Culture, perhaps its maintenance, has been on the mind of many
Nigerians in the Diaspora as they constantly think of what will become of their
children when they exit this earth. Majority of the Igbo people in the North
America make extra effort to instill Igbo culture in their children.
Nonetheless, no matter how hard they
try, the effort seems to be a losing proposition because of the multicultural
dynamism inherent in the environment these children are growing up. However,
with such an adversity, there is equally a greater amount of effort to promote
and maintain Igbo culture in the United States by various Igbo communities and
individuals. These communities and some individuals are driven in part by the
notion that without culture a group loses its identity.
They dread the reality of their
children losing Igbo identity. Thus, there has been a concerted effort to
immerse these children in Igbo culture. Additionally, it is concluded that
teaching our children our culture is a means of strengthening the ties between
Igbo people with their children in the Diaspora and those in Nigeria. Examining
the following aspects of Igbo culture: Arts, Celebration, Clothing,
Communication, Food, Government, Language, Religion, and Social Role; Igbo
language is one aspect that is fast decaying both here and in Nigeria. Igbo
children in Lagos and other non-Igbo cities do have no knowledge of or modicum
of Igbo language.
Lack of knowledge of Igbo language
among our children is much more obvious here in the United States. This is
particularly so because Igbo is not a dominant culture and these children are
growing up in a multicultural environment. Consequently, more emphasis has been
placed on celebration, clothing and food than other aspects of Igbo culture. In
the United States, particularly in the Dallas Metropolitan area, Igbo
communities have been working diligently to promote and maintain Igbo culture
every chance they get.
Common among various aspects of Igbo
culture these communities promote are the traditional breaking of kolanut,
which oftentimes causes problems when the libation goes wrong, celebration,
clothing, ethnic food, and cultural dances. Unfortunately, little focus has
been on the teaching and learning of Igbo language corporately. Nevertheless,
Nnanta Chidi Uwadineke, Onye ihe oma gbasara Ndi Igbo na Asusu Anyi na-anu oku
n'obi, Founder and Executive Director, Otu Iwelite Asusu na Omenala Igbo
n'obodo Amirika, has used his skills and his Igbo Radio Program in Little Rock,
Arkansas to promote various aspects of Igbo culture in Arkansas and the United
States. Similarly, Igbo Community Association of Nigeria (ICAN) in Dallas has
for several years operated Igbo Language Program, where Igbo language and other
aspects of Igbo culture are taught every summer.
The program provides immense
opportunity for Igbo children in Dallas to learn the language. There are other
organizations and individuals who provide similar services in various cities.
They provide Igbo language learning for children of Nigerian-Americans. Another
aspect of Igbo culture that is beginning to rear its head here is Igba Nkwu.
Meanwhile, Igba Ngwu, a traditional Igbo wedding, seems to be prevalent across
the United States as our children are increasingly reaching the marriage age.
Our community is beginning to
experience an increasing number of Igba Nkwu celebrations in various states. In
any case, no Igbo community has done more in promoting and maintaining Igbo
culture than Mbaise people in the Dallas area. Mbaise community in the Dallas
metropolitan area under the auspices of Mbaise Community Association thrilled
the Nigerian community with its 23rd annual Iri-ji Mbaise Festival on the 18th
of August, 2012.
Based on empirical evidence, the
Iri-Ji Mbaise in Dallas began in 1989 as a tradition, and a cultural event
aimed at educating young children, as well as maintaining the culture
reminiscent of the New Yam Festival in Igbo land. Since the first Iri-ji
Mbaise, the Mbaise Community Association has kept the tradition to mirror what
is obtainable in Ala Mbaise. In Mbaise, Iri-ji is celebrated on the 15th of
August, a long tradition that is currently observed throughout the area.
