Aro Festival: On the Brink of Extinction

Some years after Chimamanda Adichie brought Aro Festival to global prominence in her award-wining novel Purple Hibiscus, what used to be an elaborate festival is gradually winding up as a mere yearly ritual.

Every year, usually during the yuletide season, Ndigbo return home from all over the world to celebrate with their loved ones. Surpisingly, in the past a good number of people made their way to Abagana, Anambra state not to celebrate Christmass, but to witness the famous Aro Festival usually held in the month of December.

As a child, Adichie visited Ezi Icheke, Abagana to watch mmuo, masquerades. Little did she know then that years later her keen observation of the Aro Festival will occupy a chapter in a book that will bring her to prominence worldwide.

"When we got to Ezi Icheke, cars lined the road almost bumper to bumper," wrote Adichie. "the crowds that pressed around the cars were so dense there was no space between people and they blended into one another, wrappers blended into T-shirts, trousers into skirts, dresses into shirts. "

This discription is true for those who attended Aro Festival some years ago. Unfortunately, today this discription can not hold water for the crowds that attend the event. Every year, the number of people who attend the festival is reducing and even Adichie herself will not describe it like this if she is to visit Ezi Icheke again on the festival day.

An excellent faction (a combination of fact and fiction), Purple Hibiscus hinted that Aro Festival was on the brink of extinction. Just like in the dark ages in Albion (the oldest known name for Great Britain) when the new religion expelled the old religion shrouded in sorcery, Christianity and western exposure have come to kill Aro Festival.

This development is coming at a time when the world is focusing on tourism as a means of generating revenue for developmental purposes. This is also happening at a time when Nigeria is considering breaking away from over-dependency on crude oil and focusing more on the non-oil sectors of the economy.

Abagana, being a major Aro settlement in South-eastern Nigeria, witnesses a massive influx of Aro people in Diaspora during the Aro Festival held to celebrate Ade Aro (New Cocoyam Harvest). People from across Anambra and beyond, including foreigners also attend the festival to watch a galaxy of masquerades never seen elsewhere at a time. Cultural dancers, drummers, flutists, contortionists, acrobats, snake-charmers, soloists, and a litany of spectators clad in resplendent attires make the festival have a look of a world-class carnival which can be harnessed by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism as the staple of the tourist's itinerary.

Since the advent of Christianity in Abagana, Aro Festival has been suffering. This can be attributed to the fetish practices of Aro worshippers in the past. According to Nduka Nwosu in his article entitled Ibiniukpabi: Futile Search for a Slave God (2002), Aro's major contribution to civilization is "the issue of slave trade and the killing of twins and their mothers as well as children whose early set of teeth formed from the upper dental region. These were considered anathema and death was the answer". Though these fetish practices have been stopped, the stigma lingers on.

To crown it all, Nwosu also wrote in glowing terms that "today more than 90 per cent of the Aros worship the God of the ancient Jewish kingdom, Jehovah." Christian leaders forbid members of their churches from attending pagan rituals, including Aro Festival.

Adichie wrote how a Catholic church Reverend Father admonished a member of his congregation for watching masquerades at the Aro Festival: "you understand that it is wrong to take joy in pagan rituals, because it breaks the first commandment. Pagan rituals are misinformed superstition, and they are the gateway to Hell."

As the wind of Christianity and Western exposure sweep across Africa, Nigerians must realise that they have a cultural heritage which must be preserved otherwise her identity will be lost for eternity and her posterity will be denied of the opportunity of knowing their root.

Nigeria should learn from other countries that abused their heritage and ended up regretting ever doing so. One of such countries is China. In 1966, China initiated a political programme known as the country's Cultural Revolution under Communist leader Mao Zedong. As part of the programme aimed at halting the old way of Chinese life, Mao appealed to the Chinese people to destroy anything associated with traditional culture.

