Anthony Eke –
All is now set for staging of the fourth annual carnival, a rich cultural showpiece hosted during Ikenge festival by Umuekum Community of Amai Kingdom in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.
This year’s event will take place on Tuesday February 7 at Umuekum playground, based on a release issued and signed by Chairman, Organising Committee of the Annual Carnival of Umuekum Community of Amai Kingdom, Ogbuefi Frederick Ochonogor.
According to him, the carnival will not only recreate those beautiful performances of past editions but also promises to be the most colourful judging by the variety of cultural groups billed for participation, exciting side attractions and the large number of audience.
The statement reads inter-alia: “We would use this year’s carnival to consolidate our theme of peace, love, and unity as many cultural troupes within Amai Kingdom and from neighbouring Ukwuani-speaking communities are keying into our vision of using the event to promote our cultural heritage”.
“There will be processions of different demographic groups in our community, live music performance by two leading highlife musicians, Ishioma Ossai of Ebedei and Chuks Igba of Onicha-Ukwuani and three deejays to cater to the youth’s passion for trending Afrobeat music”, he further stated.
Takeoff time is 12 noon, but it’s likely that even when the curtain would have been drawn on cultural troupes at dusk, the event will go into the night as show-goers savour the joy of live music performance.