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Catholic Arch Diocese: Memories from Odenigbo 2004 by Engr. Odo Akaji
Introduction A very The Board of Directors of the Igbo
Heritage Foundation had identified the Odenigbo Lecture project as being in
consonance with our vision for Igbo renascence. Thus, in the Month of April 2004, Igbo
Heritage Foundation dispatched two distinguished board members, Dr. Chidi
Okorie and Dr. Chukwuemeka Enwere to Owerri from their base in Europe, the aim being to meet and discuss with the
founder of the Odenigbo lectures, His Grace, Rev Dr. Anthony John Valentine
Obinna. The origin of the Odenigbo
Lecture Series is to be found in these words: Given the need to welcome the Good news of salvation into the
intimacy of our lives and Igbo culture, special prominence would be given to
the Igbo Language through an annual series of lectures by Igbo scholars in Igbo
Language ~~~ AJV Obinna. Their April trip in a sense served
as our advance party to the September Odenigbo 2004 for which my humble self
was mandated to attend as His Lordship’s special guest on behalf of ụmụIgbo
in the Diaspora. As we say in Igbo; Ụka akpara akpa, isi ka eji ekwe ya, meaning that a nod would
suffice for approval were details have previously been worked out. My virgin flight from
She was pleased that the Diaspora
Igbo were showing such commitment towards the preservation of the Igbo Language
and heritage. Regrettably, she was
unable to attend as she was tied down with the preparations for her son’s
wedding. She’d passed on her contact
address with a promise to provide intellectual support for the Igbo Heritage
work. For in her words, it was time for Nd’Igbo to pull together. God must have ordained our chance meeting for
I’d chosen for my brief speech “All Hands On Deck” which I had captioned in
Igbo from the Ngwa adage: “Ọkpụrụka
Gbata, Osụkwụ Gbata, Ebele Eju N’nmanụ” Day 1. Abalị
Nmalite Odenigbo (Eve of the Odenigbo Lecture) I feel it is fair to make the
point that the Odenigbo is actually a two-day event as the eve of the lecture
is dedicated to numerous cultural displays, a prelude to the lecture day. Maazi Amadị Ọsọndụ,
chairman of the organising committee in various written communication had
emphasised the need for me to witness the culture-fest in order to appreciate
the atmosphere of the whole event. It
was not until I arrived at the Odenigbo arena on Friday Nkwọ Market Day,
the 3rd day of September, that I understood exactly what he meant.
I had arrived at the gates of Maria
Assumpta Cathedral after a gruelling journey from
As it turned out the Bishop
Amarachi Obinna was being introduced to each of the wrestlers and he had the
same question for each of them relayed on the microphone to the hearing of
all: “Young man, my good friend, what is
your name and do you use juju and charms in wrestling?” And one after the other, the young men introduced themselves and
confessed their Igbo Christian heritage describing wrestling as a fun sport
with no relationship whatsoever with magic and dark powers. When the last person had spoken Bishop Obinna
then proceeded to pray for them and the combat was underway! As the young men danced into the
make-shift ring in pairs one couldn’t help but ponder about the similarities
between the wrestlers and the gladiators of ancient
It had rained as I entered Owerri,
but now it fizzled to a drizzle as the gladiators began to do battle with a
high tempo drumming and ọja (Igbo bamboo flute) playing
away in the background. The sound
reminded me of my days as a pupil of St Cyprian Primary School Umuihi in
Mbakwe’s Etiti. One Prince Whoba had a
traditional wrestling club which was situated adjacent to the school building
and later became a regular feature at the Eastern television houses. It seemed neither the rain nor the
drizzle could dampen the spirit of both the gladiators and the spectators. The
umpire a man of very slight build but a very graceful dancer led the pairs in
turn into the ring and raised the right hand of the victor once each contest
was over. It was impossible not to be caught
up in the gaiety of the atmosphere as the huge crowd cheered and jeered each
good move. Some were raised well above
the deck only to entangle one foot on their opponents as they were being
lowered causing the latter’s back to hit the ground in their stead. For me one young man stood out from the
rest. He was about sixteen and stood at
some five feet, seven inches with a rather well developed upper body. He was nimble of feet as he danced into the
ring. Once in the ring, his steps
changed as he began to psych out his opponent.
