•Gov. Otti, Sen. Kalu at Ekponibro festival, promise preservation of never-say-die culture
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
In the twilight of the 19th century, some daring merchants from the old Bende, consisting of Abiriba, Abam, Item, Igbere, Umuhu Ezechi, Ozuitem and other communities, set out on a novel commercial adventure. They navigated the creeks of the South East with a rewarding effort that was later to set the stage for the boisterous businessmen from that axis, in present-day Abia North Senatorial District, Abia State.
An informed native of the area, Chief Jones Nnanna Ike, who provided some insights, said these men, without any formal Western education or at best little lettered, were able to navigate their way through rivers, particularly Igwu River, to the sea in Calabar and Oron, where they met and traded with whitemen on business expeditions to the West Coast of Africa.
At the end of every trading session, usually in April, the merchants would beat their chests and give themselves thumbs up by celebrating their success with the Ekponibro festival (Ugbo Nmiri Nma). A way of expressing joy for overcoming the challenges associated with the hazardous and tempestuous sea trade.
He said, “The sea merchants celebrated the end of their trading session with the Ekponibro festival, which was every April before the rainy season. It was a festival in which they celebrated their trials and triumphs on the high seas.
“Being a wealthy class of people, they used the opportunity of the festival to showcase their material prosperity: new houses, articles of comfort, new dresses and, of course, elaborate parties in individual homes in which food and drinks flowed freely.”
The Ekponibro festival has been celebrated at Atan Abam in Arochukwu Local Government, being the last major port in which the sea merchants made their base.
Recently, the festival was upgraded and given a tint of international outlook through the unyielding support of Chief James Ume (Ike Abam), a grandson to one of the most prominent sea merchants from Atan Abam, Chief Kalu Ironu.
Deploying enormous resources annually through his Unubiko Foundation, Ume has given the festival a new face, impetus and candour, attracting partners, including the state government. He has given it a touch of modernity without losing the originality, focus and shape.
This year’s Ekponibro cultural festival took place at Atan Abam field with events rekindling nostalgic feelings in the people. Abia State’s Governor Alex Otti commended the people of Atan Abam, particularly Ume, for promoting and preserving the festival: “This speaks to our tradition and culture. Any society that loses its tradition and culture is gone. In those days, societies began to die when they lost their tradition. They began to go into bondage and slavery.
“I am happy that Abam people did not forget where they came from. And I want to thank the Unubiko Foundation for remembering and bankrolling all these. My prayer is that God will continue to replenish your source in many folds.”
Senator representing Abia North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, said, since culture was the identity and way of life of people, any society without culture was lost. He said he was pleased with the commitment of the people of Atan Abam, especially their son, Ume, in striving to uphold the things that bound them together: “Even in Igbere where I come from, we try to do this type of thing that projects our cultural heritage, that tells who we are and what we believe in.”
Represented by a former permanent secretary in the state, Jimaima Ola Kalu, the former governor urged other communities in the state to emulate Atan Abam in projecting their cultural heritage.
Ume explained that the festival has deep historical roots dating back to trading expeditions: “This trade experienced a decline following the Biafran War, but was revived by the Unubiko Foundation’s efforts to maintain cultural identity of the people.
“Ekponibro cultural festival is a heritage bequeathed to us by our fathers, symbolising their struggles, strengths, triumphs and exploits.”
Governor Otti and Senator Kalu were acknowledged by the people who eulogised them for their individual efforts in developing the place, especially in the area of roads reconstruction.
Some of the sea merchants who made indelible marks during their time were presented with awards of recognition.