Igwe George Okaa-Onwuogu, the Traditional Ruler of Nawgu Community in Anambra State has urged the Federal and state governments to re-package indigenous cultures to attract foreign exchange.
Okaa-Onwuogu said this during an interview in Nawgu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state.
He said, “Our culture needs first class packaging, just like the English packaged football to be a foreign exchange earner,’’
“And that is why governments - local, state and federal- are spending a lot of money to revive cultures of different tribes.”
He added that the outside world, especially the people of Europe, held African culture in high esteem, adding that the world was longing to see African culture on display at international events.
In his words, “And you see that some of them go overseas for exhibition. And you know, African culture is the best I have seen anywhere in the world.”
“Once they hear that Africans are displaying their cultures, everybody will be interested in watching them and see what they are doing,’’ he said.
The traditional ruler, however, advised parents and elders in the communities to strive to transmit their indigenous cultures to the children.
“Why some of the aspects of our cherished culture is dying, especially our traditional healing method, is because most elders refuse to hand this knowledge over to the younger generation,’’ he said.
Okaa-Onwuogu said that traditional rulers under the Anambra Traditional Rulers’ Council had been meeting to see the best way to retrieve and document all existing cultural practices in the state.
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