"IGBO CULTURAL HERITAGE FESTIVAL"

1. the old State House where the President made his two victory speeches in 1992 and 1996;
2. Little Rock Central High School, a national landmark in desegregation in the United States in 1957. This is the 40-year anniversary of that desegregation by nine black students;
3. the State Capitol;
4. a meeting with the Mayor of the City of Little Rock by some Igbo dignitaries and also a meeting with some business leaders to discuss business and economic cooperation between the people of Arkansas and Igboland. The evening will be rounded up at Images of Africa, 1318 Main Street, where various Igbo music will be played for both listening and dancing purposes.

SATURDAY, JULY 19: The main event will be held at the Dr. Crawford Mims Gymnasium in the Multi-purpose Building at Philander Smith College. Activities will include Igbo cultural displays; Igbo language workshop; coronation of a Traditional Ruler; conferment of chieftaincy titles; a short church blessing in Igbo language officiated by the three Igbo Reverend Fathers from Nigeria with the Catholic Diocese of Arkansas; and a few presentations that help promote Igbo language & culture. There will be NO HASSLES, just sightseeing, listening to music and watching various masquerade displays. This is relaxation time. Come with the whole family. Forget your burdens for at least two days.

SOME HISTORICAL ANALOGY: In 1967, as the Arabs and Israelis fought a six-day war, the then Nigerian military government declared war on Igboland. Before then, pogroms against Ndigbo in different parts of Nigeria were carried out. While people in the northern and western parts of the country were enjoying their education, people in the eastern part had theirs disrupted for more than three years. Though thirty years have passed, the devastation brought about by the war in Igboland made it look like it happened last year. Now in 1997 as the State of Arkansas and the United States celebrate the 40th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School, the Igbos reflect on the devastation brought about by that war thirty years ago. I remember one of the Biafran slogans by then was, THEY WANT YOUR PROPERTY NOT YOUR PROSPERITY--FIGHT THEM TO A FINISH."

Note: Please direct any questions to Nnanta Uwadineke, P. O. Box 3114, Little Rock, AR 72203. Phone (501)374-5732.

1. Best Western Hotel, 600 Interstate 30, 1-800-528-1234
2. Holiday Inn, 6th & Broadway, 1-800-465-4329
3. DoubleTree Hotel, 424 West Markham, 1-800-222-8733

For further information call:

1. Mr. Nnanta Chidindu Uwadineke at (501)374-5732;
2. Mr. Harrison Udensi Igwe, Co-chairman of the Festival Committee at (501)562-6896;
3. Mr. Hyginus Ihedoro Ukadike, Co-chairman of the Festival Committee at (501)666-1781; or
4. Dr. Lawrence Ndubuisi Okere, Secretary of the Festival Committee at (501)562-1487, Fax (501)562-1487."