The African Root

Africa is made up of diverse ethnic groups, and culture. Discovery Africa is bent on studying this culture and also to teach our 21st century kids our roots. Today we wish to give you the opportunity to share your culture with us, tell us your culture which is fast fazing out and which you will like to be restored, tell us how it is done so we all can learn our different diverse cultures. If you are proud to be Africa and proud of where you came from join Discovery today as we travel to learn cultures of different African tribes. 

I representing this organisation hail from Eastern Nigeria, Nri kingdom in Anaocha local Govt Area, Anambra State Nigeria. I am proud of my home and i will say we have rich culture. Ranging from different masquerade for different occasions, one of such masquerade includes Nwaikpo͎, a masquerade which debuts on November 24th of every year and ends its activities on December 24th to give way to another masquerade known as ADAH, which debuts on December 26th only. Nwaikpo͎ and the Adah provide

Nwaikpo Masquerade. 

entertainment for all within the community especially kids who are visiting the village for the Xmas celebration. The Nwaikpo͎ amuses the kids by giving hot chase to young people, on catching up with you, you can bail yourself by giving tips or you stand a chance of receiving hot whip from it. The Adah on its part goes to peoples  homes very early in the morning, on the 26th December especially homes of the wealthy who came home for the Xmas celebration, there they sing their song, do the magical dance to entertain the household and at the end of their show the head of the family gives them gifts usually money, the leader of the masquerade then blesses the family before heading to another. Another funny thing about this masquerade is it has no restriction, i think this is the most friendly masquerade i know, on the 26th of December different categories of this masquerade emerges, such categories includes little kids within the age bracket of 3 years above, yes you heard me right 3 years, it is really funny to watch as a masquerade acts as a mother to this infants, carrying them on its back sometimes shoulder high.

ONWAGWU MASQUERADE 

Another interesting masquerade in Nri is the O͎nwagwu masquerade which debuts on June and ends its activities on July which has to be on a Sunday for its grand finale. On that auspicious Sunday, there are lots of activities organised on that day, the O͎nwagwu masquerade appears in the village square known as Eke square, the strength of the masquerade is tested in a flogging competition, this competition is among the masquerade and whichever masquerade that endures to the last emerges winner and of course a prize is awarded. If you want to listen to the language of the spirits, then you won't love to miss this event, their language is called IMA MBEM in my place. There are tons of activities for the day which ends with eating and drinking. 

Nri people are rich in culture and still uphold most of their cultures till date. They are great lover of food, this is no joke, my people love food, a secret tip for a lady planning on getting married to an Nri man, give him good food, not just good food but at the appropriate time, and you will remain his queen forever, he will continue to sing your praise whenever he is with his friends. Don't mind the Nri men living in the big cities, they all love traditional meal, they don't pretend about it, so as a wife don't stick to English meal alone always prepare those local meals like Fufu with Onugbu soup (Bitter leaf soup), white soup (Nsala) with pounded yam don't forget to equip it with tons of dried fish and meat.

Another area i will be looking at about my people is dancing, don't joke with our wives here o, they have this energy that even our men can't comprehend, they can dance from morning till evening without looking exhausted. Am not talking about circular dance or music no, am talking about the traditional dance, the way they move and shake their waist eh.... i will leave it for another day,  there is this dance i will love you guys to see, it's called Iyom Agbadani cultural dance. I love these mothers, their dance steps will thrill you.
Watch below.






Culture is unique, culture is dynamic, culture is people's way of life, what is your culture like, what can you say about your culture and how much do you know about your culture. As an African man or woman, it is mandatory that you know and understand your culture irrespective of where you live because that is your identity.
To our young children and also our youth who derive joy in speaking the white man's language, its also time to learn your people's way of life because that is your root and it is only culture that gives you true identity, okwa ebe onye bi k'ona awachi. 

 There are so many things i will love to share about my people, but that will be when i will talk in dept about the Nri people, and as you know Nri is the ancestral home of Ndi Igbo, so to discuss this unique people we have to wash our hands in order not to make mistakes, meanwhile we will love to hear your views about culture and also share your unique culture with us.

Ndi b'anyi ekele m unu.