By Nelson Dafe on December 20, 2021

 It is the Christmas season again. A time for spiritual reflections on the significance of the season, a time for families to come together for one more celebratory reunion, a time for bashes as people celebrate getting through the rigors of the year.     

 In Benin city it is particularly a period when end-of-year carnivals abound as members of different communities within the city organize carnivals of different kinds to entertain.

One of the most famous Benin City carnivals is the Ugbekun community Youth carnival which attracts a mélange of famous music and dance entertainers, footballers, highly placed government officials as well as VIPs from within and outside the Ugbekun community all in a day and night of memorable revelry.

The Ugbekun community Youth carnival which will take place on the 27^th of December through to the 28^th will commence with a novelty match between Benin Warriors Football Academy and Team Ugbekun (made up of football players who hail from the community).

The match which is scheduled for 7am at the Ologbosere primary school field will see the two team playing for pride.

Benin Warriors Academy, which is based in the same Ikpoba Okha local government area as is  Ugbekun community, are the only youth football club from the local government to have won the Edo state league, which is the topmost football competition for youth clubs in Edo state. While they will be looking to show their standards against Ugbekun, they will be well aware that Ugbekun is a traditional home of football that has birthed countless number of talented players over the years.

One of the key players of Ugbekun community is Ndubuisi Ugbo, a player with sublime skills. “ We are going to do our best to make sure that Benin Warriors don’t come to Ugekun to get anything. I can’t imagine Ubekun losing on the 27^th  on our carnival day, it would make me sad. I’ve had a banter with the Benin Warriors coach and I’ve told him we will be ready for them,” Ugbo says.

But the Warriors like to go wherever and try to get a win. “Ugbekun is a great community but Benin Warriors are thinking of coming there to win and then we can all go and eat, drink and dance later”, Rex Bob, Benin Warriors coach told Daily Sports.

There will be a number of music artistes to perform at the night’s carnival event to what will be thousands of fans, including a popular Germany-based crooner Don Vs. Also performing will be MC Warri Boy ( a stand-up comedian who has seen his popularity in Edo state and Nigeria grow in leaps and bounds on the back of original rib-cracking jokes).

The football match, as well as the evening party, will be attended by illustrious sons of Ugbekun community, including the Ohen Iso of Ugbekun community (the highest ranking traditional personality in the community), Edo Oil and Gas Commission (EDSOPADEC) Chairman Kennedy Osifo, former Ward 7 Councilor and Speaker of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Legislature Hon. Kingsley Balogban, Hon Francis Ehigie (Okhaigele of Ugbekun, former Senior Special Adviser to the Edo state Governor and well-respected Ugbekun youth leader) etc.

The organizing committee of the Ugbekun Youth Carnival 2021 is headed by Igbinosa Edokpolor A.K.A Belushi. Belushi is admired for his strong organizational skills all over Ugbekun and he says his committee is set to deliver an unforgettable carnival.

“We are ready for one of the biggest and best carnivals Edo state has ever seen. It would be a day of the best of sports, dance, music and the very best display of the fine Edo culture which we are always proud of,” Belushi said.

The first edition of the Ugbekun carnival held in 2013 with then teenage dance sensation Emeka Ike winning the ‘Best Dancer’ award as voted by an excited audience. This year’s Dance Competition segment of the Ugbekun community carnival will bring to a climax the 2021 edition of the Ugbekun carnival and all eyes will be on who carts home the award for best dancer this time.

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 20, 2021

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