•Pomp as Afikpo hosts maiden traditional carnival
From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The people of Afikpo, an ancient town in Ebonyi State have rich cultures bequeathed to them by their forebears. They are popular in the Salt of the Nation State because of their cultures and tradition, which they have continued to uphold.
In fact, once Afikpo is mentioned, one striking thing that comes to mind is their dance of the maidens, called Nkwa Umuagbogho. Its contingent participated in the major international cultural festival in Lagos, from January 15, 1977 to February 12, 1977, widely known as FESTAC ’77.
About 16,000 participants, representing 56 African nations and countries of the African Diaspora performed at the event, which had about 500,000 spectators.
Some of the artistes who performed at the festival included Stevie Wonder, USA; Gilberto Gill, Brazil; Bembeya Jazz Guinea and Mighty Sparrow, Trinidad and Tobago.
Nkwa Umuagbogo and Nkwanwite cultural dance troupes of Afikpo also performed at the festival. The maiden dance; Nkwa Umuagbogo troupe had cut the attention of Nigeria’s first indigenous President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, when he visited Afikpo during his political tours.
He got admired to one of the dancers of the troupe, Uche and quickly married her. Uche, now an emeritus professor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), hails from Ukpa in Afikpo.
Since then, Nkwa Umuagbogo and Nkwanwite cultural dances have continued to wax very strong, attracting the attention of people from all walks of life who had married some of the charming dancers.
Also, in the Afikpo contingent to the FESTAC ’77 was the Okenkwa masquerade troupe. The masquerade troupe’s display was so spectacular such that it gained the attention of the international community. Some of the masquerades were later sent abroad for performances.
The Afikpo masquerades, which are of different species, make the culture very interesting. They usually parade during festivals, entertaining people, visitors, friends and admirers of the town.
They were among the groups that made the recent cultural carnival in the area quite enthralling. The theme of the event was: “Celebrating our Heritage, Uniting our People.” A nonagenarian in the area, Anigo Agwo described Afikpo as a cosmopolitan town with rich culture and tradition.
The cultural enthusiast said the people practice gerontocracy and that council of elders has control of the community. He urged the people to continue to preserve the cultures and tradition of the community.
Carnival convener, Ifeanyichukwu Ewa, said: “The community is geographically blessed in terms of natural endowments. The area is richly blessed in culture. It is a verifiable fact that Afikpo with her Nkwa Umuagbogho, Ojienya lere, Nkwanwite, Okenwa and several entertainment dance troupes have brought laurels of different categories to the government of old East Central State, Imo State, Abia State and Ebonyi State respectively.
“It is on this note that we are showcasing in a more organised form these aspects of our cultural heritage to create visibility of Afkpo Local Government with a view to place Afikpo on the world map as a cultural hub in Nigeria.
“The ‘Ehoma’ and ‘Iyi Eke’ fishing festival in our community can be developed to bring the whole country to celebrate in Afikpo as it is done during the Argungun fishing festival. We have the river and potential to do so, why not develop it?
“The Ndibe beach, Ozizza beach and Unwanna beach are tourism areas left without adequate utilisation. River Akpoha with all its potential, the ancient Nkpurukem religious pilgrimage area could be made a tourist area for visitation on yearly basis.”
Ewa called for the establishment of a cultural centre housing a cultural museum where certain images, relics, costumes and notes describing certain discoveries and historical cultural ornaments in the community could be preserved: “A time will come when no one will be available to explain certain things to the next generation if this is not done.
“The various aspects of our culture are remembered today because of the preserved writings of late Professor Otternberg and what Rikweri Gabriel Anigo Agwo has done and is doing today. We need to keep alive and preserve our rich culture. A suitable, convenient environment is needed for this to thrive.”
Chief Jasper Okoro, a veteran journalist, lamented that some people want the culture of the community to die: “Culture and tradition have remained the uniting force in the town: Afikpo culture has been a most unique one. It has been one of the very acceptable and has, indeed, without exaggeration, been celebrated across the globe.
“Those who play the role and have continually continued to play the role of chronic fault finders with the traditional and cultural life of Afikpo need to be wary of their actions. They do so, not being able to make any positive suggestion to either ameliorating or eradicating their identified negative aspects so pin pointed.”
Chairman, planning committee of the cultural carnival, Okogwu Out, described Afikpo as a hospitable and culturally rich community. He called for constant cultural carnival in the community to save the culture and tradition of the area from extinction.