- As global Igbo bodies champion ancestral reconnection at Abagana festival
The Council of Igbo States in Americas (CISA) and the Igbo World Assembly (IWA) will hold the CISA-Fest cultural convention on December 12, 2025, at the Ikendigbo Event Center in Abagana (opposite the Njikoka Local Government Headquarters), Anambra State.
The vibrant gathering, under the theme “Oganiru Ifediiche (Positive Impact),” seeks to forge stronger bonds between the global Igbo diaspora and their homeland roots through innovative reconnection strategies and collaborative initiatives.
The festival promises an immersive exploration of Igbo heritage. Organizers emphasize fresh methods for diaspora descendants to reclaim cultural identity while building lasting partnerships between abroad communities and those at home.
As the premier umbrella for Igbo organizations in the United States, CISA drives vital preservation efforts like heritage education programs, diaspora leadership forums, and Igbo Village replicas. These serve as dynamic learning and recreational hubs, inspiring younger generations overseas to embrace their traditions.
From 9 am to 5 pm, attendees will enjoy cultural performances, mesmerizing masquerade displays, insightful panel sessions, and heritage dialogues with traditional rulers, researchers, and diaspora voices. HRM Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, Eze Eri, Ezeora 34th & Aka Ji Ovọ Igbo, leads as Royal Father of the Day, highlighting ancestral identity and Igbo civilizational origins. His Eminence Dr. Eberechukwu Oji, the Eze Aro of Arochukwu, joins as Guest Royal Father, lending profound historical and cultural weight.
Chief Host is Dr. N. A. Anakwenze, Regent/Onowu of Abagana, Chairman of the CISA Governing Council and President of IWA. Host is Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Uzoamaka Josephine Aguoji (Nee Ekunnọ), President of CISA, with Onye Nze Amadiebube Mbama, CISA Vice Board Chairman and Coordinator of GIL, as Co-Host. Dignitaries feature Dr. Juan Ávila Abrahams, a constitutional law and human rights specialist; Chief Laverne Holden, Ugosimba I of Ibagwa Nike (United Kingdom) and CEO of Able Farms Ltd; Chief, Prince Dr. Sidney Eluemuno Davis, representing CISA—the umbrella uniting real African Americans of Igbo descent in the Western Hemisphere—plus DSG Diaspora and Igbo Landing initiatives; and Lolo Nneka Chimezie, President of the IWA Women Council.
Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Uzoamaka Josephine Aguoji describes CISA-Fest as a pivotal cultural nexus for rediscovering identity, amplifying global Igbo unity, and forging robust institutional alliances. This event celebrates deliberate strides in safeguarding Igbo language, customs, and legacy against modern challenges.