Aguleri Community Celebrates World Eri Festival 2022.
Sons and daughters of Aguleri, Anambra East Council Area led by Eze Chukwuemeka Eri of Enugwu Aguleri today set down to Odene River- Agbanabo Ezu na Omabal for prayers and cleansing of all the Igbo extractions.
The journey is to commemorate the entrance of their progenitor, Eri, whom they believe had stopped at the confluence thousands of years ago before his sojourn in the upland, Aguleri community where the races of other igbo tribes and beyond began.
The commemoration is called "Olili Obibia Eri".
During the ceremony, Eze Eri engaged in deep prayers, seeking God's face for the upcoming year and thanked him for the passing year.
He also watched his subjects with water and also bless others that they can take home for other spiritual purposes.
After the cleansing at Agbanabo Ezu na Omabala, they all converged at Obu Gad palace, and continued with another series of prayers, followed by kola nut rituals and other celebrations in remembering the sojourn of their proginator, Eri who is believed to be one of the sons Gad, the third son of Jacob, the ancestor of Israelites.
Eze Eri in his message for the 2022 Olili Eri went down memory lane on the sojourn of Eri and all his descendants, Ndị Igbo who are scattered all over the world, saying they are all related and always promote the values of peace, progress and unity.
Eze Eri called on Nigerians to exercise their franchise in 2023 general elections with utmost care and vote for candidates with verifiable track record and that has the capacity to lift to lift the country out from poverty.
He also asked the Federal Government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu saying he is now being held without reason.
On his part, the Chairman of 2022 World Eri Day, Nze Joseph Onwuzulike said the celebration which is spiritually embedded brings peace and progress to celebrants where the sick who attend the event can be healed because of the blessings and prayers that follow the celebration, stating that water is important to life therefore going to the river as their traditional ruler, Eze Eri did is not fetish but their way of culture.
The President General of Enugwu Aguleri, Chief Victor Emeka noted that as the father of all Igbo race, they accord Eri the respect he deserves after which they receive abundance blessings.
Speaking shortly after receiving Ozoigbondu Chieftaincy title from Eze Eri, the President General of Umueri Community, Chief Jonny Metchie said he was recognized because of his contributions to the society, noting that it pays to invest and extend succor to people even as he said it also means unity, love and cordial relationship between Umueri and Aguleri.
Among those who received various Chieftaincy titles is a Nollywood actor and producer, Ugezu J Ugezu who said the honour is because of his research and propagation of Igbo culture through films.
The celebration was attended by prominent individuals in the society, traditional rulers, age grades in Aguleri , other traditional dances and masquerades.
More photos below.
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