Baskadia

Valentine Ozigbo, the Labour Party stalwart and former Governorhip candidate, joined the Obosi community, alongside other notable Anambrarians, to witness the celebration of its new octegenerians, at the popular Ito Ogbo festival, a culture peculiar to the Ancient Obosi Kingdom, in Anambra State, Nigeria. The agelong festival which dates back over 500 years old, aims at celebrating elders who are between 80 – 89 years old while they are alive.

It is particularly aimed at celebrating and thanking God for the octogenarians in the kingdom. The festival, which h holds every three years, is marked by various activities such as prayers, songs, dances, speeches, gifts, and feasts. While speaking at the festival, which was held on Saturday, March 3rd, 2024, the Labour Party governorship hopeful, amongst other things, praised the culture, for its objective of celebrating people while they are alive.

He also joined the voice of HRH Igwe Iweka of Obosi in calling for the adoption of the tradition by other communities in Anambra State and beyond, as it is one worthy of emulation. "This year's Ito - Ogbo is remarkable. Indeed, life is better celebrated when we are living, than when we are dead. This is the oldest longevity celebration that I have seen as a group, as opposed to the ones we do individually.

I therefore encourage this celebration by toeing the line of HRH Igwe AC Iweka, who asked for this celebration to be a part of the United Nations celebrations and National celebrations. In the same vein, I encourage every community in Anambra State to adopt this Celebration" the Labour Party Stalwart said. The Ito Ogbo Obosi Festival is the collective birthday celebration of newly-crowned octogenarians, and is one of the grandest and most celebrated cultural festivals.

Those who had newly become octogenarians would visit the Eke Obosi market, to thank God for blessing them with longevity. Ozigbo was present to felicitate with families of Ogbueshi Ifeanyichukwu Anyaoku, Ogbueshi Obiageriaku Ononenyi Rita Chijioke and Ogbueshi Dr. Mrs. Dolly Ozoemena Emodi, among others, whose children are his close friends. Published by ETTAH EMMANUEL O.