Unfortunately, this sad development heralded Chinese greatest cultural damage in history- the destruction of some parts ot the Great Wall of China which hitherto was the staple of the western tourist's itinerary.

Waldron Arthur wrote in his article Great Wall (China) that "the magnificent wall surrounding Beijing was torn down for quarrying during this period. Other wall ruins were also destroyed."

In the meantime, as China began to realise the indispensable contributions of tourism to national economy, the Ming Wall began to undergo extensive renovation of thier most visited locations in 1980s.

Now the question is must Nigeria wait for Aro Festival to die completely before considering what to do to save her? Oil wells have only fifty years to dry up. Sooner or later, non-oil sectors of the economy will be the only hope for Nigeria. The time to act is now.

The new religion can confortably accommodate Nigeria's cultural heritage. Through acculturation, the church can absorb the good aspects of the old religion and halt the unwanted ones. The church in most part of the Igbo land have accepted Ikeji (New Yam Festival) and even allowed "women" masquerades to enter the church court during bazaars. "Women" masquerades are harmless since they do not carry charms around.

In the same vein, Aro Festival can be transformed into an interesting and harmless carnival which will appeal to everyone and serve as a major tourist attraction for Nigeria just like the Argungu Fishing Festival and the Abuja Carnival.

In sum, apparently, people do not value what they have until they loose it. When they loose it, they start looking for it. Aro Festival must not be lost before its value is realised. A word is enough for the wise!

WINNERS OF THE INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC INDEPENDENCE ESSAY COMPETITION (50 STARS @ 50)

S/N NAME(SURNAME FIRST) UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT
1. NWANKWO ADAORA LINDA IGBINEDION UNIVERSITY, MEDICINE
2. OJUKWU ELOCHUKWU FRANCIS NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, MEDICINE
3. UKPONG VICTOR UBONG UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, ACCOUNTING
4. BALOGUN OMOKOVIE SEUN LADOKE
AKINTOLA
UNIVERSITY, MECHANICAL ENG.
5. EMUNJEZE NICHOLAS IKHODARO UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, COMPUTER SCIENCE
6. ADEBAYO AYODELE ALABI OBAFEMI
AWOLOWO
UNIVERSITY, PHYSICS
7. OLADIPO OLANREWAJU OLUGBENGA BOWEN UNIVERSITY, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
8. SANNI OYEWOLE SULAIMON LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, POLITICAL SCI.
9. AROGUNDADE ABDULLAH IYANDA UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN HISTORY
10. ASOGWU CHIJIOKE PETER UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, MEDICINE
11. UDOH ANIETIE SYLVESTER UNIVERSITY OF UYO, ANIMAL SCIENCE
12. AWODIPE TOLU OLUWATOSIN UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, EUROPEAN STUDIES
13. UMUNNAKWE CHIJINDU UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, MICROBIOLOGY
14. AJANTANA OGHENERO DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY, PRIVATE LAW
15. CHUKWUKEME FRANCIS I.U. UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI, ENGLISH
16. UGOKWU EMMANUEL CHIMA UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, SOCIAL WORKS
17. ADEDOKUN ADEYINKA JOSEPH LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY, ARCHITECTURE
18. OWOH UKEMEOBONG ETOKOWO UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, MECHANICAL ENG.
19. ADIGUN IFEOLUWA OLATILEWA LEAD CITY UNIVERSITY, LAW
20. UKACHUKWU FAITH UCHE
IMO STATE UNIVERSITY, OPTOMETRY
21. OSEGHALE STANLEY AMIENDEWELE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, MEDICINE
22. IMIRUAYE ELOHOR IRENE IGBINEDION UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE
23. DANWI NTITO-BARI PROFESSION UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT, EDUCATIONAL MGT.
24. UTO SILAS OGHENOBUKOME UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, COMPUTER SCIENCE
25. MBAYA LAWAN BALDWIN UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI, LANGUAGES & LING.
26. NYONG JOSEPH PETER UNIVERSITY OF UYO, PUBLIC LAW
27. OKOLI UGONNA EKENE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, PHARMACY
28. OVABOR NATHANIEL ONOSEMUDIANA UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, LAW
29. LABIRAN MORAKINYO JOHN FED. UNIVERSITY OF TECH. AKURE MECHANICAL ENG.
30. OLABODE OLAIDE FELIX UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN MECHANICAL ENG.
31. BIEM FANAN JUSTIN BENUE STATE UNIVERSITY LAW
32. AWOLESI ADEOLA OLUWAFUNMIBI OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY, INDUSTRIAL & LABOUR
33. OKE OLUWASEUN PHILIPS LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY, URBAN & REGIONAL
34. ILOANI FRANCIS ARINZE UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI, MASS COMM.
35. AYITA OLUWAFEMI SAYO .S OBAFEMI
AWOLOWO, LAW
36. AGALA OGBOLE BENJAMIN BENUE STATE UNIVERSITY, LAW
37. UKEJE TIMOTHY KALU UNIVERSITY OF JOS, PHARMACY
38. IGBINOBA OSAFUGBE SANDRA UNIVERSITY OF PORT-HARCOURT, MICROBIOLOGY
39. OGILI EMMANUEL CHINONYEGU ABIA STATE UNIVERSITY, INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY
40. MFON EMMANUEL EMMANUEL UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
41. USMAN NABILA RABIU UNIVERSITY OF JOS, LAW
42. BIVAN AMOS DAUDA BENUE STATE UNIVERSITY, ENGLISH
43. OMOOLORUN KAYODE SAMUEL OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ENGLISH
44. MOSES KAMJI UNIVERSITY OF JOS, APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
45. ONIBOKUN TITLAYO ADUNNI UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS MEDICINE
46. IKELE CHUKA EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY, LAW
47. EBANEHITA IDEMUDIA ISAAC UNIVERSITY OF BENIN BENIN, AGRIC. ECONOMICS
48. OGWURUMBA ANTHONY UCHECHUKWU NNAMDI AZIKWE UNIVERSITY, STATISTICS
49. GANJANG BWEFUK DAVID UNIVERSITY OF JOS PLATEAU, ENGLISH
50. ISAAC ANYIM CHINWENDU LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, COMPUTER SCIENCE

