Inauguration: Imo Indigenes in Austria carpet Vienna with cultural festivities
•The background of Imo State
People in Vienna are agog as all roads on 24.09.2016 (tomorrow - Saturday) lead to VHS Großfeldsiedlung, Kürschnergasse 9, 1210 Vienna where the inauguration of Imo State indigenes' association in Austria "Imo State community Austria (IMSCOM)" will take place. Million miles away from home and in truism to the maxim that people without culture are lost people, the Imolites will showcase their amazing cultural heritage and pleasantly thrill all with surprise acrobatic displays and cultural dances. According to the chairman of the organizing committee of the event Prince Patrick Orisakwe "Ugoebenaja 1 of Owerri Nkworji", the inauguration was designed to be a paradigm of African events in Austria – many cultural dances and groups from Linz, Graz, and Vienna are expected to perform. The powerful "Ikpirikpe War Dance" a group from Linz will come, "Odinala Women Dance" another group also from Linz will thrill the audience with their beautiful dancing steps. The women are esteemed in the way they wriggle their waists in unison to the rhythm of traditional music from combined local instruments - the melody and their dancing steps sometimes sweetly prickle the body, tickle the mind and the brain to the admiration of the eyes. While some groups of masquerades will also perform, another group worth mentioning is the highly rated "Enyimba Cultural Dance" because its performance is very historical in African history and greatly valued in Igbo land. Their dance is called "Uri agha" meaning war dance and its root is Ohafia in Abriba, Abia State – formerly Imo State. Only endowed muscular men (see picture above) who could freely shake their breasts to the "Uri agha" music perform the "Uri agha" dance.
As history has it, the ancestral men of Ohafia were hugely muscular people who were very famous as war conquerors. They beheaded defeated enemies and took their skulls home as proves of courage and power. They looked for where war was happening to take part.
If you are a lover of African culture and tradition this event is for you and your weekend relaxation.
Imo State in brief view: Imolites are still grateful to Dee Sam Mbakwe
Nigeria had 19 states until General Murtala Mohammed overthrew General Yakubu Gowon's led military government in 1975 and created additional seven states in 1976, which the present Imo State happens to be one. Before 1976 Imo was part of the then called "East Central State" along side Anambra State - and in 1991 Abia State was created using parts of Imo.
Its neighboring states are: Abia State in the east, Delta State in the west, Anambra State in the north and Rivers State in the south. Since the creation of Imo till date it has had 14 governors – both military and civilian – precisely nine military administrators and five civilian governors. The first military governor of the state was Ndubuisi Kanu, and the last military administrator was Tanko Zubairu. While the first civilian governor of the state (01.10.1978 to 31.12.1983) was Dr. Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe of blessed memory, the current governor of the state is Chief Rochas Anayo Okorocha. But about 33 years after Mbakwe was forced to leave Imo State Government House following Gen. Muhammadu Buhari's military overthrow of the then civilian president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the people of Imo State still feel indebted to Mbakwe for his fairness and quality of services to the state.
In retrospect and nutshell, Mbakwe as the governor of Imo State was a visionary governor and a symbol of a good leader. During his time Imo did not receive monthly allocations (federal revenue - money) as an oil producing state, but yet with the little resources of the state he reasonably provided more than the fundamental need of the populace, had visible and foresighted projects that were well acknowledged and lauded even by his political opponents and enemies. Irrespective of political parties, clan and differences Mbakwe governed Imolites not with bitterness, greed, lies and deceits but with vision of leaving legacies in every sector of Imo's economy for the benefit of all and generations unborn. His good and high quality leadership saw sizable, recognizable and respectable industries like flour mills, poultry and glass industries etcetera – and factories - in the old Imo, which brought it into the map as industrial state in Nigeria. Textiles and paint industries boomed. But unfortunately and sadly today, those factories and industries are now history as they are no more, because either his predecessors crookedly sold them to themselves with coded companies, or to their family members and cronies in disguise, or they were neglected to become home for reptiles when they could not convert them for their personal gains.
Mbakwe's vision in Aba internationalized "Ariaria Market" - now in Abia State - and saw it host foreigners who came from every part of Africa especial from the West African States to purchase goods like bags and shoes etcetera.
Mbakwe constructed many valued roads, of which some are still durable till today unlike the roads some of his predecessors built that turned into death traps – just after one raining season.
Wherever the spirit of Mbakwe may be, may it please be well with him.
According to the controversial Nigerian 2006 census, Imo had a population of about 3.9 million then – which was very doubtful. The state consists of 27 local government areas, and its capital city is Owerri.
Imo is heavily rich in agriculture, culture, natural and human resources. It is one of the oil producing states in Nigeria, however that had never been officially recognized by the Federal Government until the indigenes fought for their rights of inclusion. The state has a lot of tourist sites – some still not fully tapped.
Irrespective of the security uncertainties in Nigeria today Imo remains one of the safest states to visit or live-in.
Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions are situated in the state, and statistics show that Imo is the most educated state in Nigeria.
In the area of sports, music and entertainment Imo is notably at the center with its talented men and women either contributed or contributing immensely in the soaring high of Nigeria's image. For instance, the first Nigerian Olympic gold medal was won in athletics by Imo State born Chioma Ajunwa in Atlanta 1996, while another Imo indigene Kanu Nwakwo who also won the best African footballer of year award two times captained the Nigerian football Olympic team in defeating two horsepower in world football Brazil and Argentina before lifting the gold equally in Atlanta 1996. Kanayo O. Kanayo was a star in the film "Living in bondage" that brought the Nigeria film industry (NOOLYWOOD) to international recognition and were it is today. The queen of the Nigerian film industry Genevieve Nnaji, Osita Iheme, the lady with the golden voice, Onyeka Onwenu and Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City football club etcetera are all Imo indigenes.
Succinctly, Imo is a blessed state only the political leaders have failed to harness the resources of the state to the advantage of all, due to greed, lack of political will and myopic visions.
I wish Imo indigenes in Austria success in their planned event and vision of situating capital projects in Imo State.
Uzoma Ahamefule, a concerned patriotic citizen, writes from Vienna, Austria.
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