The people of Awka at both home and in the diaspora last Saturday showed their solidarity to their traditional Ruler Obi Gibson Nwosu as he celebrated the 2019 Egwu Uzu Festival and twenty-first years of ascending the throne.


The event which took place at the Awka Civic center also show cased the black Smiting culture of Awka community.


The civic center, located within the old Awka stadium was all colourful as prominent and other sons and daughters of Awka and beyond gathered to celebrate the 2019 Egwu Uzu festival by the traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu, who was escorted into the arena by the Igba Eze, surrounded by his cabinet Chiefs dressed in colourful attire as he went round to greet those present with cheers.


Speaking on the significance of Egwu Uzu festival, Senator Ben Ndi Obi noted that Awka is known all over the world as a town of Blacksmiths, a testament being the construction of the Buckingham gate of the Queen’s Palace, which was done by an Awka Blacksmith and the Egwu Uzu is done to keep the ingenious blacksmithing culture of Awka people alive.


In his speech during the festival, Eze-uzu the second of Awka, Obi Nwosu noted that Awka is a community so dear to God, given its numerous blessings of which upon his grace is the tenth Egwu Uzu and his twenty first years on the throne.


The speech which was read by the traditional Prime Minister of Awka, Chief Benjamin Okoye also condemned the spate of killings in the city, the activities of some lawless people who want to usurp the powers of the traditional ruler and the slow pace of development in Awka inner city but thanked governor Willie Obiano for the numerous projects his administration has conceived and actualized within the city.


The event climaxed when the traditional ruler, led by the Igba Eze danced to the Uno Uzu to perform the art of blacksmithing, assisted by some cabinet members to which he also danced the Egwu Ufvio to the cheers and admiration of those present.


In their separate speeches, the President General of Awka Development Union Nigeria, Engineer Tony Okechukwu and a cabinet member, Chief Ifeanyi Enukorah emphasized that Awka Blacksmithing will not go into extinction, as efforts are being made to introduce Awka Blacksmithing as a Diploma and Degree programme in universities, to bring about innovation and development.


Others who spoke including the Chairman on the occasion, Professor ABC Nwosu, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, Archbishop Ephraim Ndife of Holy Ghost ministries and a host of others who said that culture is unique and each community has its own culture of which the Church supports and lives with except for idol worshiping, urging all to pray for the traditional ruler, as he pilots the affairs of Awka positively.


The Egwu Uzu 2019 featured the conferment of Chieftaincy title to some deserving sons and daughters of Awka and beyond, including Chief Innocent Chukwumma of Innoson Motors, Barrister Uba Anene and Sir Jonas Ekwenugo .Masquerade displays, among others also featured at the event.

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