•Chief Francis Sequence Anagor, chairman of Awka Day 2024 Planning Committee
The Awka Development Union, Nigeria (ADUN), Lagos State chapter, is set to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and traditions of Awka town at the 12th biannual Awka Day celebration. This event, a beacon of tradition, regality and opulence, will span a week and feature diverse activities.
Chief Francis Sequence Anagor, chairman of the Awka Day 2024 Planning Committee, announced that the event will include a youth day, a couples’ night, and an empowerment day for the indigent members of the community. The festivities will culminate on Sunday, November 23, with a march-past by all villages and the presentation of awards to notable community members.
Anagor highlighted the significance of a live display of Awka’s renowned blacksmithing craft. “Awka’s blacksmithing products, which adorn homes, offices, and museums worldwide, especially in British and American museums, tell the story of Awka as the originator of the blacksmithing trade,” he said.
The event is particularly meaningful as it unites seven Igbo groups sharing a common blood lineage, divided into two sections: Ifite and Ezinator. The Ifite section, considered the senior section, comprises Ayom-na-Okpala, Nkwelle, Amachalla, and Ifite-Oka. The Ezinator section includes Amikwo, Ezi-Oka and Agulu. Together, these groups make up the 33 villages of Awka.
ADUN Lagos serves as a crucial agency for innovation and development within the community. As an agent of social change, it has shown that collective action can enhance the material conditions of existence, mobilise against external threats, and defend common causes.
Awka, the capital of Anambra State, is historically significant as the site of the Nri Civilisation, known for producing the earliest documented bronze works in Sub-Saharan Africa around 800 AD.
Prior to the 20th century, Awka was famous for its metalworking, with blacksmiths highly prized for creating farming implements, weapons and tools.