Don’t let our tradition, culture go into extinction – Enugu monarch charges Igbos

The traditional ruler of Amurri ancient kingdom in Nkanu West Council Area of Enugu State, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Charles Egbo Nwoye, has called on the Igbo not to allow their culture and tradition go into extinction.

The monarch said posterity won’t forgive the custodians if they let such happen.

Speaking during the 2024 annual popular ‘Oriri Anu Amurri’, which is a combination of their new yam festival held at the community’s market square, the monarch insisted that the history of a people would be incomplete without their culture and tradition.

He urged traditional rulers in Igbo land to keep doing everything within their powers to ensure that the culture and tradition of their localities do not go into extinction.

He said: “what we are doing here today, being Afor market day, is remarkable in the history of Amurri ancient kingdom. We are marking what has been in existence from time immemorial.

“It is only archeologists that can test the soil and trees to ascertain how long this community has been existing, and even at that, they can only use the word about, which may not be accurate.

“So, what we have gathered here today to celebrate is what we call Oriri Anu Amurri Esato Obodo Esato. Oriri, simply means celebration, while Anu means the soil. We are celebrating the soil.

“During the farming season, we cultivate, we plant different seedlings and produce into the soil, and by the beginning of November, we will begin to harvest and make bumper harvest.

“So in a nutshell, we have gathered here today to celebrate the soil of Amurri.

“In other words, we are celebrating Amurri Esato for the bumper harvest she has given to us for this year 2024.

“We appreciate the soil. We plant a small seed of yam, cocoyam and cassava, and come back to harvest bountifully.

“So for me, as a traditional ruler that is deeply rooted in tradition, I will keep propagating our culture and tradition.

“And that is why we have come to conclude this festival celebration which started in October with this grand finale.”

Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, who spoke through his Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Patrick Ubru, applauded the Amurri people for their zeal and resilience in farming which he said was in line with his administration’s commitment to boosting food production and sufficiency.

He assured the people that his government would continue to provide farmers the conducive environment to enhance food sufficiency and make the state food basket of the South East.

Also speaking, the immediate past chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye stressed the need for religious groups to always imbibe the culture of tolerance.

The APC chieftain, who is a Crown Prince in the Community, noted that before the advent of the Europeans that led to the acceptance of Christianity in Africa, natives had their ancient ways of worshipping their gods.

Going down memory lane, he recalled that the natives accommodated various Christian denominations like Catholic Church, Methodist, among others.

The former Federal Commissioner further disclosed that apart from accommodating Christianity, the natives gave the missionaries places where they built schools and churches.

Nwoye therefore appealed to Christians, Muslims and other religions to also tolerate the traditional worshippers and not to despise them.

“We call on the Christian religion to also be accommodative and not to go to any community and despise them.

“The way of worship of Amuri people is the ancient way of worship and the God that created us still hears us,” he stated.

He explained that the cultural celebration is also used to seek for peace, adding that the priests of the land have already showered blessings on them.

Also speaking, the Chief Priest of Amuri, John Njoku stated that they used the event to celebrate the new yam festival and appreciate the land of Amuri.

In an interview, the Senator representing Enugu East senatorial district, Kelvin Chukwu, described this year’s festival as unique, saying it provided sons and daughters of Amurri kingdom the opportunity of coming together to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the locality.