Lady Tracy Pen, Initiator Ogbondokwa Cultural Carnival
By Emmanuel Enebeli
Obiaruku: There is an urgent call to preserve the culture and values of Africa through activities like annual cultural carnivals to avoid the extinction of many of her beautiful heritages.
This was the opinion of one of the recent entrants into the field of cultural preservation in Ndokwaland, Delta State, Lady Tracy Pen, who is the initiator of an NGO, the Ogbondokwa Development Initiatives, with a dual purpose of preserving, promoting the Ndokwa culture, and bringing development programs to the people of the area.
Lady Pen who spoke on the plans to have a successful 2nd Annual Cultural Carnival, tagged the Ogbondokwa 2016, coming up on 24 December, said that the concept of the carnival was borne from the desire of a circle of the people from Ndokwa, who saw the need to expose the rich cultural heritages of the people to the outside world.
According to her, the success of the 2015 edition was the motivating factor that is leading to the organization of this year’s edition.
Lady Tracy Pen with one of the Participants at 2015 carnival
Speaking with excitement, she sees the 2016 edition to attract huge economic values to the people of Ndokwa, especially Ukwuani Local government Area, one of the three LGA’s that make up Ndokwa nation.
According to her, it is only through such annual activities like carnivals, that the African cultural value, which is at the verge of extinction, can be saved. She called on well meaning individuals in Africa to see that the promotion of their local traditions like dance, drama, and wrestling as a paramount issue.
Skill Acquisition September, 2016, part of Activities of Ogbondokwa Development Initiatives
Speaking with excitement on the 2016 Ogbondokwa carnival that will hold at the Obiaruku Grammar School, Obiaruku, Ukwuani LGA, Delta State, she says this year’s edition is full with exciting packages, as it will showcase wonderful experiences.
“Sincerely speaking, this year is full of exciting packages. It is going to be wonderful experience”. She said.
She said organizing the cultural activity has a second value to the people and the economy, as it will bring within the period increase in hospitality businesses, as demand for food, recreation and other consumables will increase. It will also showcase the hiding talents in the area, as one of the goals is to help reduce security issues and problems, especially among the teeming youths of the area.
While thanking the contributions of the likes of Engr Meshack Ochonogor of Obiaruku and Double Chief Victor Enumah of Aboh Kingdom for their supports in the area of contact, and new innovations for the 2016 carnival, she calls on other well to do individuals to come forward and support those initiatives that will preserve the culture of the people of Ndokwa, through their ideas and suggestions.
Some of the cultural displays that are expected to perform during the occasion from the three local government areas are ULOKO, AMALA BUYO, ATILOGU and much more.
In her word, “I expect our people to come as we bring some of these groups from the deep lands of Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East and Ukwuani LGA’s to Obiaruku. They should come, talk to our people and teach the old traditions to the younger ones.” She concluded
