Anambra State; its culture and Tourism potentials....

New Yam Festival

The most significant festival in Anambra State is the annual New Yam festival celebrated in thanksgiving to the gods for good harvests. This festival is celebrated across the state with so much fun and pageantry that it attracts son and daughters of all the various communities in the State.

Until the new yam festival is celebrated it is a taboo to sell yam at the market and that is how sacred the festival can be.

OGBA WATER FALLS

 The Ogba Waterfalls are located in Owerri Ezukala, a town in the Orumba South LGA, which shares boundaries with Imo, Abia and Enugu states.

Agulu Lake

The Agulu Lake is a natural lake situated between the Agulu and Nri communities of Anaocha LGA.

Igbo-Ukwu Bronzes

Igbo-Ukwu is an ancient town and renowned cradle of Igbo civilization. The Igbo-Ukwu museum houses various archaeological findings dating back to the 9th century AD and highlights the iron-age and bronze-age works of Igboland. Igbo-Ukwu is a popular tourist and research centre and attracts scholars and visitors from all over the world.

Ogbunike Caves

The Ogbunike caves are situated in a valley behind the Ogba hills in the Oyi LGA. They have much historical and spiritual significance: before the arrival of Christianity in Ogbunike, the caves were worshipped by the local people and their existence is associated with several myths. The caves feature a waterfall at their northwest corner and are linked by a series of tunnels. A stream flows out from one of the tunnels into the River Nkissa. Among the fauna that can be seen at the site are deer, antelope and alligators. In 2007, the caves were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tentative List in the ’mixed’ category.

 Mmanwu Festival

The Mmanwu festival, which features large displays of masquerades from various communities performing together, is aimed at preserving aspects of Igbo cultural heritage.

Other important festivals include the Ime Ogbe (celebrated in commemoration of the discovery of the Ogbunike caves), the Egwu Imo Awka festival in Awka, the Nwafor festival in Ogidi, the Onwa Asato festival in Nri, the Omaliko festival in Abatete, the Uzo-Iyi festival Umuoji, the Udo festival in Igbo-Ukwu, the Ezi-okpaligwe festival in Amawbia and the Orima festival in Amorka. Participants in these festivals are treated to dance, drama and other arts performed both by people and masquerades.