Eziama quarters, Amanuke in Awka North Local Government Area has celebrated the 2023 Igu Aro festival marking the end of farming season in the town.

 

The event which took place at Eziama Square attracted the old and young in the quarters at home and in the diaspora, as well as friends who joined them to celebrate a successful farming season.

Eziama quarters Amanuke comprises two villages, Isiugugu and Omia and as the oldest of all the quarters in Amanuke is always the first to celebrate the Igu Aro festival annually.

 

To make this year’s celebration unique, the Chairman, Eziama General Assembly, Ejike King-Ejike reintroduced their ancient Ijele masquerade that was last seen in the community in 1976.

Mr King-Ejike said it was to re-invigorate the love and togetherness that will breed peace among them for years to come.

 

Speaking at the ceremony, the outgoing Chairman of Eziama General Assembly, Chief Benjamin Ikwunebuike, applauded Mr King-Ejike for his thoughtfulness to celebrate the 2023 edition of the Igu Aro Ajana festival in grand style and expressed the hope that under Mr King-Ejike’s tenure as Chairman of the General Assembly, the village will record tremendous achievements.

For Chief Sunday Okafor who traveled from the United States to grace the occasion, Amanuke community holds the culture with its colourful activities, asking the youths to pay attention and continue to respect their tradition.

 

The leader of the Ijele masquerade group, Chief Angus Mmadubuezedike and a member of the group, Chief Silas Anawude, noted that preparation for the Igu Aro Ajana festival begins a night before with the first quarter of the town, Eziama, while girls and boys were taught new dances supervised by young women.

According to them, the ceremony will be followed by the Igba-Ijele group as they go round the community in the morning to announce and remind the community of their celebration.

 

Chief Mmadubuezedike revealed that villages in Amanuke usually celebrate the Igu Aro Ajana festival after Ajana deity had flagged off the celebration and pointed out that it is a time of merriment and thanksgiving with families, friends and loved ones.

Contributing, a woman leader in the village Mrs Beatrice Anawude expressed joy over the love and peace the celebration has brought to them and prayed the festival be sustained.

 

The Aka Ji Ofor Ajana Chief Nwankwo Aro had before the celebration prayed for peace, love and blessings upon the people.

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