Original Source: http://www.intercontinentalbankplc.com/portal/general/pressrelease.php?n=91&m...

 

The Ordeal of the Innocent

Francis Iloani will soon blow your mind with his new novel entitled 'The Ordeal of the Innocent'. The novel tells the story of an innocent girl who encountered a litany of ordeals as fermenting forces of life played pranks on her. Totally unputdownable, this is a story cramped with intriques, sorrow and betrayal. Watch out!

THE RISK OF REFUSING TO TAKE A RISK

    Experience has shown that when you refuse to take a risk, that same risk will take you.

    History has it that most men who succeeded in life took risks; unlike others who refused to take risks, but had risks staring back at them. Such men staked all they had just to achieve specific aims even though they knew that something bad could happen as a result.

    For instance, by refusing to take risks to defend their rights, the entire Blacks in Soweto risked their lives under apartheid (the former political system in South Africa in which only White people had full political rights while the Blacks were forced to live away from White people). Oswald Mtshali writes in Night Fall in Soweto that black people were "slaughtered every night in the streets… cornered by the fear" of taking risks.

    Later, a South African man decided to take risks by crusading for justice and freedom. Dr. Nelson Mandela's courage and tenacity in the ugly face of risks led to the emancipation of South Africans and the eventual eradication of apartheid. According to Mandela in his Inaugural Speech in May 1994, "apartheid is an extraordinary human disaster out of which must be born a society, which all humanity will be proud." Although Mandela spent most of his life in prison fighting this cause, the risks he took liberated his people.

