The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, on Friday, unveiled an imposing, life-size metallic sculpture of an Ijele masquerade at Onuasata Round About, Obiagu in Enugu.
The artwork, which was so beautifully adorned with stripes of multiple colours, was part of the State Government’s strategic efforts to boost and uphold the Igbo tradition and culture as well as tourism in the area.
In a speech at the colourful ceremony, Achebe extolled Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State “for his massive infrastructure development of the state”.
According to him, the effort had begun to restore the lost glory of the Coal City, placing it as the headquarters of Ndigbo and the entire former Eastern Region.
The royal father said that the sculpture represents the rich cultural heritage of the great people of Igboland, who see the Ijele as a valuable and magnificent masquerade.
He further said that the Ijele, which commads greater respect than other masquerades in Igboland, was embedded with everything pertaining to humanity.
“Unarguably, Enugu is the headquarters of the Igbo land.
“It was God that destined it to be so.
“On that note, anything that will make Enugu to be great is of utmost importance to every Igboman, and that is why I am here.
“Ijele masquerade is the biggest of all the masquerades, and it is peculiar to Anambra and Enugu State, and there is a reason we own the masquerade.
“Everything pertaining to humans is in Ijele, and the story surrounding it is endless.
“That was the reason it is regarded as the biggest.
“So, we thank Mbah, who is also an Ijele himself, for making this possible and also making the state and Igboland a beautiful place,” Achebe said.
The Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Samuel Asadu, said that the traditional rulers of the region were present at the event because of the dignity the sculpture accords to the culture of the people.
Asadu, who also doubles as the Chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, described the unveiling as epoch-making, aimed at telling the world the richness of Igbo culture and significance of the masquerade to the land and its people.
“We, the traditional rulers in Enugu State and, indeed, the South-East are here to witness this epoch-making event that signifies our culture.
“We thank the governor for his good work in the state. This signifies our rich cultural heritage,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairperson, Enugu State Tourism Board, Dame Rita Mbah, said that the Ijele sculpture was in line with the effort by the Mbah’s administration to make the state “a place rich in arts and culture as well as premier destination for tourism”.
She said that the location of the sculpture was chosen because it was a place the people converge to watch masquerades perform during festivities.
“The concept behind this work is that the Ogui people are known for their Ogene and masquerades.
“Enugu people are generally known for their culture.
“So, we decided to put this wonderful edifice here.
“Do not forget that this is a place where Enugu people and tourists alike converge during festive periods to watch masquerades.
“For that reason, we deemed it fit to put this wonderful Ijele masquerade here,” Mbah said.
Also speaking, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu, the Chairman, Enugu East Traditional Rulers, and the traditional ruler of Ibagwa Nike Community, thanked the governor and his team for upholding the culture of the people with the unveiling of the Ijele boldly erected in Nike land.
“This place we are standing is a centre where the Nike people gather to celebrate their masquerades.
“Every traditional ruler is Ijele; every leader is Ijele.
“This is a way of attracting tourists to know that Enugu is a cultural home, where you can come and have fun.
“Enugu is a very important city and an administrative headquarters, not only of the present-day South-East, but the defunct Eastern Region, and at a point the entire South, except Lagos.
“So, today, the governor did something unique by highlighting the place of Ijele and the place of Enugu in our history,” he said.