By Eric Elezuo
A pan Igbo cultural festival is scheduled to take place this Saturday (today) at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) field, FESTAC Town, Lagos, under the chairmanship of the Ihuarugo Egbema Kingdom and former Managing Director, Imo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, Chief Anayo Anozie.
The event tagged Igbo Heritage Carnival is a cultural gathering of all Igbo sons and daughters as well as lovers of the Igbo ways of life to celebrate the rich cultural endowments of the Igbo race.
Endorsed by Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Igbo Stakeholders Forum, the show is billed to kick off by 8 am on Saturday January 26, 2019 with a Road Show.
Speaking exclusively to The Boss, the Carnival Director, who is also an A-list Nollywood actress, Chioma Igwe, said that it is high time the Igbo in Lagos begin to get together to celebrate those things that make them Ndigbo, and that explains why she and her team put together the carnival.
“Sometimes we stay in Lagos, and completely forget a lot of things about out culture, including our language. Most of our children are very fluent in other people’s language but can hardly speak a word of Igbo. That and many more are the basic things we are trying to stop,” she said.
She explained further that beginning with a road show which will start from the FHA field through 22 Road and its environs and terminate at the FHA field, after which the programme will kick off proper.
On the line up of events are cultural dances, displays in local colour, paradeof native Igbo food, Igbo costumes and hair cutting across different strata of the Igbo race and musical presentations.
One of the major highlights of the day will be the learning of the Igbo Language among the children to be supervised by the Keynote Speaker, Prof. Chidozie Bright Nnabuife, Associate Professor of Igbo Language, Department of African and Asian Studies, UNILAG.
Other special dignitaries expected to grace the day include the Royal of the day, Eze Igbo Amuwo Odofin LGA and chairman, Eze Udo and Title Holders Association, Lagos, Eze Godian Dim Ogidii; the Royal mother of the day, Adadioranma Ndigbo, and former Secretary to Lagos State Government, Princess Aderemi Adeniran Ogunsanya; immediate past Chairman of Amuwo Odofin LGA, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) among many others.
The one day carnival, a package of Limelight Multi-Projects Limited, is sponsored by Nigeria Breweries, Chelsea Dry Gin, Lush Hair and a host of others.
Other Articles