    In the meantime, note that the risk of refusing to take a risk is living with the risk until you opt to take that risk. Risks are like the air we breathe. They saturate our lives and drive us restless. Just like the east wind, risks blow us around until we decide to stand and take a wedge.

    Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. took a wedge in the over-powering influence of Whites over Blacks in America. He took a risk and said enough was enough by leading the greatest and largest demonstration for freedom ever held in America on June 23, 1963 popularly called The Great Match on Detroit. In a speech, Martin said, "the price that this nation must pay for the continued oppression and exploitation of the Negro or any other minority group is the price of its own destruction." Martin's ideas contained in his I Have a Dream speech wound up as America's ideology, years after he was assassinated.

    The fear of failure and its immediate aftermath make people to refrain from taking risks. But not taking risks is a failure with its immediate consequences as well.

    Take oil exploration in the Niger-Delta. Ken Saro-Wiwa's struggle for the preservation of Ogoniland led to his execution by Abacha's regime, but the aftermath of the risks he took can be seen in the manner in which government attaches priorities on the development of the region.

    Finally, it suffices that the wise will never evade risks. If you evade risks, the same risks end up overtaking you and waiting for you in future.

 

 

    

A UNIQUE VISIT TO MR NUHU GAPSISO

Some Unimaid Mass Comm part three students who recently paid a call on one of their newly wedded lecturer.

PERSONALITY ENDORSEMENT: KEY TO ELECTORAL VICTORY

Ever wondered why some election candidates emerge victorious while others wind up defeated even having campaigned better? Experience has shown that the thin line between electoral success and failure is personality endorsement. Those who are up to date with the pace of global politics especially in recent times will agree with me that shrewd politicians have discovered a veritable too for winning elective positions. Notable among these politicians is the US President Barack Obama who through the endorsement of an established media personality, Oprah Winphrey made history as the first black man to occupy the White House. This major endorsement endeared Obama to the western media especially CNN and BBC. No doubt that back in Africa where Obama's root is, the media sang his songs of praise from rooftops. In Nigeria, the 2007 presidential election which brought to power late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua also had a feature of personality endorsement. Apart from the backing of the then incumbent President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, another obvious endorsement came from Professor Dora Akunyili who was then a globally celebrated director general of NAFDAC. With over one hundred and fifty awards of excellence from both international and local organizations, Akunyili's endorsement of Yar'Adua's candidature was a plus. Her proven transparency and accountability as the DG of NAFDAC coincided with the impeccable achievements of Yar'Adua as the Governor of Katsina state. Akunyili who was a popular personality in most Nigerian schools through her NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club won the support of most Nigerian youths for Yar'Adua. Personality endorsement is not alien to most states of the federation. For instance, the February gubernatorial elections in Anambra state produced a man who had an unbeatable personality endorsement as governor. The support of Mr. Peter Obi by Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu did not come as a surprise. What came as a surprise was Ojukwu's five-letter word during the governorship campaigns of APGA: "THIS IS MY LAST WISH". How can Anambra people refuse to grant the last wish of their warlord who single-handedly led the Bianfran war? Obi's victory at the polls proved that personality endorsement can actually work wonders. As the first step toward wining the support of the Igbo people for his 2011 presidential ambition, IBB through his South East campaign team sought for the endorsement of Chief Ojukwu. While pledging the support of the Igbo people, Chief Ojukwu renamed IBB as "OKECHUKWU". This suffices to say that IBB is among the few wise politicians in Nigeria who have discovered the wonders of personality endorsement. Note that such personality endorsement does not come by effortlessly. Political candidates seeking the approval of distinguished personalities must possess certain characteristics which include trust, truthfulness, accountability, reliability, prudence, tenacity and determination. Those who have these distinctive virtues do not find it difficult getting the support of accomplished icons. Also note that there is a great deal of difference between political "godfatherism" and political personality endorsement. Political godfathers finance the elections of their candidates and do everything possible to get their candidates into positions mindful that their contributions are like investments that will turn out fruit in future. The Ngige-Uba scenario in Anambra state can serve as a good example of the concept of "godfatherism".  On the other hand, the credibility of the personality who endorses a candidate endears the candidate to the electorates. Whereas personality endorsement is clearly democratic, the reverse is the case with "godfatherism". The Obama-Winphrey scenario in America speaks for what endorsement stands for. It might interest you to know that personalities are mindful of indirect endorsement. This was the case at the "One Man, One Vote" Benin rally organized by the Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole boycotted by some prominent personalities including Professor Wole Soyinka and former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu. According to Professor Soyinka, the decision to stay away from the rally was to avoid an indirect endorsement for General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida who was also invited by Comrade Oshiomhole. Though Comrade Oshiomhole later defended his decision on inviting IBB to the rally as a departure from the era of political exclusion, political analysts backed those who boycotted the rally saying it would have painted an ugly picture of indirect endorsement. As 2011 general elections draw near, political candidates have started scouting for eminent personalities for endorsements.  Political permutations in Yobe state point at Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim as a good political personality for endorsement.  Regarded as the godfather of Yobe state politics, Senator Ibrahim ruled Yobe for twelve years as governor. Similarly, political projections in Adamawa and Borno states indicate that the best endorsements will come from Professor Jibril Aminu and Governor Ali Modu Sheriff respectively. Some politicians in Borno state bidding for the endorsement of Governor Sheriff include "Yaron SAS" (Senator Ali Sheriff' Boy) beautifully printed in bold letters on their posters. Whatever the political projections are, I recommend to those interested in vying for elective positions in these forthcoming general elections to seek for the endorsement of renowned personalities whose records in life are clearly indelible by fermenting forces of life. Politicians should also make the wise choice of picking media icons for endorsements as President Obama did or possibly look into the entertainment industry for such support. Religious leaders and royal fathers can also serve as wonderful sources of endorsements. .

