In some parts of Idoma kingdom, particularly the southern parts of Benue State, there is the somewhat high religiosity and a strong belief in gods. The most conspicuous is the belief in ‘Alekwu’ the spirit of the ancestors which has remained a cultural practice among the people of the Idoma, the gods is expected to maintain ethics, justics, peace, respect and dignity for each other.The efficiency of Alekwu is not in doubt in Idoma land. It is nonetheless notably revered and its advantage incredibly extolled. Indigenes resort to Alekwu’s shrine as the ultimate arbiter to settle scores, when troubles turn out to be very controversial.
In spite of Westernization, the celebration is as yet celebrated in Orokam like every 12 months between the long stretches of July and August. In a few sections of Idoma tribe, the celebration is also celebrated at the beginning of February or march. It is a continuation of our ancestors’ conviction, Idoko expressed proudly.
An Idoma intellectual, Amali, E. Odumu, depicted the Alekwaafia as the resurrection of an Idoma tribal father into a disguise, in view of the idea of eternal life, so much that the significance they connect to the disguise and its idyllic convention can’t be over-underscored.
Some version of the Alekwu poetry is seen as a source reference that alludes to sustenance of culture and personality amid the celebration, which pulls in an extensive turnout of children and adults of the land at home and abroad.
Be that as it may, admirers of the Alekwu are fast these days to accuse the decay of the Alekwu proclivity on foreign culture, with specific reference to Christianity and Westernization, which they guaranteed have taken the centrestage in the present society.
The celebration of Alekwu is highly preserved and practiced in the three parts of Benue state, namely;
Orokam
Otukpa
Owukpa kingdoms
which forms the composition of Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue state.
To be exact, Alekwu is a traditional divine force of the Idoma people, prevalently accepted among the general population to have the ability to ensure, compensate and rebuff men and little women of the land. The Idoma trust that it could rebuff any individual who goes in opposition to the ethics, standards, societies or conventions effectively set down.
For example, a lady consequently goes under the pledge of Alekwu when she weds a man of Idoma extraction. The spirit supervises ladies and keeps a tab on their life if fidelity. Alekwu chastens unfaithful ladies, by making unexplained conditions befall individuals from the culpable family.
Additionally, a male of Idoma extraction who, for instance, falls victim of adultry, would in like manner cause the fury of the god, with the exception of he admits, and plays out specific customs to mollify the spirits.
In all of Idoma kingdom, the long history of Alekwu’s law as respects sex, disputes, man’s inhumanity to man, social injustice and different types of societal ills, is being protected and passed on starting with one age then onto the next.
Especially, a family under the spell of Alekwu are likely face sudden demise of for the most part, it’s male children, sick luckiness, weird ailments which are probably going to resist medical restorative mediation, and in case of postponed or delayed consultation of the divine beings, the leader of the family pays the preeminent cost with his life.
As a rule, help for such guilty parties starts by method for admission of the violations submitted against the divine forces of the land, and afterward the apology procedure is seen, to guarantee that the spirit of the ancestors is conciliated, by purging the wrongdoers of amassed blame. Inability to do as such, the guilty party kicks the bucket strangely within a stipulated time of typically 7, 14 to 21 days or one year as the case perhaps, contingent upon the level of offense submitted.
Without a doubt, these punishments are viewed as the group’s method for policing violations and crimes.
A wedded lady from any of these groups isn’t relied upon to spend her hard earn salary on undertakings, for example, working for her immediate family or spend on other enormous purposes, without the learning of her husband. She is likewise not anticipated to take any choice about family arranging without the learning of her husband, to maintain a strategic distance from the fury of the force.
“In actuality, any Idoma born who is from one of the aforement kingdoms who violates the precepts of the gods, Alekwu would locate their blameworthy and punish them.