Every year, the people of Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local
Government Area of Anambra State look up to the Afia-Olu Festival. The
day marks the beginning of eating of new yam in the community and the
end of the planting season in Oraifite.During the festival, the sons and
daughters of the community living across the country and in the
Diaspora return home to join the relations in the celebration.
This year’s festival had billionaire businessman and native of Oraifite, Sir Emeka Offor, as the chief host.
Sir Offor, who had attended the festival with a lot of his friends, including the Enugu State governor, Mr Sullivanm Chime, paraised his people for the colourful presentation of their rich culture, their spirit of camaraderie and pursuit of peace among all people.
“As your son, I am very pleased to be a part of the Afia-Olu celebration. It is who we are and we need to sustain it,” Offor said.
He urged the people to always come together in order to promote their rich cultural heritage.
The business mogul pledged to rehabilitate the community hall ahead of the Christmas celebrations, which immediately stirred up a joy at the festival.
Speaking, President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented at the festival by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke said that the new yam festival of the Oraifite people is a national festival recognized by the Federal Government.
He stated that the festival is now a permanent constituent of the yearly national budget.
“In recognition of the significance of the cultural significance of Oraifite Afia-Olu, the Federal Government has earmarked an annual sum of N5 million in the national budget to assist the community in administering the festival.
“It is now a permanent record in the national budget; whether I am there or not, the money will be made available to the community of Oraifite to promote the cultural relevance of Afia-Olu,”Jonathan said.
He told the Oraifite people that their attitude to culture was symbolic and rich, noting that “culture is a peoples identity and a unifying ingredient in an organized society.”
He said that the Afia-Olu Festival, which he has followed for some time now, has grown over the years not just in size but also in quality as a result of its richness in culture and content.
The president, therefore, charged the community to continue to foster that strong spirit of brotherhood for which the Igbo people are know for all over the world.
Delivering the message of the Oraifite Improvement Union (OIU), the President General, Dr J.A.P Nwokolo, thanked the Afia-Olu planning committee for the success of the festival.
He praised the community leaders and Sir Offor in particular for his fervent support of the yearly celebration.
Apart from Governor Chime, other dignitaries who accompanied Sir Offor to the festival included the former member of the state House of Representatives, Chudi Ofodile.
The highlight of the festival was the colourful parade of over 50 Masquerades representing the different clans in Oraifite.
Sir Offor, who had attended the festival with a lot of his friends, including the Enugu State governor, Mr Sullivanm Chime, paraised his people for the colourful presentation of their rich culture, their spirit of camaraderie and pursuit of peace among all people.
“As your son, I am very pleased to be a part of the Afia-Olu celebration. It is who we are and we need to sustain it,” Offor said.
He urged the people to always come together in order to promote their rich cultural heritage.
The business mogul pledged to rehabilitate the community hall ahead of the Christmas celebrations, which immediately stirred up a joy at the festival.
Speaking, President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented at the festival by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke said that the new yam festival of the Oraifite people is a national festival recognized by the Federal Government.
He stated that the festival is now a permanent constituent of the yearly national budget.
“In recognition of the significance of the cultural significance of Oraifite Afia-Olu, the Federal Government has earmarked an annual sum of N5 million in the national budget to assist the community in administering the festival.
“It is now a permanent record in the national budget; whether I am there or not, the money will be made available to the community of Oraifite to promote the cultural relevance of Afia-Olu,”Jonathan said.
He told the Oraifite people that their attitude to culture was symbolic and rich, noting that “culture is a peoples identity and a unifying ingredient in an organized society.”
He said that the Afia-Olu Festival, which he has followed for some time now, has grown over the years not just in size but also in quality as a result of its richness in culture and content.
The president, therefore, charged the community to continue to foster that strong spirit of brotherhood for which the Igbo people are know for all over the world.
Delivering the message of the Oraifite Improvement Union (OIU), the President General, Dr J.A.P Nwokolo, thanked the Afia-Olu planning committee for the success of the festival.
He praised the community leaders and Sir Offor in particular for his fervent support of the yearly celebration.
Apart from Governor Chime, other dignitaries who accompanied Sir Offor to the festival included the former member of the state House of Representatives, Chudi Ofodile.
The highlight of the festival was the colourful parade of over 50 Masquerades representing the different clans in Oraifite.
No comments:
Post a Comment