By Akuma Ebere
In its continuous effort towards fostering culture and tradition of Igbo race, the people of Umusiome village, Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State , recently converged to mark their annual festival code-named ‘Ntu Festival’.
Ntu festival is a cultural event usually celebrated by the Nkpor community and it is sequentially done by the ten villages that make up Nkpor Agu and Nkpor Uno community in the order of their seniority.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of Umusiome youth, Mr Ikenna Okeke (Abada) welcomed all to the event and thanked them for honouring their invitation, especially Mr Ebelechukwu, the golden Governor of Nkpor, adding that their presence graced the occasion to mark their fathers’ heritage.
Abada thanked their people for their support and cooperation which, according to him, were serving as soothing balm towards the progress of their community.
Shedding light on ntu festival, the youth treasurer, Mr Benjamin Njegbu (Anaegbuachala Nkpor) said: “Ntu Festival is one of the greatest festivals the people of Nkpor often celebrate, the cultural heritage is annually celebrated by the ten villages that made up of Nkpor Agu and Nkpor Uno community. So the villages take turn ranging in the order of seniority to mark the event.The festival is what our forefathers left for us, it is peculiar, rich and devoid of fetish practices, so we can’t let it go into extinction. It is our heritage and it is worthy celebrating and passing down from generations to generations,”he disclosed.
Anaegbuachala Nkpor encouraged the people to stand firmly to their fathers’ heritage, adding that it is the origin of their race.
He, therefore, prayed for a successful cultivation and progress for all that came even as he wished them journey mercies to their respective destinations.
On his part, the proprietor Ebelechukwu Group of Schools Umusiome, Sir Timothy Ebelechukwu also said that it was a time for cultivation.
He appreciated everyone especially the organizers, the PGs, the chairman of the villages and all the members of the village.
The chairman Umusiome central landlords Association Nkpor, Chief Sir Dan Alaneme thanked the organizers of the event and used the medium to urge everyone particularly the youths to shun violence and seek for peace for the betterment of the community.
Mr Godson Ejiofor, Chimezie Chukwuma and Mr Obinwanna Obiozor disclosed that the festival was what they normally observed once it is time to cultivate crops. He encouraged everyone to shun crime and go ahead with good behavior that Nkpor was known for. They appreciated the efforts of the village chairman and their executives and prayed God to give them more wisdom in piloting the affairs of the community.
Highlights of the event were breaking of kolanut, cultural dance, masquerade parade.
