Emma Okereke — Leaders of Uvuru clan in Aboh Mbaise local government area of Imo state have announced their intention to utilize their culture for the sustenance of peace and unity amongst the five federating communities in their area.
They have therefore vowed to engrave their cultural heritage to the international tourism map by not only making their culture an annual event but by ensuring that it attracts tourists around the world to the area yearly.
Speaking during the unveiling of the logo for the 2009 “Bia Were Oji Uvuru Cultural Festival” of the clan held at its town hall, the President-General of the Uvuru Federated Union (UFU), Mr. Iheukwumere Alaribe a lawyer, described the ceremony as a unifying factor of the people.
Alaribe noted that the festival, rebranded 18 years ago, has served as a unifying and rallying point for the five autonomous communities in Uvuru clan, stressing that the aim of the festival whose climax would be celebrated in December this year was to enhance peace and unity amongst the people.
In his speech, the traditional ruler of Isiala-Uvuru, HRH Eze Peter Uduhirinwa who repackaged the culture in 1992 when he served as the President-General of the community commended the youths of the area for working towards the enthronement of peace and brotherliness through their culture.
In his comment, another traditional ruler from the area, HRH Eze Michael Njoku of Amassa-Uvuru autonomous community assured that his community as the host of the festival this year would add innovation so that the festival would be in the limelight.
In his address, the chairman, organizing committee of this year’s “Bia Were Oji Uvuru Cultural Festival”, Stanley Amuchie said the people celebrate the cola-nut annually because of its significance in Igbo culture and tradition and its cultural position to unify the people.
He assured that the festival would be made one of the international events to be celebrated in Mbaise as a whole, pointing out that it is being repackaged to attract foreigners who may be conferred with chieftaincy titles and other honours of Uvuru land.
