By Ifeyinwa Ogwo
The Anambra Indigenes USA Incorporated, based in New York City, is set to showcase significant aspects of Igbo cultural heritage during a grand festival themed “Promoting Our Culture and Priceless Heritage Beyond Borders”. This event is scheduled for August 31, 2025, at the Obi Cultural Center on Linden Boulevard in Queens, New York.
The festival aims to promote and highlight the importance of core Igbo values, which include respect for elders, modest dressing, hard work, honesty, and integrity. Attendees can look forward to performances by the Otaka Masquerade Squad, featuring masquerades of various Local Government Areas in Anambra State, Nigeria, as well as the cultural troupe of Umuoma. The festival will also include the crowning of the Onwa, Lolo, Ezinne, and Ada Anambra, alongside an award presentation and other spectacular attractions in New York City.
This information was shared by the President of the Anambra Indigenes USA Incorporated, Onowu Anthony Ume-Ezeoke, who hails from Amichi in Anambra State, during an online interview.
He said, “People celebrate Labour Day in America with cultural presentations, as the country is a multicultural melting pot. Therefore, we will begin our festival from 6 PM on August 31 and continue through September 1, coinciding with the Labour Day celebration in America. Our goal is to change the mindset of our people, especially the children, by reinforcing that inappropriate dressing in America does not reflect our culture.
“For over 20 years, our association has actively served as a socio-cultural group for the vibrant and esteemed people of Anambra living in New York City. We organize this festival periodically, and I remember a friend commenting after our 2022 cultural fiesta, saying, ‘Onowu, I thought I was at Eke Amaobi’, due to the abundance of masquerades on display.
“We encourage and challenge our brothers and sisters, especially those in the diaspora, to participate. We are not asking for the impossible (which would be to outdo our standards), but we simply ask for equal effort. Any group that matches our efforts will receive a generous reward from the Ndi Anambra Indigenes USA,” he promised.
Onowu Ume-Ezeoke also commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for the significant progress being made in the state and expressed strong support for his re-election, saying, “Ochiri ofuma ga-achi ozo!” He thanked the Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Mr. Don Onyenji, for the success the ministry is achieving.
Additionally, Dr. Tony Nwoye, the Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District and anticipated Chair of the festival, received accolades from Onowu Ume-Ezeoke for his encouraging words and optimism regarding their endeavours. He prayed that every good intention of Senator Nwoye for Ndi Anambra would come to fruition.
Ifeyinwa is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
