Present Religious Practices That Are in Connection with Edo Worship in Nnewi
1. Ijeagwugwa Ceremony (the announcement of the death of an Obaisiedo priest)
On the report of the death of an Obaisiedo priest, a relation of the deceased priest goes to the holder of Ofo Ezeani Isu with a hen and another customary requirement at Akabo-ukwu village, Uruagu Nnewi, to inform the Ofo holder of the death of the priest. This is in line with the tradition of the first son being aware first of the death of a brother relation. This also shows that there is a relationship between the Obaisiedo’s and the Isu’s, and also that it was Ezeani Oli Udene that gave Edo in marriage to Ezemewi and not Idemili in Nnobi as against some claims.
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2. Turbaning and the Enthronement of a New Obaisiedo
Today, it is the holder of Ofo Ezeani Isu that collects the native white cloth from Obi of Uruagu and ties around the waist of the new postulating Obaisiedo priest before conferring on him the full title of a priest.
3. The Igo-Osu Edo Custom
When an Agbaja citizen kills, sells or kidnaps a fellow Agbaja citizen, the victim pays a man for man, woman for woman. The person is not sacrificed to Edo but he/she becomes Edo servant forever and his/her descendants become outcasts forever. This rule does not apply to the Isu, Uruezikeokwe, and Bastedo because they are the ones that instituted the Edo worship instead they use animal for their substitute,
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4. The Striking of the Ofo Ezeani on the forehead of any Obaisiedo Chief Priest
It is the sole duty of the holder of Ofo Ezeani Isu in Akaboukwu Uruagu to go to Okpuno Egbu Umudim where the deceased Obaisiedo Priest is laid, to remove the diseased native white cloth (Akwa mmili ocha) and strikes the Ofo Ezeani Isu on the deceased forehead; without performing this duty, the deceased funeral will never commence.
5. The Ibuna Nguga Ceremony
After the burial of the Obaissiedo priest, it is the responsibility of the relations of the deceased priest to carry the oval basket and other customary things to the house of Ofo holder Ezeani Isu. This indicates that the Edo worship in Agbaja land was instituted by Isu.
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