In Igbo Ukwu
Mbido Igbo fiesta opens today
By MAURICE ARCHIBONG
Thursday,
November 22, 2007
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First storey building in Igbo Ukwu. Photos: MAURICE
ARCHIBONG
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Nno or Welcome to Igbo Ukwu. We’re back in Igbo Ukwu,
where an annual Yam Festival opens today. Igbo Ukwu would
be agog throughout the next three days, courtesy Mbido Igbo
Arts, Culture and Tourism festival. The entire programme is
the 2007 edition of the celebration of over 2, 643 years of
Igbo race existence, according to Mazi Okafouzu Chukwuma,
Chairman of Mbido Igbo.
Mazi Okafouzu Ugochukwu, Chairman of the socio-cultural organization
Mbido Igbo, says Igbo people are descendants of Jabokkigbo,
who hailed from the Middle East. The Mbido Igbo chief added
that the chairman of the grand finale is Prof F. N. Madubuike,
who holds the traditional title of Ugwumba.
Interestingly, the three-day fiesta is billed to tour two
other Local Government Areas (LGA), Orumba North and Ihiala.
The fiesta, which flags off today moves to Ekwulumili in Nnewi
South LGA tomorrow, but all roads would lead to Isseke, Ihiala
LGA in southern Anambra State, for the climax on the 24th.
Expectedly, Anambra Governor Peter Obi is Chief Host, while
distinguished guests include Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, Minister
of State, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation,
Dr. Munzali Dantata, Director General (DG) of the National
Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOURS), Mallam
M. M. Maidugu, DG, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC),
Chief Ikechukwu and Udogu Ezennoli, while Chief Mmadubuachi
Osele would give a lecture Olaudah Equiano as part of the
grand finale in Isseke. Also participating in the Ndaba are
the general managers and Board Chairmen of the tourism bodies
in the relevant states, Travels gathered.
Mazi Ugochukwu said some 26 Igbo traditional rulers, Igwe,
from the five Igbo States in Nigeria’s South East geo-politcal
zone are slated to attend this year’s Mbido Igbo Arts,
Culture and Tourism festival. Although this is the third edition
of Mbido Igbo fest in its grand form, Ugochukwu enthused the
observance had been held on a smaller scale for a long time
before it metamorphosed into its present dimension. Such has
been the evolution of this fiesta that it now attracts guests
from Europe, said Ugochukwu, who revealed that guests are
coming from Austria and Germany.
Why no one is coming from Britain remains unclear, for it
was a Briton, Professor Thurstan Shaw, who launched Igbo Ukwu
to Global attention through his excavations that unearthed
priceless pieces of antiquity further enhancing international
respectability for Nigeria arising from the excellent artefacts
of our ancestors. Sad to say that perhaps, it might have been
better were no foreigner to attend, for the state of the roads
the Austrians and Germans are going to travel to get to Igbo
Ukwu would certainly take some shine off Nigeria’s image.
Severally, we had written about the shape of highways in Nigeria,
especially the South East and South South zones, and one had
hoped that some of these roads would be fixed with the urgency
they deserve, unfortunately, the Nnewi-Igbo Ikwu-Ekwulobia
Road is still far from fixed. During our trip to Igbo Ukwu
a few weeks ago, we were relieved to see workers trying to
rehabilitate this avenue but to date, the state of Nnewi-Igbo
Ikwu-Ekwulobia Road remains a national embarrassment.
Prince Enyi Samuel Imebuogu, an archaeologist at National
Museum, Igbo Ukwu, said the town has one single political
structure, headed by a traditional ruler called Idu and that
two separate bodies, the Igbo Ukwu Development Union (IDU)
and the Idu’s Cabinet Chiefs, assist the Idu.
According to this museum worker, the people of Igbo Ukwu have
elaborate social system involving lots of ceremonies ranging
from title-taking, music and dance, Igbu ichi, iwa akwa, izu
ahia mbibi, etc. They also cherish beauty and ornamentation
resulting in several objects of ornamentation. They are predominantly
farmers and are known for their art of bronze casting and
woodcarving. They engage in long distance trade involving
exchange of articles of trade, which help to expand the Nkwo
Igbo Market and brought together people from different parts
of the country. Today, a majority of the people are traders
and petty-businessmen.
