It was a beehive of cultural activities at Obu Gad, Enugwu Aguleri, Anambra East Council Area, as the sons and daughters of Aguleri joined their traditional ruler, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri to celebrate this year’s Eri World Festival also known as Olili Obibia Eri.
The festival celebrated yearly was in remembrance of the sojourn of their progenitor Eri the son of Gad.
The celebration is marked in the eighth month of Igbo lunar calendar and on Eke-day.
Eze Eri who is the Eze Akajiovo Igbo and the thirty-fourth in the series, in the early hours of the day set out to confluence of Ezu and Omabala popularly known as Agbanabo Ezu N’Omambala to pray for peace, progress, long life, prosperity and breakthrough of every Onye Igbo as well as welcome the spirit of their progenitor anew, because of the believe that Enugwu Aguleri is the head of Igbo people.
According to oral tradition, Agbanabo Ezu N’Omabala is the confluence where Eri stopped before his sojourn to the present Aguleri.
On his return from the confluence, Eze Eri blessed holy water for use by his subjects throughout the year including other people from Igbo speaking communities in Delta state such as Ogwashi-Uku and many others.
Members of the Eri cabinet were all in their full regalia while they joined the custodian of their culture, Eze Eri during the kolanut prayers, in some strategic places in the community including the Eke Eze throne.
He explained that through the celebration, they revive and preserve their culture and asked the younger generation to promote the culture and tradition of their people.
The Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Aguleri, Most Reverend Dennis Isizor while praying for peace and progress of all the Igbos said that catholic church does not condemn culture and tradition rather idol worship and practices, calling on Ndi Igbo to come together and champion oneness and unity.
The event featured recognition of some individuals who have used their positions in societies to promote Igbo tradition and culture and their induction into Idu Eri Cabinet.
Among them was a veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, conferred with the chieftaincy title of “Ugwu Ndi Igbo” after which he called on Ndigbo to protect their position in the country, which has been threatened stating that every Onye Igbo should imbibe the Onye Aghana Nwanneya mantra, calling on President Tinubu to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a Christmas gift to Ndi Igbo.
One of the Eri Iduu Cabinet Members, Chief Mrs Uju Edochie maintained that the festival reminds them when their progenitor Eri enters their land stating that Aguleri is the first son of Eri and urged Ndigbo to trace their roots to the Eri Kingdom.
The dignitaries that attended the event include traditional rulers from different communities in Anambra North and beyond, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor who also received chieftaincy title during the festival, veteran actor, Ugezu.J. Ugezu who is also the Chairman Iduu Eri Cabinet.
Masquerading, paying of homage, display of different cultural activities both from the male and female folk added glamour to the event
Comments are closed for this post.