IGBUZO, Delta State — The usually vibrant town of Igbuzo, in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, came alive with music, dance, traditional costumes and cultural displays as the Umueze Community celebrated its 2026 Ulo Festival in grand style.
The annual celebration, which attracted indigenes, residents, visitors and members of the Igbuzo diaspora, transformed the Umueze Quarter into a colourful carnival of culture, heritage and communal fellowship.
Umueze, regarded as the largest quarter in Igbuzo, marked this year’s festival with a strong display of its rich cultural heritage, with activities centred around Ashia Nta, where the statue of Nne-Eze stands as a reminder of the traditional and monarchical heritage of the community.
The festival featured the beating of traditional drums, the sound of ogene and agogo gongs, cultural songs, dances and colourful masquerade and warrior-inspired displays.
Young men appeared in traditional costumes inspired by warriors and spirits, while women and families dressed in their finest traditional attires to participate in the festivities.
Under the leadership of the Odogwu of Igbuzo, High Chief Charles Okonkwo, the Ulo Festival has continued to attract attention as one of the community’s major annual cultural celebrations.
Beyond entertainment, the festival provided an opportunity for families and community members to reconnect, celebrate their heritage and reflect on the history and traditions handed down by their ancestors.
Preparations for the celebration began weeks ahead, with families cleaning their homes, making provisions for guests and preparing traditional meals and drinks. The atmosphere became increasingly festive as relatives returned home from different parts of Nigeria and abroad.
Members of the Igbuzo diaspora, including those based in Lagos, London and the United States, were among those who returned to the community for the celebration.
The festival also provided an avenue for reconciliation, forgiveness and communal healing, with participants reflecting on the sacrifices of previous generations and the need to preserve peace and unity within the community.
A major attraction of the 2026 celebration was the contribution of a newly formed cultural committee, which introduced artistic and creative displays that added colour and variety to the festival.
Among the illustrious sons and daughters of Igbuzo who graced the occasion were Pastor Idowu Okeze and his wife; Chief Anthony Uwajeh, the Odua of Ibusa; High Chief Celestine Okafor, Ikwele Igbuzo; Chief Daddy Okeleke, Mgboko Igbuzo; Chief Ifeanyi Onwordi; Ogbu Nedu Eze Udo Igbuzo; Eze Inotu Henry Nnamdi; Chief Zikky Nwabuwa; Hon. Onyeisi Okeze; and Austin Ndinwa (Okemili), among other dignitaries.
Speaking during the celebration, Pastor Idowu Okeze expressed appreciation to the Umueze Quarter and the Odogwu of Igbuzo for their leadership and efforts toward promoting peace and development in the community.
“Odogwu of Igbuzo, High Chief Charles Okonkwo, is a traditionalist with a difference. His arrival has fostered growth and development, bringing peace, unity and love to our community,” he said.
Pastor Okeze also called for greater government support for the promotion of Igbuzo’s cultural heritage, noting that investment in culture could help unlock the community’s tourism potential and create opportunities for sustainable development.
He described the Ulo Festival as a celebration of joy, forgiveness and communal harmony capable of preserving the cultural identity of Igbuzo for future generations.
According to Diopka Onowu Charles Ndinwa, who spoke to Newsbreeze, the origin of the festival is traced to Umueze-Ibusa warriors who returned from Oko with the concept, which subsequently became intertwined with the community’s mythology and historical narratives.
As the celebration progressed, participants moved from house to house, exchanging greetings, congratulations and goodwill, while traditional songs and dance steps filled the streets.
The agogo, a small gong, alongside traditional drums and other local musical instruments, provided the rhythm for the cultural performances.
The Ulo Festival also featured a carnival procession anchored by Comrade Vincent Ollimah and others,
adding another layer of excitement to the celebration.
For the people of Umueze and Igbuzo, the festival represents more than an annual gathering. It is an expression of identity, history, unity and belonging.
With its combination of traditional music, dance, costumes, communal visits, cultural displays and the return of indigenes from home and abroad, the 2026 Ulo Festival once again demonstrated the enduring cultural spirit of Igbuzo.
The celebration also reinforced the call for greater recognition and investment in the town’s cultural heritage as a potential driver of tourism, community development and cultural preservation in Delta State.
