By Dr Innocent Chidumebi Okonkwo.
It is a feast of culture and opulence as the illustrious sons and daughters of Aguleri turn up in their largest number to celebrate with their Eze -Dr Mike Idigo.
Thousands of youths from Aguleri community, as early as seven o'clock in the morning of yesterday trooped out in their numbers to be part of 2024 Ada Aguleri carnival.
The carnival which took off from Father Tansi Secondary School, Aguleri, traversed almost all the villages in the community through Ama Igwe, Ameze Otuocha road and terminated at Father Tansi Secondary School.
The Ada masquerade and the youths had a brief stopover at the palace of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Michael Idigo who prayed and blessed his subjects.
The Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the one hundred and twenty four Ovala Aguleri, Chief Tony Oli said that Ada Carnival is part of activities marking the Ovala festival and serves as a reminisce to the community’s victory over slave trade masters who traded with people of Omabala extraction before.
On his own, Chief Eddy Okoye also explained that though the festival was not an all comers affair in the olden days, the community decided to make it an annual event that features only at the Ovala of the community to keep their children abreast with their culture.
Also, another member of the committee, Chief Amaechi Akora, thanked God that this year’s event was successful.
The President General of Aguleri community Assembly, Bar Rolex Ifeanyi Iloakasia described the 2024 Ada festival as the best so far in the history. He said there was adequate publicity and good preparation. He eulogized the Ovala planning commitee members for organizing the best Ada festival in the history of Aguleri.
The 5-day cultural festival began on 31st December with Aguleri National youth Day held at Ugwu na Adegbe primary school Aguleri.
On 3rd January, Aguleri had her annual Okanga lecture at Ikenga Igboezunu Hall and yesterday, 5th January was a rich display of the once dreaded Ada Masquerade which drew a mammoth crowd of youths from the neighbouring towns.
There was no ceremony for the induction of new members into the Igwe’s Cabinet this year.
The event will climax today, 6th January 2024 with the main Ovala Day. Which will attract an unprecedented crowd of very important personalities like government functionaries, congressmen and women, captains of industry, cultural aficionados, venerated royal fathers, the clergy, the youths and the elderly from all over Anambra State and beyond.