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So, it took Igbo Kwenu : Cultural team spirit as a heritage
Patrick Iroegbu Alberta, Canada Friday, March 3, 2006 This piece is based on a personal experience of how Igbo cultural spirit, if you like call it solidarity of heritage can translate into a shared symbol of a community. It is a story of the Making of Igbo Cultural Association of Edmonton in Alberta of Canada from November 2001 – February 2006.” What I attempt to offer here as said is a personal perspective to show what lessons that can be learned in the unfolding events of the union even for the years ahead – here and elsewhere. I hope that the way I am putting out the account will make sense.
For the Igbo Cultural Association of Edmonton (ICAE), inauguration day was the Saturday of a long weekend called the Victoria Day weekend in Canada. According to the program of events, on May 21st, 2005, at exactly 4.30 p.m. the event that would mark the inauguration ceremony of the ICAE would begin with cocktails. In North American culture, “cocktails” mark the time when guests arrive and engage in socializing and some acclimatizing gossip or small talk, accompanied by drinks. Before this day, the entire Igbo community in Edmonton, Alberta had worked itself into a state of cultural spirit and enthusiasm for putting their unique foot-prints in Canadian soil. As it turned out, that is exactly what was accomplished. Various Igbo Associations from the neighbouring cities and regions in Canada surprised even themselves in a variety of ways. Other ethno-cultural African and non-African national groups were equally inspired, elated, and gratified by the velocity and nobility of what the ICAE could do. Praises were poured on the ICAE as a whole and, in particular, the action leadership and inaugural organizing team that made the day so successful.
In writing this report of that important, one-of-a-kind community event, I want to first of all congratulate the Igbo Cultural Association of Edmonton (ICAE) on the successful Inauguration Gala of their union in the Diaspora. Testimonies from Igbo Associations from Toronto, Calgary, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, as well as Tanzanians, Rwandans, Congolese, Cameroonians, Sierra Leoneans, the Caribbeans, Ugandans, Ethiopians, Mexicans, Canadians, and so on, showed that the Igbo had a wonderful day. While some stated that ICAE had raised the bar of Igbo cultural activities so high that others were challenged to imitate the event, some others remarked that ICAE displayed genuine Igbo life and culture in a way that has never before been observed in Canada. Yet others noted that the event was simply “wonderful” and a carnival of marvels to any observer.
Is appraising the Inaugural Event of May 21st, 2005, and providing insight into what steps and strategies made the ICAE a success story in Edmonton, straightforward and clearly situated? In other words, what were the secrets behind ICAE’s emergence to prominence in such a short period of existence? Simply put, there is no particular magic that made things happen, other than the Igbo philosophy that says umunna bu ike. That is, Oha na-eme obodo ihe ana akpo ya (community is called by what its collective effort showcases). ICAE was faced with the challenge of organizing and hosting the Inauguration and either doing it right, thereby being able to revel in its success, or doing it wrong and living to regret its decisions and face the loss of connection in Edmonton. To avoid allowing the skeptics to have their day and laugh at ICAE, something successful and meaningful needed to be crafted. So it took ‘igbo kwenu.’ That is, invaluable time, determination, imagination, originality, mobilization, resources, and efforts. That very caveat came from none other than one of the Igbo Elders, Chinwe Okelu, and the curiosity that followed the rest of the team’s activities tied in with that voice of wisdom. The ICAE team chose to do things right and make the connection, with the understanding that connection enhances community. So the inaugural team, the Board, and the entire membership worked together, through to success. I testify that when the Igbo people are determined to achieve something, nothing can stop them; ICAE is a living reference to that maxim that what people can do for themselves is their honorific essence of life (ihe ha na-emere onwe ha turu ha ugo ndu).
