Attah Igala and his elder come to the palace to great him, bowing down and sitting down in front of him as is customary for every member of Igala society, and he sitting on his traditional stool (EDE)
- As a younger man, how could be maintain the traditional idol (Okute – Innah) since it entailed unlawful sacrifices
Then Egwu Idoko was given the chance to comment on Ayegba’s reasons. Egwu requested to be allowed to take an oath before saying anything. This was granted. He took the oath and said
- He had agree to carry the traditional stool to where he would be staying
- When coming to greet his younger brother in the palace, he would not bow down for him allowing his fore head to touch the ground
- He would not sit on the ground before him but sit on the traditional blanket known as ODA’ALAH which must be spread on the ground before he (Egwu) would sit. These statements were acceptable to both the elders and Ayegba, the proposed Attah.
Immediately after that, Egwu took the traditional stool (OKUTE-INNAH) with him and went away from the palace. Outside the palace, he wandered about for a while and eventually came to the present part of Idah known as Okete Ochai Attah where he settled. After the land was cleared, Egwu told the servants to give him two sticks with two good supports where he rested the traditional stool (Okute-Innah), and later started working on his own building. It was at this time that Ayegba believed that the oath taken by his elder brother was true.
Egwu resided in his new settlement for a long time before his younger bother (Ayegba) called him and told him he was going to give a settle which would make Egwu the leader of all the men, women, sons and daughters of the Royal Family (AMOMA ATTAH), all beaded chiefs except the Attah himself (OCHAI-ATTAH) – Egwu was beaded and given the tittle OchaiAttah.
From that time till time now, when the Ochai-Attah comes to the palace he usually sit second to the Attah, while the person between him and the Attah is Agaidoko Ede and the next to the Ochai-Attah is Achadeu-Attah, followed by other beaded chiefs
Being an elder member of the family/clan the Ochai-Attah settles any quarrel or misunderstanding between them and takes all necessary legal actions.
The Okute-Innah is still there at the Okete Ochai-Attah but the performance of unlawful sacrifices has been modernized. The Okute still remains the basic oath for the members of the Royal Family and whatever sin/offence is committed, when one swears the Okute, he is set free.
When the Ochai-Attah dies, one of his beads and the tail of the animals he was using would sent to the Attah and then tell him that Ochai-Attah is suffering from waist pain. Then the Attah will send a gown (Okpe), wine and money for the burial.
Complied by:
Prince Ibrahim Imidowojo A. Akwuda
Prince Emmanuel D. Odoma Oruma
