Igbos like other nationalities in Africa nay the entire world, migrate from area of scarcity to regions where their needs would be met. Whatever that need be.
When they migrate, they tow their culture, particularly religion but not being custodians of their gods or an initiate into the rites and rituals of their nation, they merely reenact the festivities and not the spirituality of these festivals.
This is because most of the people who migrate, are not grounded in the tradition of their people.
On getting to their new home, they try to mimic the authentic tradition and in most cases, they adulterate it, blend it into the environment they find themselves and water down or totally remove the spiritual essence of the festival.
For them, it becomes a mere carnival, a dance in the sun to burn fat and mingle to entangle and ease sexual tension and job stress(a spiritual component too of the festival unconsciously done.).
Despite these adulteration, I have noticed that those in diaspora, celebrate igbo festivals more than those at home.
What could be responsible? Do they miss home and her spiritual connexion? Do they like the slaves before them, celebrate them as act of rebellion against their host and a reminder that they will one day be free and come back to Africa?
It will be exciting, if there is biannual, decade home coming to Igbo land by igbo sons and daughters, to truly celebrate igbo festivals within igbo land with its accompanying spirituality.
They should bring their children home to drink from the village brooks, hunt in the bushes and eat nuts from the forest.
Arondizuogu and some communities in Abia State, are trying on this count but it should be a deliberate policy of all Pan-Igbo Cultural Associations, to have their Igbo festival day, celebrated in their village.
World Igbo Congress, should make sure that World Igbo day or Annual World Igbo Congress meeting/Conference, is done in any of the seven igbo states of; Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Delta, Imo or Rivers.