He had adopted a cat-like pause and with one knee almost touching the
ground he dangled and raised his left hand in a rather limp and languid fashion
to his opponent encouraging his opponent to make a rather brash charge. The contest was over as the opponent was on
his back in a twinkle of an eye. A man
sitting close to me had heralded the young man as “Amalinze, the cat” after
Chinua Achebe’s fictional Igbo wrestler in “Things Fall Apart”. As the wrestling team danced out
of the arena to the applause of the crowd, the different dance troupes began to
take the stage as I made my way forward to introduce myself to Maazi Amadị
Ọsọndụ who in turn lead me to Bishop Obinna. Meeting Bishop Obinna I was right in assuming that Maazi
Amadị Ọsọndụ would be easy to identify having been the
chairman of the Odenigbo organising committee for six years running. The very first gentleman I asked pointed in
his direction almost before I finished saying “Ọsọndụ”!
Maazi Ọsọndụ is
very dark complexioned Igbo, of average build, bespectacled with the eye for
detail you would expect from a stockbroker.
His face lit up with a broad smile as we greeted with a warm handshake. Then still holding my hand he said; “bia,
bia, ka anyi ga hụ Bishọp Obinna” (“come along, let’s go and meet
Bishop Obinna”). I timorously trudged
along feeling embarrassed that the president of the Igbo Heritage Foundation
was attending an Igbo function attired in travel-worn pair of three-quarter
shorts, groundwork trainers, a sun hat and a tee shirt. Before I left Bishop Obinna is the personable,
warm, charismatic and gregarious Igbo Arch Bishop of Assumpta Cathedral and the
founder of the Odenigbo Lecture Series.
A citizen of Emekuku Owerri, he had served as a lecturer at the It was heart-warming to meet some
other bonafide Igbo community leaders and traditional “rulers” notably Allen
Okoro of Mbano. There presence
underscored the grass root support the Odenigbo lecture enjoyed. Of equal significance was the good spread in
age groupings of the various dance troupes that performed in the arena. It was good to see our youth singing in
Igbo. There was this particular girl who
led in her dance troupe into the arena chanting some carefully chosen Igbo
proverbs much to the delight and admiration of the crowd.
The widely travelled Abigbo Mbaise
seized the podium and brought the roof down with a rendition of some of their
more popular Calypso numbers. I did not
witness the last act of the night; as I needed to get away in order to confirm
that my accommodation arrangement was in place as agreed. It does get dark very easily in Ala Igbo and
with absent or non functional street lighting it was a daunting task for me to
get my bearings right after about eighteen years from my last stay in Umudagu
Mbieri near Ọjị, Owerri.
My friend had told me earlier in
the day to ensure I had the head lamp at full beam once it got dark and not to
bother so much with lane discipline and courtesy to other drivers as that would
announce to everyone that a vulnerable foreigner was in their midst. I cringed behind the wheel a few times at
some of the audacious manoeuvres I had to attempt in order to make progress
while also avoiding being run into the open gutters by the ubiquitous Ị
na-ga? (motorcycle taxis). It was
with a huge sense of relief that I hit the sack in Modotel Room 412 just a
little after midnight trying hard not to reflect on the ordeal on the road and
the state of the Modotel bathroom shower.
After all, I had the huge Odenigbo event the next day to look forward to.
Day 2: Obiri Odenigbo
(The Climax of Odenigbo)! The day of the Odenigbo lecture
usually starts with a church service at the Maria Assumpta cathedral in
commemoration of the Owerri Archdiocesan day and this year’s was no
exception. I had been trying to imagine
what the Mass would be but nothing quite prepares an Ohafia Presbyterian
Evangelical for the regimented organisation, choreographed orderliness and
pleasant serenity that characterised this Roman Catholic service. I had been received at the public car park by
Maazi Ọsọndụ and head of protocol Dr. Esenwah, the tall
handsome Ophthalmologist. After a brief
discussion on relevant issues, Dr Esenwa drove me in his Mercedes Benz car to
the door of the cathedral and then ushered me to the reserved position directly
opposite the altar where Bishop Obinna, other officiating priests and altar
boys were seated. I found the atmosphere
somewhat awing!
