Enugu Govt. urges communities to preserve cultural heritage
Enugu State Government has urged communities in the state to preserve and promote their cultural identities and heritage for their younger generations to know them.
Dr Kingsley Udeh, the State Commissioner for Rural Development, made the call on Thursday during the 2nd edition of Great Achallaukwu Festival by Affa community in Udi Council Area.
Reports state that the great Achallaukwu Dynasty comprises some communities in Igbo-Etiti, Uzo-Uwani and Udi Local Government Areas of Enugu State.
The festival which began with the Holy Mass celebrated by the Spiritual Director of Great Achallaukwu Dynasty, Rev. Fr. Joe Ezechi, had many sons and daughters of Affa in attendance, including Affa traditional ruler, HRH Marius Ahamu.
Udeh, represented by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Ifeoma Ogbu, said there was need for communities to promote and sustain their culture from dying.
He said to correct people’s negative attitude to their culture, “Enugu government is calling all the communities in Enugu and their leaders to resuscitate their culture through training and retraining people on their culture”.
Udeh said the manner youths acted and dressed in this era was not benefitting to their culture and, as such, the stakeholders should sensitise them to uphold those values in their culture.
“Today this community is celebrating ancestral father called Achallaukwu and it is occasion all members of the community should embrace.
“I am advising them to take the celebration serious by exploring the opportunity to reach out to all the strata of the community which include women, youths, children and elderly.
“There is need to cooperate and bring their culture to enviable height,” Udeh advised.
During the homily, Ezechi said the celebration signified brotherhood and togetherness of all the sons and daughters of Achallukwu ancient kingdom.
He regretted that people often neglected the culture of their ancestors, adding there was need to revive it.
The clergyman, who said he had studied Igbo culture and region, explained that culture was what defined people and showed their true identity.
“I feel pain how people keep throwing away their culture in name of paganism. We cannot throw them away but remind ourselves whom we are.
“We only need to remove the harmful part of it to suit modern life,” he said.
An elder, Mr. Emmanuel Eketaonwu, said the event was used to remember their days, stressing they had done it in a traditional way before some people advocated doing it in a modern way, to accommodate Christianity.
“We accepted and we do not have problem celebrating it together as brothers and sisters,” he added.
The President General of Affa Autonomous Community, Mr. Victor Uchedienyi, said the event was to celebrate their paternity and ancestral bond and cultural values.
According to him, the celebration will help to integrate their strength, overcome their weaknesses, make them one indivisible people and promote love and relationship.
Uchedienyi, who is the convener of the event, said their forefather, Achallaugwu, had children dispersed and developed into numerous communities, retaining some of his cultural values.
“We shall no longer tolerate any dividing element in our paternity relationship. Great Achalaukwu Dynasty will continue to transform their culture to suit modern day society.
“We are called upon to co-exist and concentrate on the things that can bind us together, transform ancient practices that are obsolete and analyse our values and market our rich cultural values,” he said.