ICAE was founded in 2002, and was officially registered as a Not-for-Profit Cultural Association in the Province of Alberta. The Igbo community members are largely members of the Nigerian Association of Alberta (NAA). NAA was established in 1986, and has been serving the interests of Nigerians and Canadians in Alberta since that time. At the level of Nigerian associational issues, the Igbo play important roles, including functioning in different elected and appointed board of directorate offices and committee services. Any new immigrant will inevitably hear long stories about some of the successes and predictable squabbles, based on ethnic lines, within the NAA. Although that NAA participates and organizes social and heritage events, one quickly notices a gap in the cultural closeness and expressiveness of the Nigerian components. But this is not unusual, and must not be misplaced in a genuine cultural analysis of human identities. When members gather, jokes are shared, and friendship building always tip-toes around ethnic lines and therefore weakens the chances of building a stronger home language and cultural artistry in the representations and manifestations in a changing Canadian multicultural mosaic. A volunteer initiative to introduce Igbo cultural dance and masquerade into the Edmonton Heritage Festival of 2004, was met with stiff bias, opposition, and unfriendly comments from some members of NAA. Leaders on hand managed and coped with the inevitable development and, at the end of the day, things went smoothly. Rather than the Igbo being discouraged, the experiences sharpened their desire to centralize their activities and become more supportive to NAA’s goals. The Igbo felt that the future of NAA, of which Igbo is a stakeholder, will surely lie in the solidarity of ICAE, which will provide exemplary support and leadership that will move the goals of NAA forward. The last general election of Officers of NAA , held in April 24th, 2005, and at which the Igbo took 3/4s of the elected positions, proved the point that the Igbo is resolved and will not stay away from the affairs of NAA. In this way, skeptics of the new Igbo union were proven, and will continue to be proven, totally wrong.
By November 2001, the first meeting of the Igbo community was called to order at the residence of Ruby Aja-Awka Morah. Meanwhile, Tony Anagor, Sam Okolo, Achulike Nwaribe, Ifeanyi Uzor, Nnene Ikejiani and Adamma Obiajunwa, now in BC, Ferdinand Mbajiogu, Ruby Morah and Jude Aanawanam, among others, were the movers behind the mobilization. This writer was barely even a new member (of one week by then) and quickly immersed himself into the group and encouraged everyone to form cultural solidarity for themselves. I vividly recall passionate appeals to unite expressed by all those present that evening, as well as a desire that the emerging leaders move from within to take their aspirations to a concrete reality.
Upon meeting two of the Igbo people just mentioned above at a mass service in St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, the first question I posed after identifying these guys as Igbo people was: Ebee ka ndi Igbo noo? (Where are the Igbo people in this town?). Not that this writer was too Igbocentric, so to speak, but it was this very question that resulted in these guys stating that “Oh! The Igbo people in town are meeting today in Mill Woods,” and asking me if I would like to attend. Curiosity set in motion the process of asking and knowing; I was offered a ride and thus became a part of the process of building up ICAE from “day-one.”
Another meeting soon followed, at the same residence of Ruby Morah and family, with the goal of organizing and strategizing the “go-ahead” to continue with the formation of the Igbo Association, beginning with a temporary name and terms of reference with which to write the constitution and bylaws. At the time, Christmas was fast approaching and, in fact, was near at hand. Given that, we decided to celebrate a customary Christmas. As such, the 31st of that December was collectively chosen as the day that we would celebrate, together, that year’s Christmas and New Year with committed loyalty and hope. Since then, this date has crystallized into an annual Igbo Christmas and end of the year celebration. By the middle of 2002, the constitution and by-laws of ICAE had been drawn by a diligent constitutional drafting committee co-ordinated by Patrick Iroegbu and Tony Anagor; John Igbokwe served as the secretary. From the on-set, ICAE was in the hands of well-meaning leaders who wanted to serve their community and make useful contributions. This is not to suggest that there weren’t challenges to be faced; as human beings, obstacles and frustrations are the banes of our existence. Challenges—such as the raising of finance, calling for and hosting meetings, mobilizing others through visits and phone calls— were encountered and resolved, however, through hopeful attitudes and pride in our purpose. Right up to the present, meetings have been held at ICAE member’s homes on a volunteer and rotational basis; in addition the organization uses NAA’s Cultural Centre or rented Community Halls, such as the King Edward Community Hall.
