Types of Geographical Gathering of The NIGER-DELTA Peoples: 100% Power Up.

A photo collage from a burial ceremony in the NIGER-DELTA.

A few weeks back the brilliant minded @bright-obias did host a contest here in this amiable Community, Steem Geography where participants were given an opportunity to write about the geographical gatherings typical of their region of domicile.

Today, following a similar theme I'll love to give a discuss on the types of Geographical Gatherings typical of the peoples of the NIGER-DELTA region. To start with it'll be imperative that I give in the simplest terms my own understanding of the phrase Geographical Gathering.

WHAT IS A GEOGRAPHICAL GATHERING?
A geographical gathering can simply be understood as a cultural activity that brings together a group of creatively cooperating people from within a given geographical region with mutual interest in attaining a specific objective.

From the above definition, taking into cognisance the highlited key words and phrases it can be understood that a major defining characteristic of a geographical gathering is that it involves an organized crowd of creatively engaged people with shared intentions. In other words a riotous mob, a band of marauding bandits, a crowd of binged-drunk night-clubers or any large disorderly crowd for that matter cannot be recognized as a geographical gathering.

TYPES OF GEOGRAPHICAL GATHERING
A few accompanying examples of Geographical Gatherings will suffice in giving a better elucidation on this discuss. Examples of types of Geographical Gatherings are cultural activities such as traditional marriages that highlight the unique and historical customs of a particular people, baby naming ceremonies, traditional burials, coronation ceremonies of tribal kings and of course religious ceremonies just to mention a few. A typical feature of Geographical Gatherings of the NIGER-DELTA people are the key highlights in customs and traditions of the particular group reflected in cultural symbols such as attires, food and drinks for the particular occasion and a frequent use of the native dialect of the indiginous people while communicating within the said gathering.

For instance in a traditional marriage ceremony of the Urhobo people, the MC will be expected to coordinate the activities of the party while speaking the local Urhobo language even though he so happens to be an English speaking man from the United Kingdom when employed to do the work of an MC(Master of Ceremony) here in Urhobo land.

In typical Geographical Gatherings of the NIGER-DELTA people, certain traditional cuisines are a must serve for all guest present. The Owo(Oghwo) soup and Starch for instance is an indispensable item in the menu of every traditional Urhobo marriage.

Certain Geographical Gatherings amongst the NIGER-DELTA people requires the presence of strong alcoholic beverages and the kola nut as an indispensable emblem of cultural heritage.

The beauty of Geographical Gatherings in general and in particular, that of the NIGER-DELTA people is the wonder at how centuries old traditions are brought to bear centre stage in ceremonies conducted in these modern times. It is an understatement to say, that our morden day Geographical Gatherings are nothing but a journey into the past to live for a moment in the present like our ancestors once did ages ago.

CC @belenguerra
CC @bright-obias

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