Antique buildings in Igbo Ukwu
Although the fiesta is about celebrating the Igbo race, participants
would also have a good chance to enjoy elements of Igbo architecture,
for Igbo Ukwu boasts numerous historic and antique buildings.
We started with a visit to the residence of the late Igbo
Isaiah, who was the first son (Okpala) of Mr. Anozie. One
next port of call was the home of Igbo Richard, second son
of Mr. Anozie. At late Igbo Richard’s compound, we met
one of his grandsons, Mr. Anozie Johnson Akpandu Chukwuemeka,
who showed us the spot, where some antiquities were excavated.
That spot stands to the right corner, immediately beyond the
estate’s gate. To the left, about 10 meters from this
corner, the tourist would see a well. Igbo Richard’s
descendants revealed that this well was initially billed to
be sited to the right corner of the gate. But in the course
of digging, the workers stumbled on some precious finds, which
compelled the relocation of their source of water.
Travels subsequently visited Igbo Jonah’s House in Umu
Nwadim area of Ngo Quarters. Jonah was the third son of Anozie
and we spoke with Mr. Ezekiel Anozie, the late Jonah’s
first son, while in Igbo Ukwu.
There is also the first building to be roofed with corrugated
metallic sheets. Interestingly, a woman put up this historic
bungalow. Naturally, we were curious to know what kind of
business the lady had been into, to be able to fund the construction
of the first house with metallic roof in Igbo Ukwu.
One of our guides, Mazi Ugochukwu put this question to an
elderly lady living in that compound. The woman, who is widow
of the son of the original owner-occupant, revealed her late
mother-in-law was a tobacco merchant.
As regards the age of the building, the widow said her late
husband had once told her the house was built long before
he was born. The man died at the age of 75 in the late 1970s,
which puts the building at least 100 years old. In fact, the
age of the first storey building in Igbo Ukwu lends credence
to the period, when the historic bungalow was constructed.
This first storey house, which stands in Obiuno Quartes, was
built around 1906. The house was the property of a then Warrant
Chief known as Umeanadu. Ugochukwu said fables point to the
fact that Umeanadu was a very influential figure. “He
was a strong man,” mused Ugochukwu, who added that the
community was mobilized to speed up the building’s construction.
Igbo Ukwu is part of Aguata Local Government Area (LGA) of
Anambra State. The town comprises dozens of villages, which
were decades ago grouped into three quarters for administrative
convenience. Obiuno in the South West, Ihite, in the eastern
parts and Ngo to the north, make up the three quarters of
this town, which lies a little over an hour’s drive
from Onitsha. Travelling in a minibus, the fare from Onitsha
to Igbo Ukwu is N150 and the journey would take the tourist
through Nkpor, Umuoji, Ojoto, Nnobi, Awka Etiti and Ichida.
The route throws up beautiful churches such as Saint Alphonsus,
Nkpor and Mater Amabilis, among many others on the way.
The towns between Onitsha and Igbo Ukwu are very close with
some, such as Ichida and Awka Etiti, virtually overlapping
with one another. Unfortunately, the horrible state of the
road makes the trip drag on for more than an hour, whereas
the distance is probably barely 40km.
Welcome to Igbo Ukwu, where it is taboo to kill or eat a python
(Eke). Consequently, Eke the royal python is free to roam
about and visit people’s home without invitation. What
is more, this species of snake often swallows locals’
chicken, goat and other livestock without trammels. In deed,
“Eke” enjoys deity’s status in Igbo Ukwu.
If motorists come across the animal crossing the road, all
vehicles pull to a halt, every one is at a standstill and
no automobile moves until this serpent has successfully dragged
its long body out of their way. And should one kill Eke inadvertently,
elaborate cleansing rituals must be carried out to ward off
severe repercussions.
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