By Onuorah Ndubuisi Godwin and Okpara Obinna Augustinepaul
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!It was a colourful event and first of its kind since recent times in Mgbowo town. The Mgbowo-lese, comprising of five different communities on 30th, March, 2024, trooped out enmasse in what could be described as a massive homecoming, to resurrect and unveil some cultural dance groups well known in Mgbowo ancient culture to some persons as, remarkable genres of Mgbowol’ese cultural songs or music.
Noting in his welcome address, the initiator and sponsor of the great event, General F.O Azinta, expressed that culture is part and parcel of the awareness being possessed by a community, in which of its own historical evolution by inference, tends to assert continuity of its own being.
In this regard, Gen. Azinta stated it became imperative to rekindle the dying flames of near extinct cultural songs associated with some notable dance groups in Mgbowolese, such as, the Nkwanwaugomma cultural dance group, the Egwu-Torch ancient cultural dance group, the Njikonụ Atilogwu cultural dance group, and Egwu-Aja cultural dance group, which came together in their respective troops and displays, to entertain the timbers and calibers of Mgbowo, as well as the young and the old, and even visitors, friends and Well-wishers of the Community who came to relish the moment.
The General, however lamented the scarcity of skilled persons within the communities who are experts in beating the drums of Nkwa-nwa-ekete, ikiri-mgba and a few others, stressing that such music and songs were what distinguished each community from its neighbours.
The Big event was an eyeopener that, despite the emergence of vigorous currencies in the international space, as well as the massive powers of technology in this information age amongst other related issues of development, which has questioned the survival of the indigenous people, and placed positive perceptions of culture on the line in a way that instantly generates debates, emotions, and sometimes, feelings of deep, personal identity questions in most parts of the world, spells the need for sustainable communal cultural heritage.
In his own contributions, Prof. Udenta O. Udenta, who was at the event on dual capacity; as Son of the soil and Chairman of the occasion, narrated with high sense of nostalgia, how elated he was to have witnessed all over again, the rendered songs and dance groups of the event which he stated, thrived and trended during his younger age. He appreciated the efforts of the organisers and paid glowing tributes to Gen. F.O Azinta for embarking on the wonderful initiative.
Notable Dignitaries in attendance at the event were, the Honourable Member Representing Awgu South State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Anthony Nwankwo, Traditional Rulers of the Two Autonomous Communities in Mgbowo, HRH. Igwe John Azubuike Ibe, and his Traditional Prime Minister, High Chief Augustine Ezenwaka, HRH. Igwe Gregory Ikwuagwu Ituma and his Traditional Minister, High Chief (Major) Joseph Egwu, and Rtd. Ikenga II of Ekpulato Mgbowo.
Other high-profiled Dignitaries were, Hon. Obi Carl Kama; Former Enugu State Honourable Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hon. Chief Mau Udenta, Hon. Engr. Chukwuma Orji-Okpara, Former Enugu State House of Assembly Member, Ogbuehi Nnaemeka Akachukwu, Former Candidate of the Labour Party for Awgu South State Assembly election, Lt. Col. Emuren, Lt. Col. Adeleke, Major Ozoemena and numerous others.
Side attractions at the event included the Mgbowo got talent dance troupe, the Amaeta Mgbowo Chidubem dance group, and inspiring comments from notable observers. Not left out were lots of mouthwatering refreshments and captivating photos and videos to register the nostalgic event in the sands of time.
#CulturalRenaissance
#Gen.F.O.Azinta
#MgbowoleseCommunity
Ready to work, and deliver my duey