By Chukwuebuka Emmanuel Ogbodo
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze ,The Regent of Abagana and the Global Chairman of Igbo World Assembly hosted a grand banquet at his country home in Abagana, welcoming African American dignitaries Dr. Sidney Davies and Mayor Griffin Lotson. The evening, marked by traditional food, music, and dance, became a powerful moment of reconnection between the Igbo homeland and its diaspora.
The distinguished guests were received by Anambra State Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Mr. Don Onyenji, alongside the leadership of the Abagana Royal Council, the Abagana Welfare Union, and prominent high chiefs. In his welcome address, the President-General of the Abagana Welfare Union declared:
“we are pleased to welcome all of you to abagana, stating the historical happenstance of 31st march 1968.”
Commissioner Don Onyenji, speaking on behalf of the state government, praised Dr. Anakwenze’s commitment to cultural revival. He stated:
“Dr Anakwenze is one of the most few that have visited home with much impact, and anambra is grateful , he equally added that Igbo landing Georgia is something we must recognize and we must do something to tell our story. Assuring the government readiness to collaborate.”
Mayor Griffin Lotson, a seventh-generation Gullah Geechee descendant and Vice-Chairman of the U.S. Federal Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, revealed new archival findings. In his words:
“they have uncovered a record that 181 Igbos that did not die in the suicide as stipulated but emphasized firmly that the Igbos refused to be slaves and, in the process of resistance, they drowned, contrary to the speculation that they committed suicide. He assured of the resolve to change the narratives.”
Lotson, who manages the internationally renowned Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters, also highlighted the cultural preservation work being done in his hometown of Darien, Georgia, where the Gullah Geechee community continues to safeguard African traditions.
Beyond his political office in Darien, Georgia, Lotson has been instrumental in preserving Gullah Geechee traditions, which include unique language, cuisine, and spiritual practices rooted in West African heritage.
The Gullah Geechee people, descendants of enslaved Africans in the coastal U.S., maintain a distinct culture blending African, Caribbean, and Southern influences. Their traditions, ring shouts, storytelling, and Creole language remain a living link to Africa.
Dr. Sidney Davies added a spiritual dimension, comparing Aguleri to Rome, Jerusalem, and Mecca. He proclaimed:
“Christians have Rome, jews Jerusalem, Muslims mecca and Africans/igbos will have Aguleri . In his words we will be coming for our prigrimate every year in Aguleri our ancestral home ,while declaring im Igbo give me my citizenship(passport) I want to be coming back as I want he cried out.”
Dr. Anakwenze, visibly moved, thanked the guests and dignitaries for honoring his invitation. He prayed for their success and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening ties between the Igbo homeland and the African diaspora.
Igbo Landing (Georgia, 1803): A defining moment in African American history, where enslaved Igbo captives resisted slavery, inspiring generations of folklore.
This banquet in Abagana was more than a cultural celebration—it was a bridge across centuries, reconnecting the Igbo homeland with its diaspora, and reaffirming a shared history of resilience, identity, and hope.