 

Top of Form

GOD AND JEGA OVERSEE INEC

"I wish our government is here to see how we casted our votes," said Monsignor Hypolite Adigwe, the National Chaplain of YCSN, at Awka, shortly after declaring the winners of the 2009 national elections.

         Monsignor's statement sounded plain, but only few deed-thinking people with the gift of discernment made meaning out of it. I spent sleepless nights pondering on the comment. Could it be there were some lessons our government needed to learn from the 2009 national elections of YCSN in order to improve on the manner in which Nigerian elections were carried on? Yes. Unlike voting in Nigerian elections, the 2009 election of YCSN was credible, fair, transparent and acceptable.

          Voting in Nigerian elections has over the years degenerated into a thing of national embarrassment wrought by several decades of corruption, bribery, egocentricism, vaulting ambition for power and possessions and a legion of weird electoral practices. The lust to perpetuate oneself in power obliterates natural justice and good conscience. Polemical fire becomes the only available tool for achieving flawless victory. These political vices culminate into something best described as "a do or die affair" with politicians tuning into night marauding beasts.

         Similarly, rivulets of tears ran down the cheeks of YCSers as they listened to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state narrating his agonizing experiences during the 2007 elections. The dinner night organized for YCSN at the Governor's lodge, Amawbia was an opportunity for catholic students to get a vivid picture of what voting in Nigeria looked like. YCSers were shocked to hear from the governor that he alongside Professor Charles Soludo, Professor Dora Akunyili and the Arch Bishop of Onitsha Arch Diocese could not find a polling unit to caste their votes. Yet, at the end of the day results were manufactured by some political gods. Obi summed up the story thus, "I decided to challenge that political rascality in the court by demanding my constitutional right to complete my tenure."

          In the meantime, threats of political thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes, over counting of votes, disruption of polling units and other electioneering malpractices are some of the features of voting in Nigerian elections. There are also reports of some journalists who had been captured, unlawfully detained, molested, raped and even killed. This has got to STOP!

