•Kelechi Eke
After almost 10 years of establishing the annual African Film Festival, TAFF, in Dallas, and the Village Arts and Film Festival, VILLAFFEST, which also holds in Owerri, every December, Kelechi Eke has recorded yet another milestone.
This time, the popular US-based Nigerian film maker and director is advocating the preservation and propagation of Igbo culture and language through the Odenigbo Cultural Club, which he founded five years ago.
The inauguration /induction ceremony of members of the club was held recently in Dallas amid pomp and pageantry.
In a video shared online, members, their families including friends and well-wishers, were seen dressed in Igbo attires, with their children speaking Igbo language fluently. It was indeed a celebration of Igbo culture, tradition and heritage in a foreign land.
Eke, who’s also the creator of African streaming service, Rootflix, said his passion was driven by the need to save Igbo language from going into extinction any time soon.
“I celebrate the rich and vibrant tapestry of Igbo culture, a heritage that is not only deeply rooted in history but also alive and thriving in modern times. “The Igbo people boast a legacy that encompasses art, music, dance, language, and spirituality, all woven together by a profound sense of community and tradition. At the heart of Igbo culture is the value placed on family and community. The Igbo term “Nwanne di na mba,” which means “a sibling is in the foreign land,” reflects the belief in togetherness and support. This philosophy extends beyond the nuclear family to encompass the broader community such as Odenigbo Cultural Club, emphasising the importance of unity and collective responsibility. By founding and creating this organization, I now have many siblings overseas.
“According to UNESCO’s report on endangered indigenous languages; the Igbo language faces the risk of possible extinction in the next 50 years if nothing is done to revive it. This and the struggles that we face abroad in trying to teach our children Igbo language and culture, led to my vision to create Odenigbo Cultural Club in order to do my own part to preserve Igbo Language and Culture. The Igbo language is a celebration of heritage, a reminder of who we are and where we come from. For these reasons, Odenigbo Cultural Club wants to uphold and teach it”.
Eke said members of the club want to ensure that Igbo Language is not only taught in Universities and Colleges abroad, but also, they want to see to the establishment of an Igbo museum in Dallas, Texas.
