By David Onwuchekwa
The Custodian of Umueri Tradition, Chief Nnazoba Uchenna Kingsley (AJIE XXII Umueri Okebo) has once again presided over the 2026 Igu Aro ceremony in Igbo land showcasing spirituality and ancestral rites in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State.
AJIE XXII occupies the ancient priestly office of Ajie, an institution deeply rooted in Umueri history and Igbo cosmology, charged with the preservation of sacred customs, rituals and the traditional calendar of the people.
The Ajie institution predates colonial rule and Christianity and functions strictly as a spiritual authority, not a political one. It is entrusted with maintaining harmony between the people, the land (ala), and the ancestors (ndịichie).
As the 23rd holder of the office, Nnazoba Uchenna Kingsley performs age-long rites that symbolize continuity, moral order and communal balance within the Umueri community, whose cultural influence extends across many Igbo communities.
A central responsibility of the Ajie is the annual Igu Aro, also known as Ogugu Aro, which marks the beginning of the Igbo traditional year.
In Umueri, the ceremony is observed in February and represents a formal transition from the old year into the new, based on indigenous Igbo time reckoning rather than the Western January–December calendar.
The Igu Aro ceremony features solemn prayers, ritual observances and symbolic acts believed to invoke ancestral blessings for peace, security, good health and agricultural abundance.
It is traditionally regarded as a period of spiritual cleansing and renewal, during which the fortunes and challenges of the coming year are contemplated and the moral direction of the community reaffirmed.
Beyond its spiritual essence, Igu Aro serves as a major cultural marker, reinforcing Umueri’s historic role in the preservation of Igbo tradition.
The four-day event, held in Umueri with Chief Joseph Obaelue (Dike Ora Umueri) as Chairman included the submission of prayer requests and petitions, allowing individuals to seek ancestral intervention in personal and communal matters. A key spiritual performance, Obuga Mmanoma, also featured prominently.
The second day was dedicated to the revelation of prophecies, while the third day focused on Ama Akpalata Mmanoma and Nneyi Umueri.
The fourth and final day culminated in masquerades, processions and carnival-style celebrations at Enugwu Forest (Akwuete Nneyi).
Speaking on the significance of the ceremony, the founder of Unification (Njikota Odinana Igbo Gburu Gburu in conjunction with Ejimara Ndị Bu Ndigbo Cultural Association, Nze Anyanwuakpaoke, said the annual event is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Igbo culture and traditions.
He explained the urgent need to salvage Igbo customs, which he warned are facing extinction.
“We are committed to promoting unity and the culture of Igbo land. This is our sole mission,”Nze Anyanwuakpaoke said, adding that the revival of Igbo language, customs and values remains a collective responsibility.
The 2026 edition attracted cultural enthusiasts, traditional rulers and observers from within and outside Anambra State, reflecting a growing interest in indigenous heritage and identity.
Prominent personalities at the event included High Chief Josephat Onyeacholam, Ikenga Oyi na Omambala; Igwe Nyeloku na Umueri; Ohamadike I na Abba, who sponsored the ceremony; Chief Nnazoba Michael (Chinaemeze Umueri), CEO of Indonesia Hotels and Suites; Hon. Charles E. Chika (Ebubechukwuuzo Umueri); and High Chief Nonso Okafor, Onwa na Nkwelle Ezunaka, Okpata Ozue Ora na Abba, among others.
Through his custodianship, AJIE XXII Umueri Okebo continues to affirm the relevance of Umueri traditional institutions in contemporary society, presenting them not as relics of the past but as living systems of belief, memory and communal values.
One of the guest speakers, cultural advocate Mazi Chimezie Udeze, also known as Bewise Onyego Akajiofor, strongly emphasized that the Igbo calendar does not begin in January.
“The Igbo have four market days, while the British, who brought Christianity, have seven. How can a four-day and seven-day system begin the year at the same time?” he asked.
He noted that while the British calendar begins in January, the Igbo traditional year starts on February 1, just as countries like China, Russia and Israel observe their new year outside January.
“Do we begin farming in January? No. Farming starts in February, and that is when the new year truly begins for us,” he said.
Udeze called for the establishment of schools across Igbo States dedicated to the study of Nkwo, Eke, Orie and Afo, the four Igbo market days, as a pathway to reconnecting Ndị Igbo with their roots.
He also noted that despite introducing Christianity, the British continue to preserve their own traditions.
The event featured homage-paying to AJIE XXII, cultural displays, music, gift exchanges and various forms of entertainment, with food and drinks freely shared among attendees.
