Lessons From The Just Concluded 2025 Annual Igwa Nshi Festival Of Amankwo Eke Autonomous Community To The Rest Of Other Villages In Eke ~ Ozo Prof. Chinedu Aguba, FNAEAP, (Ozo Nnebuligwe 1 N’Eke)
Lessons From The Just Concluded 2025 Annual Igwa Nshi Festival Of Amankwo Eke Autonomous Community To The Rest Of Other Villages In Eke
Preamble:
Igwa Nshi Festival of Eke has gradually been transformed into a cultural carnival of sorts judging from all standards. It is a cultural festival that is rooted in the historical traditions of our people. It is our cultural heritage that heralds our outstanding victories in various inter-communal wars of the ancient past. There is no gain saying the fact that Igwa Nshi is synonymous with Eke. Hence, once you introduce yourself as a native of Eke to outsiders, the first thing you will hear is , when are you people going to do Igwa Nshi? There is no better way to define culture other than to say that it is a people’s way of life which distinguishes a people or society from the rest of other societies. According to Plato, “there is no society without culture “. In other words, there is no cultureless society across the globe. Plato goes further to opine that, “ show me a society without culture and I will show you a society that does not exist “.
Igwa Nshi has tremendous socio-economic and cultural benefits to the good people of Eke and beyond. The first of these benefits is cultural identity. It is significantly amazing that Nshi festival which has the cultural ingredients of our people provides identity roles to the good people of Eke. Second, Igwa Nshi festival provides unbridled joy and innermost pleasure to both the rich and the poor. In a country like ours where political gladiators, vagabonds in power, and looters of public treasury are rife and ostensibly corrupt, the people are scarcely looking for avenues for joy and happiness. Igwa Nshi festival tends to momentarily fill the gap from the first day of “Iwa Ekwe Nshi” till the last village to celebrate their own. After all, what is life without happiness? Third, it reminds the people of Eke how great they have always been from the ancient days till present. We need not be reminded that Eke is a great town of beautiful people and beautiful places. We defeated a lot of communities during the days of inter- communal wars in the past. Four, Igwa Nshi provides ample opportunities for a lot of our young people to discover their missing ribs, thereby making it possible for them to marry their loved ones. Five, Igwa Nshi has successfully exported the image and cultural edifices of Eke to the rest of the world. Various people and communities outside Eke now “steal” the lyrics and vibes of Igwa Nshi . Hardly, will any social event take place in Igbo land, or been organized by Ndigbo whether in Nigeria or in diaspora, without lyrics/music from Igwa Nshi. Our Nkanu brothers and sisters tend to emulate our native and God-given Igwa Nshi songs , but paracetamols can never be the same thing with Panadol. Six, the economic fortunes derivable from this unique feast are massive and expansive. Market vendors of all sorts have a field day selling their goods to the teeming population that usually witness the festive season. Seven, it strengthens the bonds between and among brothers, sisters, in-laws, and friends from both Eke and beyond. Interpersonal relationships are reinforced among friends and relatives who are usually invited to this event. The list of benefits acruable from Igwa Nshi is legion and cannot be exhausted in a write up of this kind.
NOW, LESSONS FROM AMANKWO EKE COMMUNITY
The 2025 Igwa Nshi Festival of Achala Ishiani Amankwo has come and gone but not without some positive vibes in the operational dynamics of the festival. Undisputedly, the Igwa Nshi festival of Amankwo Eke was a humongous success in all ramifications, which prompted this write up for other villages to take a cue from them and even surpass them. However, my assessment is based on the video clips from Obodo Amankwo . My assessment was equally informed by their charming precedents and far-reaching pedigree over the years. I was not opportuned to witness this year’s edition as I was on official duty, very far away from our land of nativity.
Below are the glamorous areas of interest that made their outings memorable and unique, and I passionately plead with the leaders of other villages to emulate them:
1. Time Management: Each hamlet or village in Amankwo was mandated to be at the Obodo Amankwo before 4:00 pm on that Saturday, 31st May, 2025. This was excellently enforced as Obodo Amankwo was filled to capacity in time. Visitors and guests, including our people had ample time and opportunity to enjoy the show to the fullest. It is usually disgusting to see some other villages in Eke starting their own shows as late as 6:00 pm. This does not make any sense.
2. Every Amankwo person at the Obodo Amankwo participated in one way or the other at the event: Yes, are we surprised? This is what makes their Igwa Nshi tick and exceptionally good. Both the rich and the poor; young and old; men and women were actively involved. From the video clips from this year’s edition, I saw Chief Engr Chris Chigbo( Ogbuanu) dancing and singing. I saw the Chairman of Amankwo Eke Autonomous Community, Hon Dr Steve Igweze being almost everywhere in his bid to make this year’s event a memorable one. Eze Omeogo, Jance International, and CEO Peerless Group of Companies, Chief Dr Emeka Ude was literally everywhere, mastering the ceremony, organizing the event,etc. From the video clips that I watched, I saw Ozo Uche Alor, Ozo Bartho Udeaba, Ozo Cally Mgbo, etc. I saw various chairmen of respective villages and hamlets in Amankwo. Even though I did not see the following heavyweights in the video that I watched, I guess they were present because they have always been present and known for their love for Eke culture. The roles of Very Rev Fr Prof Nnamdi Nwankwo, Dr Damion Ozoani ( Ochinawata) and Mr Augustine Okechukwu (High Number) over the years cannot be overemphasized. The efforts of late Goddy Ede ( Ede War) and late Joe Onyeama will live forever in our hearts.
