By Angela Oduche
As the world marks World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on October 27, Ogbunike Prime Minister, Chief Anene Chuma Osadebe, has called for the preservation of the community’s rich cultural heritage.
He identified Emem Nwafor and Iwa-ji festivals as major traditions distinguishing Ogbunike from other communities in Anambra State.
Chief Osadebe explained that Emem Nwafor marks the end of the planting season, while Iwa-ji celebrates the harvest and traditionally authorises the eating of yam.
He regretted the declining interest of young people in indigenous customs, including moonlight gatherings, kola nut presentation, traditional marriages and age-grade initiation.
The traditional prime minister urged youths to embrace their cultural heritage, stressing that ancestral traditions promote identity, continuity and community unity.
He noted that annual Emem Nwafor celebrations in July encourage families to return home, reconnect with relatives and transmit cultural values to younger generations.
Also speaking, an Information Officer with the Anambra State Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Mrs Doris Onyekachi, emphasised the importance of audiovisual documentation in preserving cultural practices, historical stories and indigenous knowledge.
She encouraged communities, government institutions, schools and media practitioners to document Ogbunike’s traditions through photographs, recordings and documentaries for future generations.
Angela Oduche is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation Anambra State
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