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Ezumezu Igbere The Legacy
These pages attempts to present the origins of the phenomena now known as Ezumezu Igbere formally known as Anniversary which hols every 3 years through its current developmens ast it prys into the future of what has now become a huge homecomming event of Igbere people and friends of Igbere;
By: Madukwe Ukaegbu & Alex Iheke
caled from Igb Basics Quarterly October 1996
Ask not what the crowd in the background is doing, for they are part of a great return for unity. Wonder not what the elders are discussing, for it may be progress of Alaigbo. Don’t ponder where the man with his hands in his pocket is going, for he who gets up knows where he is going. But ask us what the Elderly Woman in the forefront is presenting and we can certainly tell you that ‘Madam Mgbo Obia Iheke was presenting to the world with great joy, her Certificate of Retirement from active service during Ezumezu Igbere December 1987. She was well into her 90s then known as “Akpara adighi achi” and ticking strong. And don’t ask how old the trees in the background are because they have been there since 19 Gridim.
I n preparing to complete the legacy of Ezumezu lgbere, many
considerations were made pertaining to the people of lgbere and their patriotism to “Ala lgbere” and the entire Ebiri. Our contribution of articles to IGBO BASICS U.S.A among other things motivated us to use this medium to say a few things for a better Ebiri. On this great Ezumezu celebration, We provide for the record, a broader perspective of what Ezumezu should signify for the lovers of lgbere prosperity. It is our hope that all Ebiri will appreciate the candor of this article. However, we do not in any way claim perfection whatsoever to this essay contribution we herein make. Our wish as we write is to be able to appeal to all lovers of Igbere to unite in peace for we all are one.
For the history buffs, there is the need to remind people of Igbere of the Ezumezu legacy. It is a well known fact that when people move out to reside in urban areas, they tend to forget the stories by the village story tellers. Sometimes the folklores, the traditional customs as it is often forgotten and in todays world, many sons and daughters of Ebiri-Igbere people now live and reside all over the world. It is to these people that we dedicate this legacy. Our hope especially, is that lgbere children born in urban and in overseas particularly the U.S.A will learn a thing or two about this great occasion called Ezumezu Igbere. Many as we have come to conclude are devoid of any knowledge of the traditions of their homes of origin. It is such people that we intend to help in understanding the significance of Ezumezu.
The legacy of Ezumezu of Igbere as we know it today was first called the “Anniversary of Igbere”. According to a great author/lawyer who once wrote that “One of the hallmarks in the efforts of Igbere Welfare Union (I.W.U.) was to modernize Igbere with the celebration of a ceremony of 1.W.U anniversary which came off in 1960 as a result of a motion tabled in a crucial meeting of 1.W.U. in August, 1958 by Mr. David Udeogu. “The author continued” that the motion in question was that when the maternity home (Hospital) was opened in 1954 in lgbere, lgbere youths returned home in large numbers that December. The next December experienced almost unprecedented calm during Christmas period in Igbere” It was in response to this un-lively atmosphere that motivated Mr. David Udeogu to table his motion which was unanimously approved by the then 1.W.U. The first “Anniversary” was born with a decree that it be celebrated once every three years. To shapen the events of the celebration, an elderly statesman Chief G.E. Ukaegbu the “Ofufe 1” of Igbere was appointed the first organizer!!
As history will have it, the late Chief!. Okocha was the chairman of the first Anniversary Celebration. The great hallmark in todays Ezumezu Igbere is the introduction of age grade activities in the Ezumezu events. And as was and still is the tradition the climax of the Ezumezu is the retirement of the o1dest age grade system. Other activities like naming new age grade and launching community development projects also are celebrated as part of the festivities. For years, the Ezumezu was known by all as “Anniversary Igbere” until Chief E.E.Ukaegbu first suggested a change of name in his well authored book “The History of Igbere” by Awa Press. 1974.!n one of the chapters, he suggested that the word “Anniversary” could be replaced with Igbo name. At that time no one really took it serious until when he came to a position where he was a mover and shaker in the affairs of lgbere. It was during that period that he coined the word we use today “Ezumezu lgbere”. Thus the word anniversary even though can still be heard, but a true Ezumezu buff dare not call it “Anniversary lgbere” because it is “Un Ebiri” to say so to Ezumezu fanatics.
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