Other villages must take a cue from Amankwo with special attention to this second lesson. A situation whereby some notable indigenes of the village put their two hands in their pockets during Igwa Nshi , leaving the singing, dancing, drumming etc in the hands of the local champions and talakawas should not arise. After all, why did you come home in the first place? Some of us choose to be buying and drinking alcohol very close to where the show is going on, with its attendant distractions.
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In case we don’t know, culture tends to survive extinction when notable men and women in the area actively participate in its regeneration and activities. People who have reached the pinnacle of their chosen career in life such as Professors, Judges, Medical Consultants, Distinguished Media Practitioners, Business Moguls, Bank Chiefs, Professionals of various shades and fields etc should be part of this movement. This is so because these people are the guardians of the society, they are the role models, they are the envy of the people, they are part of the centripetal and centrifugal forces of the elitist group in the society. When people see these guys in this category as they beat the drums, dance the lyrics, handle the wooden gongs, sing the irresistible songs of Igwa Nshi, they will know that it is a serious business and will have no option than to join immediately. I still recall with a deep nostalgia as a University Professor how my students got interested in Igwa Nshi simply because some of them who witnessed me beat the drum two years ago came to the campus, announced what they saw and shared the videos they made of the event. In like manner, if you invite visitors to Igwa Nshi and they see you participating actively either in the beating of the drum or singing, they will value you more . You should not invite people to watch your cultural displays and yet, you too are watching from the sidelines. It doesn’t add up!!!
What am I saying, Amankwo elites were/ are well on ground with Igwa Nshi. They are ever largely supportive. The rest of Eke should emulate them on this.
3. Another lesson is the traditional outfits worn by virtually all of them. It is arrant nonsense not to dress according to the demands of the event. Each hamlet or village in AMANKWO came to the stage in a unique cultural attire reminiscent of the original Igwa Nshi style.
4. There were enough wooden gongs. Many people don’t know that the beauty of Igwa Nshi lies in the number of wooden gongs that provide the much needed positive vibrations.
5. The Igwa Nshi Amankwo Eke was well publicized in both mainstream media outlets and social media . It received wide media coverage before, during and after the event. It was well articulated and properly hyped. The publicity created awareness that eventually led to the intimidating crowd that greeted the occasion…….and the Amankwo Eke did not disappoint the crowd.
6. The Igwa Nshi songs I listened to were original and scintillating. There were no adulterations of any kind. Let us not forget that Nshi Festival is known for its peculiar songs, lyrics and dance steps. All these were wonderfully exhibited during the event under review.
It is highly atrocious that some villages in Eke have condoned the use of foul language and indecent and indecorous songs echoing sex and sexual behaviors as their only songs. This is too repulsive and repugnant to decency and all forms of morality and human ethics. Many visitors to Igwa Nshi Eke have accosted me with this ugly scenarios, in the past. They told me that our feast is good but may be destroyed in no distant future by these unguarded songs. I was reliably told that this trend does not guarantee good public image.
Let us not forget that Igwa Nshi songs were originally meant to address some societal ills; expose corruption at all levels; boast of Eke greatness especially at wars; commend and praise some of our illustrious sons and daughters for bringing some developmental progress to Eke, etc.
7. Each village or hamlet in Amankwo had a convergence point from where they came to Obodo Amankwo to perform. In other words, they came to Obodo Amankwo one by one in their unique cultural displays.
8. Obodo Amankwo was well arranged: There were well decorated canopies for the VIP guests. There were adequate seats for the elderly, Ozo titled holders, the sick, etc .
9. There was well functioning public address system to hype the event and recognize some dignitaries at the event.
10. A lot of money went into the planning and execution of the event. I don’t need to be told. Good soup na money make am,
CONCLUSION
I have gone this far to thoroughly x-ray the Amankwo EKE Igwanshi Festival with a view to encouraging other villages in Eke, including mine to rise up to the challenge and emulate the operational modules of Amankwo, and if possible, surpass them. What I wrote here were entirely my thoughts. I take responsibility for my actions and inactions regarding this write up. You are free to attack the write up, but please don’t attack the writer. I am a lover of culture, a member of the distinguished Ozo-Eke Society whose mandate is primarily to preserve the culture and traditions of Eke.
I hereby challenge Umunnam, Enugu Eke Odunejeogu, a village that gave Eke their first Rev Fr and their first Rev Sister; a village that produced one of the most prominent, if not the best Musical Star and Dancer, late Chief Anthony Magbo( Buzuzu). We can do better! Ndi Ikwunne m, my maternal home, Agulujioba, Ogui Eke, you people are the holders of sacred rites of Eke, Ndi na aka nso n’Eke, I hail you guys. You can do better. Omashiakpite Igbo Ji, the most populous village in Eke, Oma Eke, you are great and I know that you can do better. Amufia Eke, the most Senior , small but mighty , you can do better. Ogui Agu Eke, the upcoming Japan of Eke, I trust that you can do better.
And to the great people of Amankwo Eke, I say a very big congratulations to all of you for setting the pace, though there are always room for improvement. You guys were equally lucky that nature smiled at you. There was no rain. Nothing spoils Igwanshi of any village like impromptu rainfall.
Long live the great people of Eke Oshie Anugwu!
May we remain perpetually guided and guarded in the hands of our Creator.
Proudly Eke!!!
Lessons From The Just Concluded 2025 Annual Igwa Nshi Festival Of Amankwo Eke Autonomous Community To The Rest Of Other Villages In Eke.
