Uche Akwukwuegbu - National Ambassador News https://nationalambassadorngr.com Uplift the people, project the nation Sat, 17 Jun 2023 13:59:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://i0.wp.com/nationalambassadorngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cropped-NATIONAL-AMBASSADOR-favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Uche Akwukwuegbu - National Ambassador News https://nationalambassadorngr.com 32 32 220085326 Amuzukwu Community Celebrates ‘Da Mgborie’ Festival, Harps On Need To Promote Igbo Culture https://nationalambassadorngr.com/amuzukwu-community-celebrates-da-mgborie-festival-harps-on-need-to-promote-igbo-culture/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=amuzukwu-community-celebrates-da-mgborie-festival-harps-on-need-to-promote-igbo-culture Mon, 02 Jan 2023 17:59:42 +0000 https://nationalambassadorngr.com/?p=187602   As part of activities to mark the  Christmas and New Year celebration, the people of Amuzukwu Community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of…

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As part of activities to mark the  Christmas and New Year celebration, the people of Amuzukwu Community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, have celebrated their ‘Da Mgborie’ festival in a grand style.
The event which is being celebrated every three years, is done to stir excitement,as well as, entertain people during the yuletide season.
The people of Amuzukwu-Ibeku converged at their village square,on the 1st of January,2023, to witness the various displays of the well decorated masquerade.
In an interview with the Traditional Ruler of Amuzukwu- Ibeku Autonomous Community, Eze John Ibezim, who gave insight on the origin of the ‘Da Mgborie’ festival, said the festival began as far back as 1935.
According to him, some people of his community, travelled to Akwa Ibom state, saw the cultural display and brought it to Amuzukwu. He said the display was interesting, so they improved on it and made it as part of their culture.
He said the festival is celebrated triennially to mark the Christmas and New Year celebrations, during which, sons and daughters of Amuzukwu,both home and abroad come together to celebrate.
The  monarch further stated that the festival is simply a replica of their father Christmas, adding that it does not have any fetish inclination,but strictly a mode of entertainment. He added that after the festival, the costumes used in decorating the masquerade is being dismantled and kept for the next festival.
Meanwhile, the traditional ruler harped on the need for the igbo culture to be sustained, adding that in Britain and other parts of the world,they promote and practice their cultures, while in Africa, they allow their cultures to go extinct, stressing that it is narrow mindedness for Africans to disregard and relegate their culture to the background.
He also used the medium to call on Abians and Nigerians in general to use the 2023 general elections to effect the desired change, by voting in leaders of conscience and not the ones that have the intention of embezzling public funds.
“Lets pray to God that this election will give us something tangible. That is where our hope is now, there is no amount of suffering we have not gone through.God should give us a good leader in Nigeria, someone that will come to rule and not to grab what is left”,he said.
Contributing the Traditional Prime Minister of Ibeku Ancient Kingdom, Royal High Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu, called for a concerted effort in protecting the Igbo culture, stating that he has made several moves in campaigning against igbo language going on extinction.
He described himself as a custodian of igbo culture, explaining that the ‘Da Mgborie’ festival is one of the festivals that is being celebrated in Amuzukwu community.
According to the Traditional Prime Minister, the essence of the festival is to bring people together, appreciating God for keeping him alive to witness the festival.
He further advised people to vote their conscience at the 2023 polls, disclosing that he is supporting all People’s Democratic Party candidates from State House of Assembly to Governorship,House of Representatives and Senate, but  stated that as an Igbo man, he would vote his conscience in the presidential election.

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]]> 187668 New Yam Festival: Ibeku celebrates amidst tears https://nationalambassadorngr.com/new-yam-festival-ibeku-celebrates-amidst-tears/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-yam-festival-ibeku-celebrates-amidst-tears Sun, 30 Aug 2020 20:35:41 +0000 https://nationalambassadorngr.com/?p=18476   The outbreak of the deadly coronavirus pandemic and the death of some prominent persons of the Ibeku land,has in no small measure,affected this year’s…

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The outbreak of the deadly coronavirus pandemic and the death of some prominent persons of the Ibeku land,has in no small measure,affected this year’s New yam celebration ( Iriji),as indigenes of the land are celebrating in tears and in a very low key.

Speaking with the Traditional Prime Minister of Ibeku Land and the President, Council of Traditional Prime Ministers in Abia state, Royal High Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu, said unlike their usual celebration that used to be done elaborately, this year, due to the covid 19 pandemic and the death of some of their illustrious sons,Eze Dan Egbeogu,Chief Johnson Onuigbo, among others,the  Ibeku people decided to bring their flag down and celebrate in a low key.

Chief Akwukwuegbu said that the Iriji festival is very important to all and sundry even Christians, as it is a way of thanking God for a successful harvest year, adding that anybody that has harvest,is suppose to celebrate the festival.

According to him, the reason the yam is being celebrated among others crops,is because, it is seen as the king of crops.

Narrating how the iriji festival started,the Prime Minister noted that the tradition was bequeathed to them by their fore fathers, stating that before now, the festival was called ‘Ihe Njoku’, which was characterised by fetish practices, adding that as they took over the tradition, they modernized and abolished some ill practices to accommodate everyone as well as christians.

However,he said the significance of the festival was enormous,as it helps to  bring people together,thereby boosting unity among members of the land.

According to him, the iriji festival create an atmosphere for people of the marriageable age to meet and start a relationship which may eventually comminates into marriage,as well as make people to be physically fit, since the celebration entails people trekking from from distance to another, basking in the euphoria of the celebration.

While lamenting the effect of the covid 19 on the 2020 iriji celebration, Chief Akwukwuegbu, stated that apart from the pain of death which has made them to celebrate in a low key, the covid 19 has taught them how to observe a good personal hygiene of washing of hands regularly and keeping the environment clean, as well as cutting down on unnecessary spendings.

He added that if not for the covid 19, he would have spent nothing less than #1million for the celebration,but with the NCDC guidelines of restricted number of people in a particular place,the celebration is scanty, making him spend less.

The Prime Minister further advised the youth to observe strictly all the state government and  NCDC covid 19 protocol while they celebrate, adding that they should ensure they observe a violence free festival.

Meanwhile, Chief Akwukwuegbu, wished Abians well on their 29th anniversary celebration, adding that the move to enact the Abia Charter of Equity as a Law, will among other things,give voice to the minority groups in the state,as well as entrench unity and progress in the state.

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