By Adewale Sanyaolu
The town of Staunton Virginia in the United States of America (USA) was recently filled with pomp and pageantry as sons and daughters of Igbo descent who have since lost their roots were reunited with their relatives in a ceremony with colors organized by the Council of Igbo State in America (CISA) from July 29 to 30,2022.
A statement by the CISA Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Mathias Mgbeafulu, said the reconnection tells the story of the Ndiigbo separated from their homeland through slavery and resettled in America; and who now as African American descendants have found their roots in Igbo ancestry and are reconnecting with their living relatives in Nigeria and the diaspora.
The reunion remains one of the emotional high points announced for many in attendance, as emotional tears were seen on the faces of many as the 400-year shackles were broken.
The event largely reflects the latest step in a quest to discover and reconnect with relatives separated by time, space and distance dating back to the era of the slave trade.
Earlier in his welcome speech, CISA President, Engr. James Ogbuka Umekwe, congratulated the guests for honoring CISA’s invitation and urged them to take time to experience the uniqueness of the Igbo village, the Queen City of Staunton environs and enjoy their outstanding attractions.
Also speaking, the chairman of the planning committee of the festival, Hon.Felix Nnaji, thanked his committee members for going ahead with the program despite the pandemic that kept the festival indoors since 2019.
In his comments, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Chairman of the CISA Board of Trustees, noted that the festival since its inception combined cultural entertainment and entertainment while promoting trans-continental Atlantic reconnection.
According to the organisers, the festival which ended in grand style was greeted with thunderous ovations as people from all walks of life thronged the Igbo Village Border Museum for the 2022 edition of the cultural celebration.
The 2-day event featured a variety of spectacular special effects shows, world-class musical talent, exhibitions, cultural costume shows, symposiums, interactive art, traditional cuisines, fashion shows, wedding traditions, masquerades and carnival rides. Exciting and scary masquerades, the famous Ohafia war dance and Atiliogwu youth acrobatic shows entertained the audience.
From all over North America, the Caribbean and Nigeria, sons, daughters and friends of the Igbo were ready to share the lasting legacy of their forefathers in the melting pot of civilization that is now the United States.
It is therefore not surprising that the festival, which has now taken on a global dimension as a unifying force for the Igbo of Nigeria living in the diaspora and their relatives back home, drew an unprecedented crowd.
Many African Americans were present for the emotional reunion of the trans-Atlantic brotherhood. Their families, whose DNA testing confirmed their Igbo ancestry, received Igbo names based on the 8-day Igbo market week, reconnected with their Igbo brothers and sisters, and were officially welcomed into their homeland. their Igbo ancestors by elders and traditional title holders.
Among the dignitaries who attended the events were Her Excellency Dr. Ms. Uzoma Emenike, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the United States, represented by Mrs. Tarela Njokanma and Mr. Anthony Alonwu. Rev. Dr. Albert Sampson, of Chicago, who was ordained by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., former Haitian ambassador to the United Kingdom Ambassador. Jean Pillard, John Avoli, from the Government of Virginia, Chairman of the World Igbo Congress, Professor Tony Ejiofor, HRH Eze Chibuzor Ngwakwe, Igbo Council of Traditional Title Holders (ICOTTHUSA) and delegates from communities Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti and Barbados.
