Anioma Cultural Fiesta kicks off with royal visits

Asaba, the Delta State capital, will sparkle with various colours of Anioma culture on Easter Monday, April 17, 2017, as the Organization for the Advancement of Anioma Culture, (OFAAC) the culture umbrella body of Anioma people hosts the 14th edition of the Anioma Cultural Festival. This year’s fiesta will take place at Asaba Girls Grammar School.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Asaba last Saturday, president of OFAAC, Arc. Kester Ifeadi, stated that this year’s edition which has as its theme, “let’s celebrate our cultural values, has commenced with the usual courtesy call on traditional rulers in the nine local government areas that make up Delta North Senatorial District otherwise known as Anioma nation.” Ifeadi further disclosed that the OFAAC Zonal Coordinators charged with organizing the festival at the local governments’ level before the grand finale at Asaba have kicked off qualifying competitions in their various zones.

Also speaking at the meeting that included board of directors and members of OFAAC, cultural groups, journalists, and culture enthusiasts, vice president of the organization, Mr. Paddy Ugbo opined that, “the greatest joy of OFAAC is when we see very young Aniomas including school children, dressed in traditional attires troop out to participate in our various cultural activities.” Ugbo believed, “That tells us that the future is bright. It tells us that Anioma culture will not die. That tells us that the mission of OFAAC to revive and advance our culture is yielding positive results.”

Adjudged as the finest cultural event in Delta State by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the annual Anioma Cultural Festival is a fiesta of cultural, creative and performing arts including music, arts and crafts, dance and drama, as well as fashion and cuisine from the nine Anioma local government areas of Delta State. The grand finale staged in Asaba always attracts hundreds of cultural troupes, both professional and amateur, from towns and schools that qualify from the zonal competitions. The groups and individuals compete for various mouthwatering prizes in their various categories.

Now in its fourteenth edition, Anioma Cultural Festival has over the years grown to become a rallying force for Anioma people. It hosts the single largest gathering of Anioma people, while showcasing their rich cultural heritage. It has enjoyed tremendous support of the traditional rulers of Anioma, their representatives in local, state and federal government.