From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
Ten days after the events that marked the celebration of 2024 New yam festival, culturally referred as ‘Nneke-jI/Mgbabu Edere’ in Achi town, Oji River council area of Enugu state, the memories are still very fresh in the minds of the people.
This stems from the fact that some of the activities that marked the event were programmed to empower many of the indigenes, especially the youths and the elderly with material gifts to advance their socio-economic well being.
The reality on ground remains the fact that the three young men who respectively won a sienna vehicle, a shuttle bus and a tricycle from the traditional wrestling competition, have started utilising them to earn their daily bread.
This is in line with the directive by the donor, His Royal Highness, Igwe Chima Achiekwelu, the traditional ruler of ‘Elugwu la Nkpokolo’ that the winners must use the vehicles to cater for their needs and be self-reliant in the society.
For instance, It was gathered that the first prize winner of the traditional wrestling competition, Mr. Awuzie from Egwu-Achi, whose wife put to bed on the eve of the final wrestling match is happily living up to expectations in attending to the needs of his new baby and mother.
Coincidentally, both the delivery of the new baby and gift of a sienna car courtesy of HRH Igwe Chima Achiekwelu, are the fruits of his labour.
The young men and women who went home with some cash rewards for having participated in the mini marathon race that marked the beginning of the festival on Friday.October 25, are up and doing.
To a large extent, the strategy of reviving the fading and eroding culture of Achi town through the annual celebration of new yam festival, initiated and sponsored by HRH Igwe Chima Achiekwelu, is serving as a means of economic empowerment to the citizens, in addition to promoting the forgotten cultural ethics and tradition of Achi town, which enhanced peaceful co- existence of their fore fathers.
Igwe Chima Achiekwelu has left no one in doubt that the revival and modernisation of the ancestral culture of Achi town is one of the avenue to achieve social harmony, peace and unity that would stimulate socio infrastructural development of Achi town through commitment of the citizens by themselves.
Though Achi as a town presently comprises of twelve autonomous communities, there are historical evidences that their fore fathers often gather together to celebrate their uniqueness, hospitality, love and culture,etc. Reports have it that at such gatherings, they shared and drank from same keg of palm wine with same calabash cup altogether, irrespective of class in the society.
The tradition depicts their brotherhood and passion for the progress of one another.
Attempts at reviving the above cultural heritage is embedded in the ‘Oga-aga,Agwu-agwu Achi’ festival. A triennal event that is usually celebrated at the palace where the first man who settled in Achi(Obu-Achi) lived.
The celebration of Ogaga, Agwuagwu culture in Achi town has been modernised in recent times to include gingering developmental projects in Achi, award of scholarship to intelligent sons and daughters of Achi orijin from poor background, traditional title taking by sons and daughters of Achi, who have excelled in different fields of endeavour. At the same time and venue re enacting traditional dances and delicacies of Achi town to entertain both visitors and friends of the town,who usually comes from different parts of the globe to join in the celebration.
HRH Igwe Chima Achiekwelu, has also been a major stakeholder in the sponsorship of the triennial festival of ‘Oga-aga,Agwu-agwu Achi’.
Thus, the reasons are not far fetched for bestowing an award him over his inputs in reviving Achi culture by the Forum of Oji River Journalists.
Igwe Chima Achiekwelu is a philantrophist who dispenses his hard earned wealth for public good.
HRH Igwe Chima Achiekwelu devotes most of his time and resources in all affairs as it concerns the growth of Achi town, socio economically and culturally.
Amidst his flare for gingering development of Achi town through modernisation of it’s culture,It is on record that Igwe Chima Achiekwelu, single-handedly financed the building of the physical structures of St.Marys Catholic Church, a mini cathedral in his immediate community of ‘Elugwu na Nkpokolo’ Achi.
HRH Igwe Chima Achiekwelu, recently requested for a norminal role of the most elderly person from the twelve autonomous communities in Achi, he sent a watering cash gift to each an every one of them for their upkeep.
HRH Igwe Chima Achiekwelu, who doubles as the current chairman of Oji River Traditional Rulers Council, silently contributes much in several aspects of human resources development and empowernment on the basis of which the ‘Forum of Oji River Journalists’ deemed him fit for an award, gingering ‘Cultural re-awakening’in Achi town and beyond,which already have proven cases of human empowerment and economic development of his people.
The award which he accepted gladly was handed over to him at the epoch of the 2024 New yam festival known as Nneke-Ji/Mgbabu Edere festival of his community,which started on Friday, October 25 and ended on Sunday.October 2,at Eke- Egbo Achi market square.
The event was witnessed by friends from all walks of life and indigenes who returned for the new yam festival and a crowd of the rural dwellers who were all all happy with the contribution of Igwe Chima Achiekwelu in the socio cultural and economic empowerment of the citizens,especially the downtrodden.
