By NewsBits
The Patrick Zikora Nwafor Foundation for the Poor and Youth has launched a book, which aims at upholding Igbo culture and saving it from erosion and corruption brought by modernity.
The book entitled, “The History, Culture and Traditions of Ntegbenese: Agbogugu in Focus; Past, Present and Future,” was officially launched at Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, Royal Palace Hotel, Agbani Road, Enugu over the weekend.
The author/founder of PZ Nwafor Foundation, Evang. Patrick Nwafor in his address at the occasion said it took him well over 40 years research on the book for it to see the light of the day. Nwafor expressed worry that not only Agbogugu culture was suffering erosion but the entire Igbo culture; hence the need to stem the drift and fast dwindling cultural values which Igbo hold dear.
He said: “I have written this book as part of my own contributions towards halting the dwindling Igbo culture and tradition and in extension Ntegbenese generally which has resulted into constant conflicts and confusion in every social interactions.”
He said it was important that a people’s culture, custom and tradition is documented for prosperity, noting that, “a people without a history are nothing but nomads.”
The author noted that the Igbo have five sacred foundational pillars of life that guide them such as Nsoani, Odinani, Ntuani, Iwuani and Omenani. He said that if they are followed tenaciously, the Igbo race would be a peaceful place to live in.
Through the book, the author was able to make the reader know that Ntegbenese is made up of five communities in Enugu state that migrated from Akaeze in Ebonyi state. The communities include Ogugu, Owelli, Ihe, Agbogugu and Akagbeugwu.
The book reviewer, Prof. Oyibo Eze, emphasised the importance of the 23- chapter and 300 page-book which dealt mainly on the culture of Agbogugu. He noted that in spite of the computer age, there was need to have a written material posterity could lay hands on to know their roots.
Eze explained that Igbo have similar cultures but there are slight differences just as Igbos share similar cultures with Israel. He pointed out that people migrated from one place to the other in the days of yore and that it would be foolhardy for a people to claim to be autochthonous.