As result, the Mbaise Community
Association holds its Iri-ji festival on the third Saturday in August to allow
the tradition celebrated in Ala Mbaise on every 15th of August to take place
first before celebrating it outside Mbaise. Most importantly, Bright Anosike
(Chief Oke), Elder Theo Okoro, and Mr. Ngozi Echebelem who form the inner
citadel inside the Mbaise community in Dallas vowed to maintain the tradition
here in the United States. The fete, which attracted many people from all walks
of life, witnessed the traditional breaking of kolanut, women dance, and the rendition
of 'Abigbo Mbaise' to the delight of blissful guests.
The attendees splurge on a
well-prepared yam pepper soup with roasted hen and Moet to go with it-thanks to
the immediate past president of Mbaise Community Association, Mr. Matthew Anoka
who gleefully entertained the guests. Also, the Chairman of Iri-ji Committee
Mr. Ngozi Echebelem and the President of Mbaise community Association Mr.
Festus Okeke ensured that every guest was attended to. This year's event, which
witnessed one of the largest yam barns, reached its climax when the chairman of
the event, Mr. Emeka Akpunku, redeemed a tuba of yam with the sum of $2,000.
In the same token, Mr. Kinglsley
Ndukwu collected his tuba of yam with a donation of $1,000. Other guests who
collected their yams with various amounts of money were Chief Geoffrey
Nzeadibe, the National Chairman of PNF-USA, Felix Okereke, the National
Secretary of PNF-USA, Chief Jerry Ike, and Damian Ogoke. The Peoples Club and
Heritage Club were also represented at the event the ended in the wee hours of
the next day. Speaking about clubs, the Lords Club International, Inc.
conducted its third induction of new members into the club in Houston, Texas
not too long ago. Based on my interaction with the Club's Chairman, Nze
Chukwuka Dibia Orakpo, who with overflowing excitement, expressed that the
event was a huge success.
The Club advocates for family unity
and engages in humanitarian activities. "Since its existence, it has
embarked on worthy projects in our community like donating funds to assist
families affected by Hurricane Katrina and has become a household name. One of
noble project priorities we have is the Construction of the Lord's Club Plaza,
multipurpose facilities that will serve both the club and its communities both
here in Houston, Texas and Nigeria." It is said that the Club has goals
and agenda beyond its founding members.
"The great migration of our
members from Nigeria to the US several years ago created a new colony of Lords
Club Members in Houston, Texas that has now matured and began to transition to
a second generation immigrant community." "In most cases, the
children of the immigrants do not share the same allegiance with our fatherland
as their parents. There is a dangerous disconnect, and something needs to be done
to rectify the situation before it becomes permanent. In other words, we need
the youths to establish the continuity with ideology about our homeland and
culture for the Lords Club to flourish beyond its founders.
To maintain our cultural identity
and galvanize our youths for better involvement will be some of the focus areas
of our association," Orakpo expressed. Expressing his gratitude for the
induction, Dr. Amos Ozumba, an inductee and a father of two medical doctors,
one engineer and one financial analyst said, "I'm a person that examines
things thoroughly before I partake in them. I watched for years to know the
kind of people in the Club and I felt that I can relate to them before joining.
I like the mission and goals the Club has.
The Club has viable projects."
According to Dr. Gerald Emesih, Public Relations Officer of the Lords Club,
membership to the Club is open to all Nigerians residing in Houston, Texas. Dr.
Emesih said, "Membership is open to Nigerians in Houston of good repute."
"The stability, peace and unity we have enjoyed in the Lords Club over all
these years didn't come by accident.
A lot can be credited to the
character, maturity, temperament and commitment of the entire membership,"
Dr. Emesih added. Some of the distinguished guests that graced the occasion
were, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, President of South-East South Professionals of
Nigeria (SESSP), Dr. Alphonsus Okpara, Dr. Felix Obiefule, Dr. Felix Obiefule,
Dr. Timothy Opara, Pastor Livinus Maduka, Sir Chris Onyeador, President of Coal
City Club, and Prof. Godson Osuji.
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