Just like it happens all the time when someone tries to pick on me to talk about something he had no business with, sometimes in a desperate move to figure out all that Igbo mysteries that keeps perturbing the nosy ones among us. Yes, it happened on one of this month's hot weather while I was trying to catch my cool beating the summer heat in an attempt, and as always keeping it real when a whole bunch of stuff popped up. It wasn't anything about music or the crazy-dubby nightlife in the Hollywood-Los Angeles circle that my colleague and friend, Austen Oghuma, sent me an email addressed from one of the Igbo-related forums, penning on a new development regarding Igbo Diaspora. I wasn't shocked anyway, but it was interesting to know, though I have been in the know of the happenings, especially something worthy and commendable.First of all, how did Oghuma who is not Igbo got to know all about the facts and logics going on in Igbo forums? Who is sending him every piece of information in a supposedly behind closed doors forums we all had thought was a members only area?`
Nevertheless, it was a good thing he found out progress is being made in Diaspora by my kith and kin, and let's not start pumping our chest for it is not yet Uhuru. Of course, those fantastic shots by Amadiebube speaks volumes and the write-ups from around the Staunton area in Virginia was also fascinating. And good to know the whole project had been started on a good foot. Since many volunteers based on media reports acknowledge work is in progress "passing egg-shaped masses of clay, Stan Ogbonna had the honor of slamming each into place as the foundation of a third mud house took shape." Finally, an Igbo village and museum in the United States? Wait a minute, let's hold our breath. For real? An Igbo village in America?
Oghuma often asks this particular question and now that it seems to be taking shape, he is holding his breath. Oghuma has engaged me numerous times in Igbo-related issues, and most of our discourses takes us into the night. But that's beside the point, though.
The Igbo village and museum in Virginia being talked about is real because there has been eye witness accounts. In due course, I should be paying homage myself and what I would be looking forward to seeing should be the originality of Igbo custom and traditions from the way it had been with our forebears and I have used the above images as an indication. The aziza, brooms used in sweeping Igbo village compounds, cassava squeezing machines, the palm tree and a setting of the palm wine tapper, the kolanuts, how the kitchen looked in those mud houses and the odo used in pounding the cassava, yam or cocoyam, whatever the case may be. It's a bunch of cultural stuff and culture, indeed, is an entity.
So far, it's looking good, and Amadiebube, what a great shot you had in there.
