REPORTER: NDU CHRIS NWANNAH
Culture is described as the people’s way of life. It encompasses intangible elements, such as beliefs, values, norms, language and knowledge, as well as tangible artifacts, such as art, clothing and food, passed down through generations.
It was in a bid to preserve such values inherent in culture that the 2026 Egwu Imoka Cultural Festival was celebrated by the Awka people.
The setting was colourful during the programme, which attracted Awka people and visitors from all walks of life, including, the elderly, men, women, youths and children, both at home and in the Diaspora.
Egwu Imoka Cultural Festival is an age long heritage cherished by the people of Awka in the South East geopolitical zone of the country.
It is a culture of songs, dances, masquerades and show of masculinity, as men engage in whipping each other with fresh long canes, called “Agba” in Igbo Language.
The Egwu Imoka Cultural Festival, also known as Egwu Umuoka, has been in existence for centuries in the Ancient Blacksmith Kingdom of Awka.
The cultural event was said to have suffered changes in nomenclature from Egwu Umuoka, meaning, the dance of Awka people to Egwu Imoka, which means, a dance dedicated to the Imoka Deity.
Prior to the institution of the Imoka Deity in Awka, all the 33 villages across the community, had their identified deities, such as Udide, Udo, Ogba, Ofvufve, Ngene, Mgbedike, Obialugaegbum among others.
It was however, the potency and acceptability of the Imoka Deity, which prompted its Annual celebration as the first Awka Cultural Festival in the Annual Lunar Calendar.
Awka people celebrate numerous cultural festivals throughout the year, following the Counting of the Annual Lunar Calendar, “Igu Aro Awka”, which allocates dates to all the ceremonies.
Chief Patrick Nkwokee Okoludo Nweke, the Custodian of Awka Culture, speaks on how the Lunar Calendar is counted before the celebration of cultural events.
“The Igu Aro Awka, which is Counting of Lunar Calendar is performed by the Okperi and Umudiana Villages of Amikwo Community, Awka. This event which takes place at Ogbugbankwa Square Okperi village follows the appearance of the new moon in determining the dates for all the cultural festivals celebrated by Awka people throughout the year. Egwu Imoka comes in ‘Ónwa Nvú’, the first Awka month between April and May “.
He commented on the origin of Imoka Deity, which he said was in 1576, as passed down by the ancestors of Awka.
Imoka Cultural Festival is a month long ceremony, with three major stages of Okikagba Umuokpu Day, Opueke Women’s Day and the Grand finale of Masquerades performance.
Chief Nweke also spoke on the importance of visiting Umuokpu village to inform the residents about the festival.
“Umuokpu village migrated from Ayom Na Okpala part of Amaenyi to their present abode. They were a warrior family sent to protect a neighbouring community, who were being attacked by hoodlums after they were offered accommodation by Awka people “.
According to him, Imoka is a female Deity, hence the dedication of Opueke Day to the women to ensure their spiritual involvement in the annual feast.
The Opueke Gong is the age long song that heralds the entrance of the Imoka Deity into its purified homage ground, known as “Ólúlú Imo- Óka”.
Chief Nwekemezie Onwudinjo has been piloting the Opueke gong for over forty years and said its impact lies in the fact that if the gong does not sound, there would be no celebration.
A former President General of Awka Development Union Nigeria, ADUN, Doctor Amobi Nwokafor, described the festival as a rich heritage, which had been preserved for ages through its annual celebration.
A former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Chief Abolle Okoyeagu, who spoke on his impression about the event, stressed that the festival had helped in strengthening the bond uniting Awka people for centuries.
The people of Ifite Community, play a significant role in the festival, as captured by their leader, Chief Kandy Ezego Okeke, who noted that the festival cannot be complete without the participation of Ifite Awka.
“Imoka is the highest festival in Awka kingdom. In the history of Awka, as it was written, as we know it from our forefathers, any time Awka is celebrating Imoka, if Ifite didn’t come, there is no Imoka. Coming to Umuokpu, we are waiting for this Igba group. This is the Oracle igba (drum), first Igba Egwu Imoka. The ancestors are there. The Oracle is there. The gods are with this Igba group”.
Radio Nigeria spoke with the Chairman of Egwu Imoka Cultural Festival Organizing Committee, Chief Anayo Obiakor, who said it was a huge success.
“The Imoka Cultural Festival is a special festival and one of the most popular festivals in Anambra State. Despite what happened over the issue of date, we were able to get it done. At the end of the day, they saw our reasons and agreed with us. This Imoka 2026 is a special and more organized Imoka”.
The Chief Priest of Imoka Deity, Akajiofvo Chigbo Okoye, spoke through his son, Ogbuefvi Chukwudi Okoye, noting that once the date of the festival was generated, the Chief Priest would be notified.
“The counting of Lunar Calendar is done by the people of Okperi/Umudiana Villages in Amikwo Community. After this they will notify the Chief Priest of Imoka Deity officially. If the date is acceptable to the Deity the process of the celebration will start as he communicates the date to Eze Uzu Awka and other relevant Stakeholders. Every Dick and Harry, even those living in abroad come home to celebrate the festival”.
I sought the views of the Chief Priest of Akwali Omumu Umuokpu, Architect Michael Chiedozie who spoke about its relationship with the Imoka Deity, explaining that it was a journey of brotherhood and spirituality.
“Akwaliomumu is the goddess of fertility and wealth. As the culture demands from time immemorial, before the celebration of Imoka, the celebrants come to Umuokpu village to pay homage”.
The Head of Ndichie Umuokpu Village, Awka, Ichie Bernard Nwufoh, who spoke in Igbo Language said the Okikagba procession is a ritual of spirituality, which informs the people of Umuokpu that the Imoka Cultural Festival had commenced.
Ogbuefvi Kenechukwu Obuekwe- Nwude, who is the Custodian of Akputakpu, the Deity in charge of Blacksmithing, said the Awka smithing skills were displayed on the last two days of the festival.
This he said showed that there was a symbiotic relationship between the Imoka Deity and the Deity which protects the practice of smithing in Awka.
Songs, masquerades and musical performances were on display throughout the event, including Izaga, different masquerade types and Ajo Ofvia from Nnewichi- Nnewi.
Ezenwanyi Ifeyinwa Onyebuchim, who was in celebratory mood with other women, explained that the Imoka Deity was a great mother, worthy of celebration during the festival.
As the Egwu Imoka Cultural Festival ended, guests, expressed happiness over its success, while calling for more efforts to promoting an enduring heritage.
