The admirable atmosphere of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s hometown assumed another dimension on Tuesday January 2, as Leading Sub-Saharan African Pay Television company, DSTV and its counterpart GOTV graced the 2024 edition of the Igbere Cultural Festival in support for the annual cultural themed revelry held annually in Igbere a Town tucked in Abia-North Senatorial District of Abia State.
The cultural carnival held at the hometown of the zone’s Senatorial representative at the National Assembly saw the satellite televisions owned by its parent company MultiChoice activate their presence in the entire villages where the cultural festivities were held simultaneously.
Previous successes recorded by the Festival was said to have attracted the attention of the company to partner with the organisers to raise the bar of the 2024 edition which is sponsored by the former Abia Governor’s Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation.
In accordance with the schedule of the promoters, the two days event commenced earnestly at Agbo, Eziama , Amaukwu, Amakpo, Ibinanta, Amankalu and Amaofufe communities where unique eye popping cultures were fully displayed.
The focus of MultiChoice aligned with OUK foundation’s unwavering commitment in leading the charge in exporting Nigeria’s diverse cultures and traditions to the global community while safeguarding them for both present and future generations.
The brand presence of the DSTV and GOTV at this year’s edition which is the first of its kind in the history elicited excitement amongst the indigenes , including visitors just as they trooped out to participate and observe the various activities on display.
Beginning with the aforementioned villages , each of the 13 villages showcased its cultural exhibitions at their village square. The reason, according to the Chief host Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was to allow more people, especially the younger generation, who would ordinarily find it difficult to travel to the central point of the previous editions, access and participation.
Previous editions were centralized at the Lawmaker’s residential field at Camp Neya, where the troupes and spectators/guests gathered. But beyond the privilege of accessibility to every strata of the community to be part of the festival, the disparate arrangement, though tedious and stressful, also highlighted the essential ingredients of oral literature because the composite and complementary performance of prose, poetry and drama in the traditional setting is the very elegance of oral literature. The genres were performed in situ to the delight of the audience.
Accompanied by the Chairman Sun Publishing Limited, Barrister Neya Kalu , the former Chief Whip of the Senate and his team of dignitaries toured the villages one after the other where they spent quality time to savour the full complement of all the components of the people’s way of life, performed at the traditional village square environment.
Others include; Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Rev Jemaimah Ola Kalu; Business Entrepreneur , Michael Kalu; Fmr Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Barr. Georgina Ehuriar; The Federal Commissioner , Public Complaints Commission, Abia State, Hon. Madukwe E. E. Ukaegbu and a host of others.
The first port of call was Agbo, where the oji oku ala oru (one who returns from farm with fire) cultural group performed. The performance was veiled in elaborate symbolism and language that can be decoded only by initiates.
The performers, made up only of young and grizzled males, attired in george material and the strong ones (tiger) cap, to complement the costume, filed out carrying tubers of yam and a long raffia bamboo that bore the live fire, danced in a circle for a while with call-response chants and incantations and then huddled in a corner of the square close to the booth where items of divination were laid.
Someone, probably the Chief priest, consulted the Oracle in an earthen ware placed on a grind stone, marked with lines of traditional chalk, relayed its message to the Senator and the crowd. Chief Dike Dike, a community leader explained that in ancient times the oracle was consulted to tell whether the way/road would be clear and accident free for their sons and daughters to return from their sojourn.
Next was Eziama , Amaukwu, Amakpo, Ibinanta, Amankalu and Amaofufe where various cultural heritages were displayed.
Speaking at each venue, the former two time Abia governor emphasised the commitment to expand the cultural carnival adding that the string that has bound the people together in unity. He said that the festival would be sustained as a means of teaching the younger generation the value of unity and love.
“Our cultural festival is gradually attracting attention from across Nigeria and the world that is why we have GOTV and DSTV who have decided to partner with us to celebrate this year’s edition.
“Our goal is to continue to expand. You can see the joy and excitement on the faces of the people – the young, the old, children and women. When we were doing it at Camp Neya, only few people could attend but now they are happy enjoying themselves and still dancing in their communities till now.
“You see, we didn’t speak in the 13 villages. It is not about politics, it’s about our people. It’s just to resonate our culture; the culture has to be brought back, Kalu said
The Festival continues on Wednesday at Ibina Ukwu, Umuisi, Okafia, Ohumola, Amaiyi and Amorji.
