Igbo Uturu… celebration of life in Abia
From UCHE ONWUCHEKWA, Owerri

Thursday, February 11, 2010
It was a carnival of colour and glamour, one that celebrated the Igbo cultural heritage. Recently, Uturu, a usually quiet University community in Abia State was agog as people celebrated their Uturu cultural festival. The event brought to the community thousands of Igbo men and women who came to the festival to experience diverse aesthetics of their culture.



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Uturu Ugo






Archaeological findings indicate that Ugwuele, the spot where three main caves are located, was where the first Igbo men initially settled before they migrated to other parts of Igboland.

The festival showcased several dances and songs performed by 47 cultural groups even as guests, coming in their thousands, applauded the different troupes. Among groups that dazzled at the carnival was the Nkwa Umuagbogho from Afikpo. The troupe mesmerized the audience with the sensual performance of its female dancers whose waists rolled in a rhythmic manner. Their costumes and hairdo were quite traditional even as their faces were coated with local powder.

Though their dancing was interestingly, only virgins constitute the troupe. Coming after the virgins was the Ugo Masquerade dance, a piece which dazzled the crowd. The immaculate white Ugo metal mask with a yellow Ugo curled peak and legs are the real attributes of the white eagle. This depicted the Igbo people’s technological ingenuity as the design reflected a whole lot of mental work.

Also the feathers are naturally arranged with the tail in its right position. The claws are hardly believed to be unreal. The only difference it has from the real eagle is its size. It was a lager than life artwork. It is a very large bird bigger that even the ostrich though not as tall the as eagle without a tall neck. Meanwhile, a closer look drew one’s attention to the mechanisms that had been put in place to make the man behind the mask comfortable even in the hottest weather. It was a show stealer.

Coming to the Ugo dance proper, it danced with grace and moved like a big and wealthy bird it depicted. It is gentle but capable of delivering complex dancing steps at the crescendo of the music. The dance of the eagle is the dance of the wealthy and an eagle in Igbo land as a bird is held in high esteem. It is regarded as King of the birds and for that its feathers are in hard to come by and are sparingly used by those who can afford it.

Meanwhile, the award winning war dance Ikperikpe Ogu was on hand to display what it was known for. The War Dance originated from Old Bende. It is a War Dance. It is a dance for the males. It takes a lot of energy to indulge in it. It is for those who are fit and who have mastered the total control of all parts of their body as the dancer is left to allow a systematic and sequential movement with his or her team. It is more of a concert and an organised dancing pattern. It belongs to the warriors. As usual, its display is so dramatic and so real that the audience cannot but show appreciation.

Another vista created was that there was a panel of judges to point out the few areas that require input for better presentation while good performances and overall packages were rewarded with prizes. Beyond the celebration of cultural heritage of the Igbo people, which is the first of its kind, the festival equally set goals for the organisers.

While Chief John Nwokocha, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Abia State commended the initiator of the festival, Chief Gregory Iyke Ikechukwu, for his vision and large heart, he also acknowledged him for investing so much resources to achieve a sounding, delightful and well packaged cultural festival.

Nwokocha averred that beyond social impact, the potential of the festival is so enormous that it is capable of generating revenue for the state and employment opportunities for the people. The commissioner also promised Abia State government’s full participation and support in the next edition of the festival.

Expectedly, the National Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) ably headed by Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, should show its commitment by enlisting the Igbo-Ituru festival on the Tourism Calendar as a step in the right direction.

In attendance were all the commissioners of Culture and Tourism from the five South Eastern States and other delegates from South-South and Ndi Eze at large.

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