          Nigerian leaders need to learn some lessons from the 2009 elections of YCSN and the recent free and fair US elections that ushered in the first black President in the White House. God is the giver of power not man.

          It is often said that any man who decides to spend his time in "the fields of war harvesting blood" should note that his last banquet will be his "children's children's blood". There is always the balance of life! As 2011 general elections draw near, politicians and electorates should note that Attahiru Jega is not only the one in charge of INEC, God in heaven takes records of everything, including riggings carried out in dark places.

THE OFFICIAL LAUNCHING OF THE RE-BRANDING PROJECT IN UNIMAID

"Re-branding project is anchored on attitudinal change, re-orientation, revival of our beautiful old cultural values and instillation of a renewed spirit of patriotism and hope in all Nigerians," said the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili during the official launching of the campaign in University of Maiduguri, recently.

Participants at the event could not contain their emotions as Akunyili told the story of how with breadth of vision she plunged into arresting "the negative perception about Nigeria by the international community." The country's image problem compounded by " the bad behavior of a few Nigerians contributed to the discouragement of investors from coming to invest in Nigeria in spite being abundantly blessed with natural resources.

After studying previous efforts at addressing the country's battered image, Akunyili came up with the Re-branding Nigeria Project with a slogan selected from over 3000 entries: "Nigeria- Good People, Great Nation." The uniqueness of the current image clean-up campaign is an obvious departure from the short-comings of the past interventions – Ethical Revolution, Green Revolution, MAMSER, War Against Indiscipline (WAI), and Heart of Africa. Although Akunyili agreed that WAI had the most obvious positive impact on the attitudes of Nigerians, but she however decried the manner in which it died a premature death with the exit of the government that initiated the move.

"This campaign is a holistic one, home grown and people-centred because only Nigerians can truly Re-brand Nigeria," noted Akunyili. It was expected that the campaign would restore international integrity and respect for the green passport. She agreed that Nigeria was not crime-free, but it would be an unpardonable injustice to generalize all Nigerians as criminals or fraudsters.

Akunyili outlined a few of Nigeria's success story to include Nigerians who have excelled in diverse fields such as Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and many others. She said, "Nigerians are very intelligent, hardworking, industrious, resourceful and hospitable to a fault."

Other success stories of Nigeria include the country's active participation in the peace mission of ECOMOG in war-torn regions of Africa, the impeccable role played by the country toward the decolonization of many African countries and the dismantling of apartheid regime in South Africa. Technical Aids Corps Programme, the massive growth of Nollywood, the establishment of EFCC and ICPC, the country's position as the 6^th largest oil producer in the world, the country's rich cultural heritage, wonderful places and events were among the numerous achievements which the Minister said Nigeria could showcase to the outside world.

In a speech, the highly elated Vice Chancellor of University of Maiduguri, Prof. Mohammed Mala Daura promised the Minister to sustain the campaign by carrying the message of the Re-branding Nigeria Project to the next level.

On his part, Associate Prof Umaru Pate, Head of Mass Communication Department, University of Maiduguri who anchored the event disclosed that University of Maiduguri had already been Re-branded even before the official launch of the campaign. The justification to Pate's disclosure was the punctuality exhibited by the students of the University who were seated before the actual time slated for the commencement of the event patiently waiting for the arrival of the Minister. That was a clear demonstration of a deviation from the hitherto ugly "African time" culture of some Nigerians.

It could be recalled that Akunyili had earlier before assuming office as the Chief Image Maker for Nigeria in December 2008, revamped the country's hopeless illicit drug market in her capacity as the then Director General of NAFDAC.

GOODNIGHT, UCHE

GOODNIGHT, UCHE

In the morn when you came

Drums were rolled out

Dancers took the stage

Songs were composed with your name

As voices echoed beyond mountains

When noon came

You were full of life

Men ogled at you from afar

None could ignore your charm

But it never got into your head

When night came like a sneak-thief

Your kidneys failed you

You fought hard to live

But God called you

Goodnight, Uche