The Eze-Elect of Dikenafai, Engr. Uchenna Odoemenam has applauded the Dikenafai Dikeoshie Cultural Movement for organising the annual Cultural Day and Carnival, which allows the community’s sons and daughters to reactivate, reform, and modernise their culture for socio-economic development.
The royal father spoke during the 2024 Dikenafai Dikeoshie Cultural Day, held at the School field of St Mary’s Catholic Church Dikenafai in the Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State.
Engr. Odoemenam, Eze Ebubedike II, noted that the Dikenafai Dikeoshie Cultural Movement was formed to harness and reform the people’s culture to unite them and promote the kingdom’s socio-economic and socio-political development.
He emphasised the importance of nurturing cultural heritage in the younger generation and outlined strategies to shield it from the encroachment of modernisation and globalisation.
The monarch said, “Culture reflects the people; it is not about fetish practices. Culture is a people’s identity, giving them a sense of belonging, especially if they speak the same language. We must guard against the erosion of our cultural heritage.”
The Chairman of the occasion, High Chief Jude Jideofor Ikerionwu, stressed the need to appreciate and promote the cultural heritage of the ancient Dikenafai kingdom. He commended the vision of the Dikenafai Dikeoshie Cultural Movement to reawaken the people’s cultural consciousness and showcase them to the outside world.
Chief Ikerionwu underlined the importance of the cultural day, noting that it would help to engender peace and unity among the people of the ancient communities and showcase Dikenafai culture to the outside world. He added that it would encourage and sustain the people’s seasonal homecoming tradition.
In his remarks, a prominent son of Dikenafai, High Chief (Engr.) Joseph Okwudiri Onuoha, highlighted the benefits of promoting culture and tradition, which provide a sense of belonging and continuity in the face of the modern world’s constant changes. He stressed that culture plays a pivotal role in a person’s or society’s lives and operates as a means of accumulating, storing, and transmitting human experience.
According to him, “It is a culture that shapes people into who they are, as they gain knowledge, learn the language, the symbols, the values, the norms, the customs and the traditions; culture is a reflection of a community or nation”.
Sharing his views, Chief Joachin Olumba observed that the villages and kindreds in Dikenafai were imbued with peculiar cultural practices that flowed from one season to the other, providing veritable ground for the annual reunion of the people from wherever they resided.
He praised the people of Dikenafai for coming together to celebrate their rich tapestry of traditions, arts, beliefs and values that define their humanity.
He said, “Culture is the heartbeat of every society and the thread that weaves our history, language, music, arts, and collective memories.”
Another prominent son, Mr. Fabian Nnawuihe, averred that culture reflects a community’s ethos and how it will respond individually and collectively. He said that culture creates a sense of belonging, especially when people speak the same languages that unite them.
He emphasised that culture provides an environment for peaceful cohabitation and affirmed that Igbo culture ranked among the best in Africa.
He emphasised the pivotal role of culture and tradition in societal development, stressing that “embracing cultural values fosters respect and enhances human dignity, laying the foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity.”
Speaking in the same vein, Chief Okechukwu Johnbosco Onyebuchi maintained that culture was the fabric that held societies together. He described Imo State as blessed with diverse cultures, including festivals, dances, crafts, and food, which hold immense potential for economic growth, community empowerment and promoting unity.
He thanked the Dikenafai Dikeoshie Cultural Movement for helping to preserve the people’s rich cultural heritage, “especially in the face of threats to our values, culture, norms, traditions and way of life often ascribed to modernization and globalisation.
Dignitaries from the traditional, educational, religious, and business sectors graced the event, which witnessed cultural dances presented by representatives of Dikenafai’s ancient villages, beauty pageantry, native food cooking competitions, and many others.