From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The Council of Igbo States in America (CISA) will in August make history as the group stages the 10th edition of its annual Igbo Worldwide Festival of Arts and Culture.
This year’s activity is coming at a time the new Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has declared his poise to ensure integration of thousands of Americans of Igbo descent who had expressed their desire to be part of the apex Igbo body.
The driving force of the event is to preserve and promote African Igbo arts, language, and culture.
Daily Sun reported last year that the Coronavirus pandemic had affected some two editions of the widely attended fiesta leading to the introduction of virtual celebrations during the period.
However, the event returned to Igbo Village, Virginia, for the 2022 edition after the lift of COVID-19 restrictions.
Reputed as one of the most unique and amazing cultural exhibitions of Ndigbo outside Nigeria, the colourful event is designed to parade the beauty of Igbo cultural heritage in all ramifications.
It had over the years witnessed contingents from Africa; North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. Since its initial opening in 2008, participants had come from different countries including USA, Colombia, Canada, Mali, South Africa; Liberia, Cameroun, Ghana, London, Nigeria, Gabon, Trinidad and Togo, Jamaica, Haiti and Barbados.
Chair of CISA Board of Presidents, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze (Onowu Abagana), said this year’s edition will be the first to be held at Igbo Landing.
Igbo Landing-also called Ibo Landing, Ebo Landing, or Ebos Landing-is a historic site at Dunbar Creek on St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia: “It was the setting of a mass suicide in 1803 by captive Igbo people who had taken control of their slave ship and refused to submit to slavery in the United States.”
CISA’s Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Mathias Mgbeafulu said the festival displays to the world the peculiarities of the Igbo, their roots, cultural heritage, and influences in continental America and to foster brotherhood among their African American kin and to humanity: “For CISA, the festival is a one-way Igbo heritage and Igbo contribution to world development more firmly cast in bold relief; the event is better experienced than described as it undoubtedly brings together Igbo people from all its subcultures to celebrate the endearing spirit of Igbo civilization.”
Mgbeafulu added that this year’s festival is holding at the historic and sacred Igbo Landing to give the pride of place Igbo Landing has in the annals of active African resistance subjugation.
CISA is a non-profit charitable organization with a principal office in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, while its executives are mainly in the USA, the organization works with a network of Igbo stakeholders across the globe.
MEDICAL CONSULTANTS REVEALED HOW MEN CAN NATURALLY AND PERMANENTLY CURE QUICK ERECTION, SMALL MANHOOD, AND INFERTILITY ISSUES WITHOUT SIDE EFFECTS… CLICK HERE
