Don’t politicise Ezza cultural heritage, Diaspora group tells elites

The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora, AEISCID, has accused a group known as the “Ezza Elites” of politicising the revered Okeaku (New Yam) Festival, warning that such actions threaten the cultural heritage and unity of the Ezza Ezekuna people.

In a statement signed by its Worldwide President, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, the association expressed what it described as “strong discontent” over what it termed attempts by influential individuals to introduce politics into the traditional process of fixing and celebrating the annual Okeaku festival.

According to AEISCID, the New Yam Festival is an age-old cultural event that traditionally marks the beginning of a new calendar year for the Ezza Ezekuna nation and should only be observed in line with established customs and directives from recognised traditional custodians.

The group alleged that members of the Ezza Elites recently gathered at Okpoku Ezekuna (Nchionu), regarded as the ancestral home of the Ezza people, to celebrate what they described as the Okeaku Festival without the approval or guidance of the elders responsible for preserving the community’s cultural heritage.

It argued that the June 30 gathering was highly political and deviated from established traditional procedures governing the celebration of the festival.

While acknowledging the constitutional right of the group to freedom of association and peaceful assembly, AEISCID maintained that portraying the event as the official Okeaku Festival amounted to what it described as a distortion of Ezza customs and an embarrassment to the people’s cultural identity.

The association called on the leadership of the Ezza Elites to publicly apologise to the Ezza Ezekuna people within 48 hours and undertake not to repeat what it described as actions capable of undermining the community’s traditions for political or personal interests.

AEISCID urged members of the group to uphold the Ezza philosophy, “Ezza jikotara onu, ndu lanu, olu lanu,” which, according to the association, symbolises the strength and unity of the Ezza people despite their diversity.

The group also appealed to Ezza sons and daughters across the world to disregard what it described as the “regrettable gathering,” alleging that it was driven by individuals seeking political advantage at the expense of the community’s cultural values.

It further cautioned that activities capable of interfering with traditional institutions could have far-reaching cultural, political and moral consequences.

Reaffirming its commitment to preserving Ezza cultural heritage, AEISCID called on all Ezza people worldwide to remain calm, united and committed to the customs and traditions that have sustained the community over generations.

The association pledged to continue working towards protecting the integrity of the Okeaku Festival while urging the people to continue living in peace, love and unity.