The service featured songs, a
sermon from Bishop Obinna, a Prayer for the Odenigbo Lecturer, Dr. Chukuezi and
his family and rounded off by a mini fund raising in support of the Odenigbo
lecture project. In his sermon
eloquently delivered in flawless Igbo, Bishop Obinna called on the Igbo to
identify with the good values for which the Igbo have been known. Not one to pull a punch the Bishop condemned
the involvement of some Igbo in hidden things of darkness as epitomised by the Ọkịja
shrine debacle where dead human bodies were used for rituals. He reasoned that because we live in the
information age, the Igbo nation risked being known for the wrong reasons owing
to the publicity the Ọkịja saga attracted. He drew laughter from the congregation when
he offered to help in the clearing of Okịja and other jungles in Igbo
land, which serves as a habitat for dated trees and other rare plants and could
function as tourists attractions. The very brief fundraising event
was introduced in a dramatic fashion by a young boy apparently groaning and
sagging under a weight he was carrying. The
weight was tagged “Odenigbo” and on interrogation by a lady “passer-by” the boy
said he had been bearing the burden alone for the past nine years and
desperately needed help! It was at that
juncture that the Master of Ceremony and veteran Broadcaster Maazị Donald
Ekenta of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) “Iche na nmadu bụ ewu?”
fame took to the floor. In his
inimitable style Ekenta worked the Congregation: “Nkuma ọga anọ n’ụlọ
akwa etie akị?” (Can the egg
be assigned the task of cracking the palm kernel while the useful stone watches
nonchalantly? He quipped rhetorically.
It was his way of clearing the stage for a group of passionate Igbo men
and women of means who donated generously towards the lecture series.
Having done with the fundraiser
event, Maazi Ekenta came over and told me it was time to meet up with the
Bishop at the altar. I had been watching
everyone bow as they went past the altar and I felt happy that I’d remembered
to do so before going closer to the Bishop for a handshake and formal
introduction. His introduction was
apt: “He is Engineer Odo Akaji, a
citizen of Ohafia based in the UK, a Presbyterian and President/CEO of Igbo
Heritage Foundation. He has travelled
all the way from London to support the Odenigbo lectures” In the two minutes I had the
microphone I was able to define the mission of the Igbo Heritage, reaffirm our
support for the Odenigbo and other laudable Igbo projects, and challenge the
Igbo from all works of life to chip in their bit towards the promotion of the
Igbo Language. I concurred with the
Bishop on the need to seize the opportunity that Internet communication offers
and announced our pledge to publish the Odenigbo lectures like the Ahịajọkụ
lectures but in Igbo Language on the Internet at no cost to the
archdiocese. I also pledged that Igbo
Heritage shall fund the printing of the lecture materials by the Assumpta press
for next year’s lecture. Symbolically, I
passed on a cash donation of Fifty Thousand (50,000) Nigerian Naira to Maazi Ọsọndụ
as a physical token of our support and goodwill. I was glad that my challenge for the Igbo to
begin to push from all corners had the desired effect when two young Igbo
university graduates met me on the way out and said they will work on getting
two of Chinua Achebe’s better-known works translated to Igbo Language!.
As soon as the service ended a
young priest ushered us to the Manse where we were treated to a sumptuous
buffet ranging from Ofe Owere na Ụtara
ji (pounded yam and Owerri Soup), Rice & Stew and assorted meat, fish
and drinks. I shared the same table
with Dr. Bertram I N Osuagwụ, a Knight of St Christopher and
on whose shoulder rested the burden of doing the Igbo citation for the Odenigbo
lecturer. Perhaps it would be pertinent
to add that Dr Bertram Osuagwụ was instrumental to the founding
of the Igbo Language department at the Alvan Ikoku College of Education
Owerri. In a little tête - à - tête, he told me that he feels it was
wrong for some people to think that the Standard Igbo should cede ground for
dialects since even the English language has a standard version which the
different regions aspire to master. After the meal Okechukwu Itanyi
the tall deputy Governor of Enugwu State joined the Bishop and I for the
traditional walk from the manse to the Odenigbo lecture arena. In an unguarded moment of British-ness I had
commented on how brilliant the weather was!
Itanyi was resplendent in a snazzy cream-coloured Igbo caftan with okpu agụ and he’d told the Bishop that he jogs and was therefore
fit enough for the walk. The Bishop had
informed us there would be no Nigerian anthem.
