The Obi of Igbuzo Kingdom, Obi (Dr.) Henry Chukwuma Ajudua, and his wife, Obi Okpoho Dr. Vivian Onyebuchi Henry-Ajudua, have been named Royal Guests of Honour
at the 2026 Annual Igbo Worldwide Festival of Arts and Culture, organized by the Council of Igbo States in the Americas (CISA).
The royal couple will lead the Anioma delegation to the prestigious international cultural gathering, scheduled to hold on July 31 and August 1, 2026, in Brunswick and St. Simons Island, Georgia, United States.
The festival, themed “Global Igbo Unification: Healing the Broken Circle,” is expected to attract thousands of participants from Nigeria, North America, and across the global African diaspora. It aims to promote unity among Igbo communities worldwide while celebrating the resilience, achievements, and enduring cultural heritage of the Igbo people.
Obi Ajudua and Obi Okpoho Vivian Henry-Ajudua were specially invited as Royal Guests of Honour and Cultural Ambassadors in recognition of their unwavering commitment to preserving Igbo culture, advancing community development, and promoting the Anioma identity on the global stage.
As revered traditional leaders from the Anioma region of Delta State, their participation is expected to showcase the rich traditions, history, and cultural identity of the Anioma people within the larger Igbo nation.
Obi Ajudua, who is also the President and Chief Executive Officer of Vebron Carre Conglomerates, is widely recognized in Nigeria and the United States for his contributions to education, healthcare, philanthropy, youth empowerment, and community development. His wife, Dr. Vivian Onyebuchi Henry-Ajudua, has also earned acclaim for her humanitarian and social development initiatives.
One of the defining moments of the festival will be a pilgrimage to the historic Igbo Landing on St. Simons Island, where participants will commemorate the heroic resistance of Igbo captives who, in 1803, chose death over enslavement—an event that remains one of the most enduring symbols of courage, freedom, and resilience in African history.
The Igbuzo royal couple will join other distinguished personalities at the event, including His Majesty Eze Chukwuemeka Eri (Eze Ndi Igbo and Ezeora 34th), CISA President Echiemeze Ofili, traditional rulers, scholars, community leaders, and members of the global Igbo diaspora.
Activities lined up for the two-day festival include traditional music and dance performances, masquerade displays, cultural exhibitions, symposiums, leadership forums, historical reflections, and networking sessions designed to strengthen cultural identity, foster economic collaboration, and inspire youth engagement.
A major highlight of the event will be the keynote address by Obi (Dr.) Henry Chukwuma Ajudua, titled “Anioma: A Proud Igbo Heritage—Healing the Broken Circle Through Unity, Culture and Shared Destiny.”
The address is expected to underscore the historical significance of Anioma within the Igbo nation while advocating stronger cultural unity, heritage preservation, and collective development among Igbo communities across the world.
The participation of the Igbuzo royal couple further reflects Anioma’s growing prominence in global conversations on Igbo unity, cultural preservation, and diaspora engagement.
As final preparations are concluded, the 2026 CISA Annual Igbo Worldwide Festival of Arts and Culture is widely anticipated to be a landmark celebration of Igbo civilization, bringing together history, culture, tradition, and the global diaspora in a renewed commitment to unity, heritage, and shared destiny.
