Mbieri Cultural Association – one of the oldest and stable African Community Associations in the United Kingdom, will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee (50 years Anniversary) on 17th September 2016, at Parkview Academy, London N15. The event which the organisers say would be memorable and classy is expected to attract important personalities within the UK and from around the world.

The Association started informally in 1963 as Mbieri Youth Association by notable Mbieri sons and  daughters who saw the need for a social and unifying organ that will enable them “be their brother’s keeper” in far away Britain. And this eventually led to the formation of Mbieri Cultural Association with the stated aims & Objectives of fostering brotherly co-operation, togetherness, and mutual understanding amongst Mbierians in the United Kingdom, associate with the main body in Nigeria and preserve Mbieri and Igbo Culture.

And since then Members of the association have kept faith and  the spirit with which the association was formed.  Although with modern technology they are only a phone call away from each other, their bi-monthly meetings have become a focal point eagerly looked forward to by members. The meetings provide members the  opportunity for interaction and an avenue for constructive debate on issues affecting their membership and the community.

According to the Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Ahanonu, “one of the main purposes of the event is to celebrate the continuous existence and achievements of the Association over the years and to raise funds to support of Mbieri Community Health Project. The organisation has in recent past donated medical equipment and materials to the Mbieri General Hospital.

Secondly the Association will use the opportunity to present Awards to distinguished ‘Mbierians’ in the UK for services to the Association and to some prominent individuals in the UK and Nigeria who have also distinguished themselves in various areas of endeavour.

Some of the recipients include Pascal Dozie founder Diamond Bank Nigeria Plc, who will be honoured with the Award of Ezi Ogo Mbieri 2016. Others recipients are Nze Sam Asoluka, Publisher  of the  Ambassador Magazine an Internationally acclaimed Print and Online Publication,  who will receive the Community Leadership Award, Nze Sympathy Nwosu and Chief Aloysius Osuji two legal icons in UK will also receive the Community Leadership Award.

To be honoured also  is Lady Ngozi  Juliet Ahanonu, wife of the Chairman Chief Emmanuel Ahanonu in recognition of her  great and significant contributions and impact in promoting Igbo cultural heritage in the United Kingdom and for her services to Mbieri Cultural Association UK & Ireland as the 1st lady for over 18 years. There will also be awards in other categories.

 

 

Editors Note:

General Background

Mbaeri the fore father of Mbieri  of today is said to have had 28 sons (mystically referred as “Ogu-Ofo-na-Ofo-Asato” (Nwa-otu-oke) – that is each son is one ofo) which made up the villages of Mbieri Town.  Mbieri is in Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State in the Eastern part of Nigeria constituting a part of the African continent.  Mbieri is surrounded by the following towns: Akabo; Atta; Ifeakala; Iho; Ogbaku; Ogwa; Orji; Owerri; Ubomiri; Umunoha.

Mbieri Town covers a total of 43.4 sq. Km.  About 75 of the area is grassland and the town can therefore be considered as low land type, suitable for farming.  About 20% of the land is covered by forest, from which economic trees such a iroko, oil palm, coconut, ube, ugba, udara to name but a few are in abundance.

Population

In 1963 the census revealed a population of 25,500 people and 53 years on, the population is now estimated 102,780. It is located at an elevation of 152 meters above sea level. 95% of the population are Christians dominated by two Religious Institutions – Anglican and Roman Catholic.  Before the advent of Christianity, in 1900 the British took over the administration of Mbieri from the Royal Niger Company and in 1914 Mbieri Town became one of the Protectorates of Southern Nigeria.  During the first world war (1914 – 1918), Mbieri men were listed among other Nigerian soldiers that fought and drove out the Germans and Italians from Cameron and Ethiopia.

Literacy

98% of the population are literate.  Institutions of learning range from kindergarten to secondary grammar schools including a Junior Seminary. These institutions have produced men and women of importance in the fields of Law, Medicine; Engineering; Accountancy; Teaching; Journalism and a host of other professions.  It was the quest for knowledge  and educational advancement that led a number of Mbieri Sons and Daughters to travel far and wide hence the formation of this Association in the United Kingdom.

Law and Order

The first native court in Mbaitoli/Ikeduru LGA for the purpose of collecting taxes from the natives was set up at Nwaorieube in Awo Mbieri.  This was set up by the then colonial administrator – Mr. Douglas who was posted to Owerri by the colonial office in London.  Today, the office of the governor of Imo State is known as Douglas House.

For further information, please contact:

Emmanuel Ahanonu

Chairman