by Collins Nweke | Patron, The AfrikaFora
Years ago, one of my sons wondered aloud how my Igbo identity could coexist so harmoniously with my global citizenship. Without pausing to think, I told him that my Igbo identity does not compete with my global citizenship. It completes it. Far from limiting my global outlook, affirming my Igbo heritage enriches it. True global citizenship begins with self-knowledge. Understanding where one comes from provides the moral and cultural compass to relate meaningfully with others.
And so, when the drumbeats of Ikenga Day 2025 faded into the cool evening air, what lingered was not merely the sound of music or the rhythm of dance, but a shared consciousness. It was a reaffirmation of who we are as a people and of what binds us together across oceans and generations.
The focus of my welcome address for this year’s celebration was Idinotu, or Idinofu as we would say in my native Igbuzo, both meaning Peace and Togetherness. I saw in it an opportunity to invite us to look beyond the rhetoric of unity and to embrace peace as a lived philosophy. Peace not merely as the absence of conflict, but as the presence of understanding, compassion, and mutual respect.
It was within this spirit of Idinotu that Ikenga Day 2025unfolded. Call it a convergence of minds, hearts, and spirits committed to rediscovering the essence of the Igbo worldview while engaging the global community with confidence and dignity. What emerged was more than a cultural event; it was a collective journey of introspection and renewal. Through the voices of scholars, leaders, and cultural custodians, we reconnected with the values that sustain us as a people:resilience, creativity, collaboration, and self-belief.
Voices that Lit the Path of Reflection
Our gathering was blessed with an extraordinary constellation of speakers and thought leaders. There were men and women whose depth of conviction and insight carried the ancestral torch into the present.
Prof. Chidi Gideon Osuagwu, performing the Kolanut Breaking and Libation, took us back to the sacred origins of our faith in humanity and community. In his hands, the kolanut became more than fruit. It became prayer, memory, and covenant. His invocation reminded us that every act of peace begins with reverence: for our ancestors, for one another, and for the earth that sustains us. Through him, we glimpsed the unity of spirit and intellect that has long defined Igbo philosophy.
Chief Bennet C. Etiaba, FCA, in his masterful chairmanship of the occasion, first spoke on “Selfless Leadership ‘na Ala Igbo’: A Panacea for Igbo Resistance,” reminded us that leadership without service is hollow. He spoke of selflessness not as a moral ornament but as the lifeblood of enduring institutions and thriving communities. His reflections rekindled the belief that the rebirth of Alaigbo depends on leaders who lead by lifting others — custodians of integrity, humility, and purpose.
Dr. Anthony Richards, through his poetic presentation “Voices of Our Ancestors – Hidden Messages of Cultural Unity in the Trees,” opened our eyes to the profound relationship between nature and spirit. Drawing from his Caribbean roots and ancestral storytelling traditions, he revealed that the forest speaks. That within the trees lie encoded the histories, prayers, and aspirations of our forebears. His narrative bridged Africa and its Diaspora, reminding us that culture, like nature, endures when nurtured.
Her Royal Majesty, Omu Jossy Isioma Nwanna, the Mother of the Day, elevated our discourse from intellect to intuition. In her intervention, “Inclusive Unity: The Role of Women in Igbo Progress and Unity,” she called attention to the often-unsung leadership of women as moral anchors, nurturers of peace, and architects of communal stability. Her grace and wisdom illuminated the truth that Idinotu cannot flourish without the balancing influence of the feminine spirit. She left us with the reminder that women are the living vessels of continuity and compassion.
Madam Nkechi Obi, through her dynamic presentation on“Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Women, Sports, and the Spirit of Alaigbo,” exemplified how traditional values and modern enterprise can harmoniously coexist. She demonstrated that sports, beyond competition, is a force for national cohesion and youth empowerment. Her insights painted a vivid picture of an Igbo renaissance powered by inclusion, innovation, and the courage to break ceilings. A clarion call for women and youth to lead with both heart and strategy.
Nze Emeka Ed Keazor, our Keynote Speaker, delivered a spellbinding address titled “Taa Bu Gbo: The Imperative of an Igbo Indigenous Intellectual Renaissance.” His erudition challenged us to reassert control over our narratives. Toreclaim the lost spaces of indigenous scholarship. He declared that the future of Alaigbo depends on the restoration of its intellectual confidence: a people who think critically, write boldly, and act with conviction. His words stirred a renewed awakening among the youth. A bold invitation it was to re-imagine the Igbo destiny through education, innovation, and purpose.
Dr. Ben Okoli, in his exploration of “The Dialectics of Igbo Collaboration Over the Decades,” provided a historical and sociological roadmap for sustainable unity. His reflections on vertical and horizontal integration (the need to align generations, communities, and global Igbo networks) reminded us that our prosperity has always been collective. His message was both philosophical and pragmatic: that collaboration, not competition, is the true currency of Igbo greatness.
A Celebration of Vision and Leadership
At the heart of it all stood Winifred Uloaku Gaillard, Founder and CEO of The AfrikaFora. Her vision continues to transform cultural celebration into cultural diplomacy. Through Ikenga Day, Nzuko – Africa Week, and Asampete, she has created bridges between continents and conversations between generations. Her devotion to authentic storytelling and her meticulous leadership turned Ikenga Day 2025 into a living museum of African excellence. Her work embodies what Idinotu means: not just peace as stillness, but peace as purposeful action.
The Legacy of Idinotu
As the day drew to a close, one truth resonated across every heart: peace is not a destination but a discipline. It demands that we listen more than we speak, that we collaborate rather than compete, and that we build rather than destroy.
Ikenga Day 2025 proved that when we gather in truth and humility, when we celebrate the best in ourselves and others, when we revere our ancestors while shaping a future worthy of their legacy, then peace ceases to be an aspiration. Peace becomes our inheritance.
Let the echoes of this celebration inspire every home, every hamlet, every town, every city, and every diaspora community to carry the flame of Idinotu forward. Let it remind us that the strength of the Igbo lies not only in our industriousness, but in our capacity for empathy, reconciliation, and rebirth.
The Ikenga stands tall. Not as a relic of the past, but as a living symbol of self-mastery, resilience, and renewal. May the spirit of Ikenga Day 2025 continue to guide us all to the destination of deeper unity, greater wisdom, and lasting peace.