L-R: Engr. Odo Akaji, Most
Rev. A.J.V. Obinna, and Enugu Deputy Gov. Okechukwu Itanyi Obinna is a man of the people and
the old and young kept flocking to touch and greet him. Occasionally I detected the Owerri twang when
he responded to people who are from his native Owerri. Even the members of the press were not left
out in the hand shakes. I pitied
Itanyi’s heavily armed security details who probably were struggling to
understand why the leaders did not require shielding from the Igbo. When we had been ushered to our seats in the
lower pavilion the crowd rose as Dr Chukuezi attired in a simple white caftan
with a matching black and white hat was lead into the arena with a rousing
fanfare. He took his seat on the right
of the Bishop while I kept my position from the previous night on the Bishop’s
left. After a short opening prayer and
the Odenigbo chant (Mbem odenigbo), Kola nut was presented and I was handed a
good ojị Igbo (Igbo kola nut) for the Igbo in
Diaspora. See our kola nut series on the
significance of kola nut in Igbo cultural life. After the presentation of kola nut, the
stage was set for Dr Bertram Osuagwu KSC to do the Igbo Language citation for
Dr Chukuezi. Dr Osuagwu held us spell
bound with impeccable Igbo as he talked us through the life and accomplishments
of Dr Chukuezi.(see profile). When he
was done, he turned towards Dr Chukuezi and informed him that the ground was
cleared and that the Igbo were all ears.
The ekwe odenigbo picked up
the refrain and with cannon crackers booming in the background, there was
another befitting herald for a man of letters, a modern warrior who had
conquered the field of his choosing!
This was no rented partisan crowd, but the spontaneous applause by the
Igbo for one of their own who by discipline and humility has posted universally
credible achievement. As Dr Chukuezi and his lovely wife
rose to their feet, the Bishop, Itanyi
and I stood up behind him and with dancers leading the way we accompanied him
to the elevated podium where he was to sit and grant the tens of thousands Igbo
the benefit of his wonderful insight and thorough research in Medicine and
healthcare. His old mother had snaked
her way through the section to the left of the podium and planted a kiss on his
cheek as he began the ascent to the platform.
He was later to round off his lecture with a sing along of Sunday school
song his mother had taught him as a kid.
Shouts of “Dim, umudim” rent
the air from the section occupied mostly by people from his native Umudim
Ikeduru. The Lecture! There is a saying in Igbo that “ngwugwo aga atọ-atọ adịghị nma ka atụọ ya mbọ” (there is little point in scratching a parcel that will soon be
opened). It would be inappropriate to
try and reproduce the contents of the lecture on this scratch pad since
verbatim copy of the lecture will soon be available here.
Dr.
Chukuezi started by tracing the historical practices in Igbo traditional
medicine and faith/religious beliefs. He
then went on to sum hindrances to a functional and efficient health care in ala
Igbo under eight broad headings; ·
Lack of organised approach by the government and the governed ·
Ignorance and lack of quality education
Dr. Chukuezi wondered why the Igbo health care should not be of the
highest quality considering that some of the present governors and some
deputies are qualified medical doctors and well versed in good health care
practises. Quoting from credible sources like the WHO, Dr.
Chukuezi gave the frightening statistics
that 70 out of 1000 Nigeria women would expect to die during child birth while
80 out of 1000 new born babies would die within the first week and another 50
in a thousand within the first month!
Meanwhile Nigeria occupies disgraceful 187th position out of
191 countries on the availability of good healthcare management. He was done in about two hours with three pauses for a drink of water
offered by the Bishop. Dr Chukuezi is a
good speaker and his mastery of the Igbo Language shone through his presentation
loaded with apt anecdotes and ilu (Igbo proverbs).
A smile of satisfaction played on the Bishop’s lips, and why not? He was like a farmer whose farm had yielded a
bumper harvest. The crowd rose in unison
as a standing ovation greeted the last word of the lecture. As I made for the direction of
Professor Nolue Emenanjo, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder and turned to
behold my good friend Dr. Chukwudi Nwaokoro the publisher “Ozi” the Igbo
weekly. He had travelled overnight from
Lagos to be at the lectures and we were to drive back to my hotel room and talk
into the wee hours of the Sunday morning.
I endorse the statement in the program of activities that the event is “a celebration, which
in preparation and execution entails a generous investment of dedication,
talents, energy, resources and generosity”. Epilogue I will like to express my sincere sense of immense gratitude to Bishop Obinna and the organising committee of the Odenigbo lecture, chiefly Maazi Ọsọndụ and Donald Ekenta for their warm hospitality. I will also like to thank the
staff of Modotel owerri for their admirable customer facing skills. Special thanks are due to my
esteemed friend and spiritual counsellor Engr. Humphrey Uluocha who gave me his
car for my use during my entire stay in ala Igbo. To my wife & children and the
founding Board members of Igbo Heritage Foundation who facilitated my trip, I
say unu emela! Odo Akaji, England, September 2004
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Igbo Foundation | Igbo Heritage Foundation | Ikenga Think Tank |
