By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The youths of Awka the capital city of Anambra State, under umbrella of Awka Youth Council (popularly known as Okolo N’eche Obodo Awka), have issued a firm directive partially restricting movement and certain activities within Awka community as the 2025 edition of the popular Imoka Festival reaches its final climax this Saturday, May 24.
The announcement, which has sparked a wave of discussions on social media, was made through a press statement and a video released over the week by the Council’s Chairman, Comrade Ikechukwu Philip Ezenwa, also known as Ogwali na Ogwali.
Among the measures announced in the video and press statement is a ban on tricycles and motorcycles, popularly known as Keke and Okada, on the day of the final celebration. These restrictions, according to the youth leader, are aimed at enhancing the safety and cultural integrity of the event, while also controlling the movement of individuals who may attempt to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the traditional celebration.
The Council also warned against the participation of non-indigenes in masquerade displays, emphasizing that only sons of Awka are permitted to perform such sacred cultural roles during the festival. It further warned that all masquerades scheduled to appear must also be properly profiled and documented with government-issued identification to ensure accountability and security throughout the event.
In what appears to be a deliberate clampdown on prior excesses, the Youth Council further prohibited any form of extortion or forceful collection of money by individuals or masquerades, warning that violators will face stiff penalties.
They also outlawed the wearing of cult-related attires, and banned the possession or brandishing of dangerous weapons such as axes, knives, or guns during the celebrations.
These measures, the leadership said, were necessitated by unpleasant occurrences in previous years where hoodlums disguised under the festival to perpetrate criminal acts.
Although the Imoka Festival is traditionally exclusive to Awka indigenes and mostly male participants, the Council advised that non-indigenes residing in the community should not be subjected to harassment or flogging, adding that the ritual flogging component of the festival is strictly for adult male age-mates and friends, who mutually wish to, as custom permits.
While reaffirming his commitment to peace and order during and throughout the festival, Comrade Ezenwa assured that law enforcement agencies have been fully briefed and will be on ground to ensure compliance with the set guidelines. He urged every resident of Awka to adhere to the restrictions in order to preserve the sanctity of the festival and ensure a hitch-free celebration.
In a related development, the Association of Non-Indigenes Welfare in Anambra State, through its President General, Chief Great Ikechukwu Ugwuoke, also released a public announcement informing their members and the general public about the same directives.
The Association acknowledged the formal communication received from the Awka Youth Council and encouraged all non-indigenes residing in Awka to respect the cultural traditions of their host community by observing the outlined restrictions.
While reiterating the need for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, Chief Ugwuoke emphasized that the association has taken it upon itself to sensitize non-indigene residents about the importance of the Imoka Festival to the Awka people, and the need to avoid any actions that may be interpreted as provocations or disruptions to the event.
Efforts by this reporter, Izunna Okafor, to get the reactions of the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, on the directives, proved abortive, as he was yet to respond to messages of inquiry sent to him as at the time of filing this report.
