Ohanaeze’s day of glory

It is often said that a people without a culture is like a tree without its roots. Culture therefore, is the identity of a person or group of persons. Unfortunately, there are many tribes in Nigeria whose culture has gone extinct and there are others who do not even identify with their culture because of the invasion of foreign cultures.

The level of modernization in today’s world is such that many people prefer to identify with almost everything that has to do with the western culture that nurse, nurture and project their own culture. Even languages that are supposed to be handed down from one generation to another have in many instances, reduced in value and attention. It was, perhaps, the realization of this fact, and the desire to safe-guard, protect and project the Igbo culture that necessitated the carnival like cultural festival held last Saturday by Nigerians of Igbo extraction who either reside in Cross River State or its surrounding states.

The festival, held at the massive Abraham Ordia stadium in the University of Calabar, brought together sons and daughters of Igbo descent from all works of life in Cross River, Akwa Ibom and even Ebonyi states to celebrate their culture as a welcome honour to the Eze Ndigbo in the state, Chief Emmanuel Ezenwenyi, who clocked 28 years as the Eze of Igbo in Cross River State.

As is usual with such huge event, the Atilogu dancers were on hand to thrill the crowd with their acrobat dances. Abigbo and Ekere-Avu dancers from Mbaise, which many said were dances used as a tool for criticism in the past, also mesmerized the crowd. Then, there was Omurunwa and Agbacha-Ekuru nwa dancers who added excitement to the already exhilarating atmosphere, while Nkwa umu- Agbogho completed the exceptional display of the dancers.

That is not to say that Nkwa Umuagbogo, Ohafia war dance, Nkpokiti and ijele dances displayed by various affiliate unions, were less magical. Others like Ikpirikpi-ogu, Igba Ndi Eze, Ekpe, the Mmanwu, Ikoro and Mgba complemented the exceptional display of the day and aroused interest from the audience. No doubt, the dancers were encouraged by the fact that the atmosphere looked reddish, as many people in the audience wore the traditional red cap known mostly in Igbo land. Explaining the rationale for the event, the President of Ndi Igbo in the state, Ugorji Nwabueze said: “Igbo culture and tradition are going extinct and therefore it is high time we woke up from sleep and celebrated it.”

Nwabueze, who adding a little bit of politics to a purely traditional event, said; “Besides, we should learn how to celebrate our past and present leaders who have contributed to the development of Igbo nation. And Governor Ben Ayade is one of the leaders who have taken up industrialization as a policy which would favour Ndi Igbo in the state. For this, all Igbo leaders agreed he should be honoured.” According to him, Ndi Igbo have contributed immensely to building a strong and united Nigeria and should be encouraged instead of being treating disdainfully. While assuring the host community that the event was aimed at uniting the Igbo across the state, Nwabueze recalled that Chief Ezenwenyi has not only led Igbo sub-nation in Cross River for about two decades, but has also given the Igbo community a sense of belonging, would be appreciated on that day.

The President, who appealed to all Igbo sons and daughters in the state to be law-abiding and continue to live in peace and harmony with their hosts in the course of carrying out their normal businesses, said the Igbo community would continue to contribute to the development of the state. He also advised Igbo leaders of various states and communities who would participate in the event to ensure that their subjects maintained peace and order during and after the celebration. Chief Ezenwanyi, who many have described as “a gentle giant,” has led the Igbo community in the state for about 28 years without division, bickering and unnecessary controversies. At the same time, he has had to watch, helplessly, as many Igbo businessmen were kidnapped, especially last year and early this year, with millions of naira paid to secure their release.

At a point, however, the atmosphere took a political slant as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming election, Senator John Owan-Enoh, sauntered into the venue, and was guided to a prepared seat. In all of this, Chief Ezenwayi sat in his exalted seat with smiles, perhaps assuring himself that the whole of Igbo citizens in the state were stoutly behind him. This satisfaction can only be appreciated when one considers the fact that many states have been battling their Eze in court for years, while in some states, there is no Igbo leader because of crisis which often come as a result of dissatisfaction and discontent by the people against their Eze.