In 2002, the final day for adoption of the constitution and bylaws took place at the home of Chimezie Nwaribe and family. It was there that the first executive members were elected; they included:
Anselm Okereke (President), Tony Anagor (Vice President), Dr. Chiemeka Brendan Ihejirika (Secretary), Eliezar Nwachukwu (Social Director), Nnene Ikejiani (Financial Secretary), John Agbam (Provost), Emmanuel Morah (Treasurer), etc.
Rather than accepting to serve in an elective position, Patrick Iroegbu, among others, volunteered to help the Board in the community building process. What Patrick Iroegbu has attempted to illustrate is that you do not need to be the president or an elected officer in order to contribute and serve your community. On the other hand, one cannot claim to be genuinely and concretely serving his or her community by staying at home. In order to serve and be part of building a community, one must be involved materially, mentally, and physically.
What helps communities unfold is that very small contribution that we make in any given development call; there would be no houses to rent if developers build only their own homes and then stop at that. Likewise, community will not form and advance if people attend only to their own issues and stop at that. For those who read the Christian Bible, I will say this about Jesus Christ: The story of Jesus is about living for the “other” and helping that “other” in order to give meaning and significance to his or her life in society. Being a community person essentially entails creating opportunities for members of the community to find reality and value in the things that they do and believe in. In other words, community involvement is a social need for all.
Continuity, no matter how slow, is the key to increasing participation and development spirit and connections. Dropping out, abstention, and approaching difficult conditions with threats of resignation—no matter how challenging things may become—will only result in sluggish hopes and expectations run sluggish. A good leader, rather than running away from difficult issues, looks for and initiates ideas and actions that will help resolve the issues. A leader should not expect or accept only praises, but must also consider useful criticisms and apply them toward improvement and change. Leadership is not only about how a leader thinks and acts but also about how that leader incorporates the thinking and acting of others in the community.
Nearly two years after the formation of Igbo Cultural Association of Edmonton (ICAE), a new leadership was constituted and Dr. Chiemeka B. Ihejirika emerged as the President. Charismatically and relentlessly undeterred, he led ICAE to a successful Inauguration in May, 2005 (see ICAE Inaugural Brochure – May 21, 2005 for the list of the Board members, sponsors, activities and teams that worked hard for it). ICAE has come a long way, and today offers Igbo language and culture studies to the Edmonton community, as well as cultural and musical dance services. ICAE also published its first edition of In-Diaspora Magazine as a part of its community services committed to informing the public on Igbo issues, projecting Igbo heritage, and positioning the objectives of the association in Edmonton and Areas. Since the Inauguration of ICAE it has taken a position of centrality in other Igbo Associational affairs in Canada, as well as in the homeland in Nigeria.
ICAE will not only survive but continue to prosper. May all of the members be blessed as you celebrate another Igbo Festival in May of 2006. Be proud of having nurtured and supported your own heritage to the level we are at today. You will be nothing less than the best, with your continued participation and contribution to your own community life and culture in Edmonton, Alberta. ICAE is Ugwu Mba - the pride and reference union of a community away from home! Stay strong so that our children and kinship circle will socially and culturally bond through the ICAE in solidarity. Udo (peace) and oga n’ihu (progress). For each and all, ensure that your name is written down in the history and development of ICAE in Edmonton and elsewhere in the interconnected cultures, heritages, and sociality of the global world. A culture of society presents and represents its people; this entails the roles men, women, and children play in activities and performances that showcase not only their material conditions but the ideological valuations that affect and reflect their cultural models of immersion in global economic, political, and social survival for an eventual relay of development at home. Perhaps the biggest personal insight I gained from all this is that Igbo women and men can give their inner best when opportunities are provided for them to do so. In ICAE, the Women’s and Children’s dance groups, as well as the Men’ s dance group and the Igbo language school provide such a high level of immersion and such excellent performances that I will no longer look down on anyone unless, when the opportunities to learn and perform are presented, they are dismissed. ICAE is sure to be just as successful in the IGBO FEST of May 2006. Join in the festivities, celebrate with us, and be one with the ICAE in Alberta, Canada! A people without a union to express themselves are a people without a cultural voice to create change at home and in diaspora for the better.
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