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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Ozubulu Development Union (ODU), Lagos chapter, recently celebrated its cultural festival in grand style. The event took place at the FHA Sports Centre, Festac Town, Lagos, and attracted illustrious sons and daughters of Ozubulu, traditional rulers as well as other dignitaries.
Showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ndi Igbo, with the theme: “Think home philosophy and youths empowerment,” the chairman of the union, Comrade Charles Egwu, said the ceremony offered communities the opportunity for reunion and encouraged Ndi Igbo to always promote and consolidate their culture.
Egwu stated that Ozubulu, a town in Ekwusiugo Local Government Area of Anambra State, is one that can be confidently called a sophisticated art.
“Due to its rich history, culture, enterprise and dynamic personalities that continue to speak for it at home and even beyond the shores of the African continent, it is a community to beat,” he said.
He added that Ozubulu was among the towns that lucky enough to retain their original Igbo name.
“The Igbo people could not put their thoughts and language in writing properly before the white man came. Moreso, the coming of the white man stirred up emergency interpreters who themselves were not versed in the Igbo language. Thus there were minor and major drifting in the original pronunciation and writing of Igbo words.
“Ozubulu is made up of four villages: Amakwa, Egbema, Eziora and Nza. Each of them has different festivals that precede the popular new yam festival.”
Egwu stated that the cultural activities on display began from their dressing: “You can see everyone is covered, including the women. Moreso, the masquerades, traditional dance, songs display, traditional food such as yam, kolanuts, garden egg and African salad, among other delicacies. If you observe, it is a way to promote Igbo culture among the youths and let them know their roots, especially with the present challenge of near language extinction.”
Meanwhile, the ceremony showcased the cultural heritage of the different villages in Ozubulu and their various chairpersons geared support for their own.
Chairpersons for the four villages in Lagos are: Amakwa village, Chief Celestine Udunehi (Nze Afunwa); Egbema village, Chief Chukwuma Onyebinanma (Dala Nwachimelueze); Eziora village, Chief Favour Obi (Ofia); and Nza village, Mr. Nwosu Ndedigwe Osita.
He noted that the youths should not allow civilization and western culture to influence them against their own Igbo culture.
He said: “There are practices that are not our culture. Young people who smoke weed, engage in kidnapping and rituals, among other social vices, are working against our culture. We have modalities of checkmating offenders.”
Egwu urged them to uphold those cultural values the Igbo are known for, stressing that, “They should speak our dialect and eat our food. For instance, if you are called Chidinma, let it reflect in your communication and way of life. Don’t adopt a foreign culture.
“The knowledge of our culture makes us our brother’s keeper, protecting one another and ensuring sacredness of lives as well as respect for elders.
“We expect the youths to come, experience and imbibe the attitude of our culture and don’t allow outside culture to influence them.
“Apart from the cultural festival, we are equally presenting awards to 50 persons in recognition of their contribution to the development of our youths and communities. This persons have proven themselves as deserving members, so we are recognizing them.”
Also, the planning committee head, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Uzokwe, a lawyer, said they came to show the world their fashion. She said: “We don’t show off our body. You can see the way everyone is dressed, including the women, who are well covered.”
Uzokwe charged her people to remember their root and not neglect their culture.
“Don’t allow other cultures to influence our own, just like the theme of the cultural festival: ‘Think home philosophy & youths empowerment.’
She described language as key to ancestral identity, lamenting that many people have intentionally or unintentionally killed their identity by impeding the natural order of passing on their ancestral languages to the next generation.
“This is because in the quest to run after modernity, they become victims of western influence.”
Uzokwe expressed concern for Igbo indigenes who have ignored teaching their kids Igbo language.
“We need the backing and adoption of grassroots approach to preserve, revitalize and promote the mother tongue, besides encouraging the young ones to speak, read and write in the language to avoid its going extinct.
