A Deep Look Into The Spiritual Nomos Of The Ancient Ijaw Civilization-- The Ikiyan Aru War Vehicle.

A Deep Look Into The Spiritual Nomos Of The Ancient Ijaw Civilization--
  The Ikiyan Aru War Vehicle.


Written By Pa Iju Lawson.

 During Town Purification Seasons,
The Different Ijo Civilisations That Dwell in The River rine Demesne
Make Use of Sacrificial Canoes
 Popularly Called " IKIYAN ARU "
 in Order To Repel Troublesome Spirits and Also To Flush Out Negative Spiritual Forces
Epidemics and Pollution.

As Seen in The Photograph, The Ikiyan Aru is Adorn With Raffia Palm Leaves As it is Part of Ijo Belief That The Raffia Palm Protects The Boat and It's Crew Members From Bullets.
 War Lordling's Armed With Weapons (Charms) Will Be The Ones To Sail The Ikiyan Aru and Are Ready To Engage in The Spiritual Battle Which Takes Place Mainly On The Various Rivers's and Lakes Within The Kingdom.

 Prior To Battle, The Ikiyan Aru is  Carefully Brought Out Secretly At Midnight For Critical Reason's and The Ikiyan Aru is Set To Sail,

  Haughty Men Simultaneously Perform Their Majestic Ijaw Dance Steps That is Accompanied With Rapid Drumming, Youthful Displays and Spiritual Divinations As The Ikiyan Aru is Being Brought Out and Positioned Properly For it's Journey into The Several Creeks,Swamps,Rivers That Criss Cross Eachother Throughout A Typical River rine Ijaw Kingdom.

 The Ikiyan Aru is Atlast Mounted Along The River Bank and Set in
A Pattern That It Can Drift Away Due To The Current of The River or Most Times, The Ikiyan Aru is Strategically Positioned At Critical Locations Such As The Shrine and Satelite Communities in Order To Protect Them From
Invisible Invaders or Spirit's That Tend To Inflict Trouble or Disaster On The Ijo Society.

 These Sophisticated War Vessels
Called "Ikiyan Aru" Also Convey Offerings (Oru fi) in Order To Fortify and Reward The Several Deities in The Ijo Kingdom.