By Patrick Oguejifor
Saturday, 7th January 2012 will remain a historic day in the annals of Enugwu-Ukwu, a famous Igbo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state. The day witnessed the maiden Igu-Aro festival of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Sir Ralph Obumnemeh Ekpeh (Okpalanakana-Ukabia the IV), Eze Enugwu-Ukwu and Igwe of Umunri Clan.

The special event attracted over  5000 people as the traditional annual Igu-Aro had not taken place for the last four years as a result of the demise of the immediate monarch, Igwe Osita Agwuna III who joined his ancestors at a very ripe old age.

His Royal Majesty, Igwe Sir Ralph Obumnemeh Ekpeh (Okpalanakana-Ukabia the IV), Eze Enugwu-Ukwu and Igwe of Umunri Clan

Following the completion of the traditional three years of mourning, the people of Enugwu-Ukwu elected a new Eze Enugwu-Ukwu na Igwe Umunri in the person of Ozo Nkpu Chief Ralph Obumnemeh Ekpeh (Chinemeze I) who was later issued with certificate of recognition by the governor of Anambra State .

By twelve noon of that historic Saturday, a mammoth crowd  had taken over every inch of space at the festival ground near the Igwe’s Palace at Obeagu-Orji, Enugwu-Ukwu. While waiting for the emergence of the King to kick-start the event, the crowd were entertained by arrays of cultural troupes from all over the 18 villages that made up the town.

The highlight of this traditional entertainment was performances by rare masquerades such as the Izaga and the Ijele- masquerades that make their appearances only on rare occasion such as the Igu-Aro festivals. It was simply a festival of tradition and galaxies of masquerades that portrayed the rich culture of the Igbo people of eastern Nigeria .

Suddenly the drumming and the dances were interrupted by the echo of “Igwe! Igwe! Igwe!’ renting the sky and signaling the arrival of the motorcade of Igwe Ralph Obumnemeh Ekpeh. This was followed by gunshots and fireworks. dressed in full, royal traditional regalia and holding the traditional nzu, he moved round, greeting the various communities that constituted the town.

After that the Igwe took his seat on the ancient traditional stone where he received from the Queen, Okpueze Lady Dora Chinelo Ekpeh kola nuts.  In presenting the cola to the King, she was accompanied by wives of powerful members of the Igwe’s Traditional Cabinet, all in colorful and  uniformed traditional attires.

In breaking the cola the Igwe prayed for the peace of his subjects, the peace of Nigeria and the Igbo speaking people. He also blessed the towns that constituted Umunri Clan- Enugwu-Ukwu, Nawfia, Agukwu, Nri, Enugwu-Agidi, Oraeri, Neni, Enugwu-Ezike, Umudioka – etc. He specially asked God to give the Igbo nation a leader the people will follow.

He also prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu whom he paid tribute to as a man who  lived his time as a great warrior and lover of the Igbo people and died for the Igbo.

Next, he thanked the governor (who was represented by his Deputy) for ‘giving force of law’ to the new Enugwu-Ukwu Constitution that saw him emerge as Igwe following a peaceful election on February 26th 2011. He pledged to give his people ‘selfless and unalloyed’ service using the experiences he generated over the years.

At the end of his speech, the Igwe bestowed titles to various sons of the community including former Senator Ikechukwu Abana, a prominent member of his cabinet.

The event was attended by prominent sons of the state including Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Chris Ngige, Senator and former Governor of Anambra state, Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Minister of information, Chairman of Njikoka LGA, and several traditional rulers from neighboring and distant communities including Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, the Igwe of Ndikelionwu.

The next day, Sunday 8th the Igwe and his subjects attended a thanksgiving service at Immanuel Anglican Church and St Anthony’s Catholic Church, both in Enugwu –Ukwu  for the success of the occasion.

For Igwe Ralph Ekpeh, God was indeed worthy of the thanks taking into cognizance his thorny road to the throne and grass to grace story. Having managed to attain a higher education through self struggle, he started life as secondary school teacher from where he joined the publishing industry beginning from the Benin based Ethiope publishing house to Evans Brothers Publishers at Ibadan .

It was after he left Evans that he co-founded what is today called Africana-First Publishers Ltd, the largest indigenous publishing house in Nigeria today and the publishers of the famous Intensive English series among many other titles that have made their mark in the educational industry.

He rose to become the Chairman and Managing Director from where he retired to become the Igwe of his community.