TOWARDS INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF THE ANCIENT HERITAGE ART OF RAINMAKING IN IGBO LAND: ISSUES THAT CALLS FOR ATTENTION

By EMMANUEL .U. WOOD (National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria)

Abstract

Rain is the source of life for everything here on planet earth. It’s importance in Igbo society can never be over emphasized, considering that the Igbo Society is agrarian in nature, where majority of the population are farmers, whose livelihood are dependent on water which is affected by the rain. There are rainy and dry seasons annually in Igbo land. These seasons determine the community life of the people. Thus the change of seasons is observed with ritual activities.

The gathering cloud

 

These rites are central or crucial in strengthening community consciousness and solidarity. A huge number of Igbo communities practice traditional rainmaking rituals. Although rainmaking processes, materials and participants vary, most communities believe that the tradition enables them to predict, cause, redirect or dispel rainfall. Although some scientists have dismissed the practice as irrelevant, irrational and ineffective, others propose its integration to conventional meteorological approaches.

AYARAYA JI AND ECHICHA: INTRODUCING THE TWO DELICACIES OF THE NSUKKA PEOPLE OF ENUGU STATE AND THROWING LIGHT ON THEIR PREPARATION

 

BY OBINNA EKE AND UGWOKE, JULIANA UCHENNA

(National Commission for Museums and Monuments)

INTRODUCTION:

Food is a substance consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, fats and other nutrients used in the body of an organism to sustain growth. Hoy-Rosas, Arrecis and Avila (2010) sees food culture as the practices, attitudes and beliefs as well as the networks and institutions surrounding the production, distribution and consumption of food. It incorporates the cultural heritage and ethnicity but is not limited to it.

Cultural or traditional foods are foods locally sourced and prepared, which represents the traditional beliefs and practices of a geographical region, religious bodies or cross cultural community (Family, 2000).

Nsukka people and their culture are seen portrayed in their identity through their local cuisines. Two of such cuisines are Ayaraya Ji and Echicha, some of the most prized cuisines of the Nsukka people of Enugu State. Ayaraya Ji and Echicha are healthy, full of flavour, and nourishing to the body. They are traditional delicacies of the people that have been passed and consumed from generation to generation (FAO, 2020). They are traditional in nature, have historic precedent in local, regional and national cuisines. 

Ayaraya ji (picture adapted from the internet)

THE PROPOSED MONTH, ACTIVITIES, DAYS AND PERIOD OF THE IMT AT 50 CELEBRATION PROGRAMME UNVEILED BY IMT ENUGU ALUMNI PRESIDENT

 

The recently elected, amiable and hardworking President of the IMT Enugu Alumni Association, Mazi Dr. Agodi Kanu, is working very hard with fellow elected National Executive Council (NEC) members, Branch Executives, Diaspora Vice President, and the recently constituted committees, and other well meaning leaders of thought of the IMT Enugu Alumni, who have since declared their support and readiness to lend their voice, time, energy and other resources in a deliberate move to make the IMT alumni count as an organic and very significant part of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu community as a dependable partner and reliable stakeholder. 

THE STATE OF NIGERIAN MUSEUMS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BY WOOD, EMMANUEL U, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria

The concept of Museums has been viewed by many scholars and in view of this gave rise most likely to the various definitions that abound. However, the commonly accepted definition is one adopted by the International Council of Museums: ICOM 2022, where it defined the Museum as:

A not-for-profit permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.

The main features that emerged from the above definition are:

1. The museum is a not-for-profit permanent public institution; and
2. The main functions are researching, collecting, conserving, interpreting and exhibiting objects of cultural and educational values which are both tangible and intangible heritages.

The Museum in Nigeria is not different from the general museum worldwide. The Nigerian museum has among other functions, the acquisition of museum artifacts or collections through donations by individuals. For instance, the National Museum Jos collections at the early stage were made up of mainly donations of cultural objects by individuals; through purchases and through archeological excavations. This practice which dates back to pre -historic times is a very important means by which most Nigerian museums acquire artifacts.

FUNCTIONS OF FESTIVALS AMONG THE MBAISE PEOPLE OF IMO STATE, NIGERIA

BY EKE, OBINNA F

National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

Man has been declared as the only animal that has culture. Culture is seen as a means of adapting to his environment. It is that aspect of man which distinguishes him from other animals.

TOWARDS IMT AT 50 CELEBRATION: ALUMNI COMMITTEES CONSTITUTED AND RELEASED BY THE PRESIDENT MAZI AGODI KANU

 

The National President of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu Alumni Association, Mazi Dr. Agodi Kanu, has unveiled the IMT Enugu Alumni Committees for the IMT at 50 celebration slated to hold later in the year. The document that contained the list of the various committees, with the names of the members of each of the Committees was released recently and signed by the National Secretary of IMT Alumni Association, Chief Ezeani Emmanuel, and made available to us via WhatsApp message.

The Committees were raised by the alumni President towards the successful hosting, organization and celebration of the IMT at 50 Golden Jubilee events. The released document containing list of the Committees and their members, read in part, as followers:

IMT ENUGU: THE NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, PAYS CONDOLENCE VISIT TO THE RECTOR OF IMT ENUGU

Late Justice Centus Nweze

Prof. Austin Nweze, the Rector, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, played host to the National Executive Council, IMT Enugu Alumni Association, under the leadership of the President Mazi Agodi Kanu.

The IMT Alumni body visited the Rector Prof. Nweze to commensurate with him on the death of his elder brother and only surviving one for that matter, the late Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Centus Nweze, whose demise was announced recently.