The Anioma nation has cancelled the celebration of the annual Anioma Cultural Festival for 2024.

The president of the Organisation For the Advancement of Anioma Culture, OFAAC, Mr Kester Ifeadi, disclosed on Wednesday that the decision to cancel the celebration is to honour and respect the departed Anioma monarchs, the Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien and Omu Martha Dunkwu.

According to him, they played great roles in uniting the nine local government areas of Delta North by playing host to the annual cultural festival.

The president of the umbrella body of the Anioma nation maintained that: “At this period when the burial rites of passage are still on, it will be most insensitive and lacking in honour to hold the annual cultural festival in his kingdom when we are still mourning.”

“Among the royal fathers who have been with us and encouraged us to succeed was the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Prof. Chike Edozien, in whose domain we hold the cultural festival. The Asagba in his time attended all our festivals until recently, when he could not because of old age but he ensured that his first-class chiefs always represented him.”

When quizzed if the cancellation of the Anioma cultural festival will be a precedent for future occurrences, Ifeadi said that the Anioma nation is only responding to the peculiar nature of its reality, as he mooted that the annual cultural festival will come back stronger in 2025.

Earlier in his address, the Obi of Ubulu-Unor, Obi Henry Kikachukwu, said that the deceased were instrumental in ensuring the promotion and preservation of the Anioma cultural heritage.

Likewise, Vice President of OFAAC, Mr Patrick Ugboh, described the late monarch as an intriguing figure who opened doors for the organisation for the celebration of Anioma, saying: “We worked with him for the furtherance of Anioma culture. His influence opened doors for OFAAC; likewise, the Omu, who was also knowledgeable, brought glamour and prestige to the Omu traditional stool.”