By Emma Ihemeje
The parish priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Fegge, Onitsha, Rev. Fr Paschal Okelu, his parish council and the entire parishioners have successfully organised an lgbo cultural fiesta. The event, which was organised by a committee ably led by Chief Sir Ikechukwu Maduka (Onwa), featured a display of Igbo cultural values by the five southeastern states of Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu.
The cultural festival held at Ugborimilu Primary School, Onitsha, attracted some dignitaries from different walks of life, among them contestants in the just concluded National Assembly elections. Some of the programmes of the event included a display of Igbo proverbs, cultural dances, traditional attires and systems of kingship, amongst others. Speaking at the occasion, Father Okelu said that the event was to promote and showcase Igbo culture and traditional values to the outside world, as well as to show that some Igbo cultures are not fetishistic as some people erroneously believe.
Also speaking, the principal of Estate Model Schools, Onitsha, Sir lgnatius Chidi Egbuobi, commended the foresight of the parish priest for the promotion of Igbo culture and tradition, just as he doffed his cap to the committee that organised the event for a job well done. One of the salient features of the fiesta was the selection of the main traditional ruler (eze) of the five southeastern states that participated in the cultural festival, where Chief Cypril Chigozie Igwe (Eze anayoyo) emerged victorious as the “Ezeigbo di oha mma” of the southeastern region of Nigeria.
Commenting on the issue of the cultural fiesta held for the promotion of Igbo culture and traditional values, Chief Ikechukwu Maduka expressed happiness at the event which was a huge success, pointing out that the objective of the cultural festival was realised. He thanked all who in one way or the other contributed to the success of the ceremony, especially Father Okelu.
