The Journey Beyond Borders: Keeping an Ancient Tradition Alive - Report by: Marvellous Obasi THOMAS

Our culture remains solid, unshakable, and deeply rooted in the legacy of our ancestors. In the quiet but proud community of Achara Ihechiowa, nestled within Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria, tradition is not just remembered, it is lived. Each year, just days after the New Yam Festival, the men of the village prepare for a sacred adventure. It is a journey that stretches beyond familiar footpaths, leading them to the borders of their homeland, to the very limits of their identity. The purpose is clear: to rediscover the ancient landmarks that tell them where their land begins and where it ends. This is no ordinary walk. It is a tes
t of strength, unity, and resilience. From dawn, the men, young and old alike, gather in groups arranged by age grade. Their voices rise in chants, their steps fall in rhythm, and the journey begins. They walk, they jog, and they push their bodies forward with songs that lift the spirit and echo the courage of those who came before them. But tradition comes with discipline. No participant may eat or drink before or during the trek, for to do so would sap his strength. Elders, wise and watchful, walk alongside, ready to remove anyone who falters. Women are not permitted to join; this remains a sacred duty of the men, a rite that binds generations together.

The road is long and demanding. Each age grade has a stopping point, though the strongest may go farther. Along the way, quarrels and fights are forbidden; peace and order are enforced with strict consequences. For beyond testing endurance, the journey is a mirror, revealing the strength, courage, and unity of the men who carry the honor of the community. At last, the path opens to the banks of a great river, a natural boundary dividing villages. Here, time seems to stand still. Traditional rites are performed, and gunshots ring into the air, announcing arrival at the edge of the homeland. Standing tall nearby is an enormous tree, older than memory itself. Its bark is carefully peeled and shared among those who completed the journey, a token of pride and proof of endurance.

For Achara Ihechiowa, this is more than ritual. It is heritage. It is the living heartbeat of a people determined to preserve what was entrusted to them. Passed from generation to generation, this annual rite keeps the bond between past and present alive. In a world where traditions are fading, Achara Ihechiowa reminds us that culture is not just history, it is identity. And as Igbos, and as Nigerians, we must hold tightly to these practices, for they are what make us unique and give us a voice beyond Africa’s borders.

One Nigeria, One Africa

Report by: Marvellous Obasi Thomas 
Mass Communication, FUNAI

  

IPUSA-OGO ACHARA 2025: A PROUD MOMENT FOR TRADITION AND TOGETHERNESS

       IPUSA-OGO 2025: A PROUD MOMENT FOR TRADITION AND TOGETHERNESS

The Onyiwa Age Grade of Achara Ihechiowa warmly invites friends, well-wishers, and the general public to its Traditional Retirement Ceremony (Ipusa-Ogo), taking place on Monday, December 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in Achara Ihechiowa, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State. A thanksgiving service will be hosted by the individual family at a later date. Come and celebrate with us. Proudly hosted by the Onyiwa Age Grade

Achara: SEASONAL GREETING

                 SEASONAL GREETING

The Online Community Members of Achara Ihechiowa (a.ka.ASUAMI)

Joyfully welcomeall her Sons and Daughters to our Blessed Land especially our Visitors. Truly, We Love You All

However,the Online Community Members of Achara Ihechiowa Network Forum joyfully inviteall her Network Users such as: Facebook, Myspace, Youtube, 2go.com.ng, Yookos,Twitter, Yahoo, Google, Linkedin, Groupspaces, Nairaland, Nigeria-Best-Forum,Naijapals, Vconnect,, Skye, Yahoo-Messenger etc. to their one day Congress holdas schedule:

Date: Tuesday, January 3, 2013

Venue: Eyimba Hall, Ebem Achara Market Square

Time: 12:00 Noon Prompt

Agenda: Jobs, Scholarships, ICT Training, Networking,Personal Development, God-Father, Career Success, Entrepreneurial Development,Admission Strategies

Note:

Please, we encourage every young graduates,undergraduate, JAMB bites, Pre-Degree Students, SSCE Holders, NCE Holders, HNDHolders, Postgraduates Students, Business Dealers, Workers, Researchers,Ministers to attend this wonderful Congress and keep to the Time as beenschedule.

The Forum alsowelcome any interested Presenters, Speakers, Web Designers, Data EntryOperators, Programmers, Data Analysts, Journalists to this very gathering as wejoin hands together to re-structure, re-engineer and rebuild our God’s givenblessed Land. We believed, together we can make a different and it possible,but “WE” must all pray to tap the “GRACE of “GOD”.

For more details about this Forum, you can as well visit  below links:

Groupspace: http://groupspaces.com/AcharaIhechiowaNetworkForum/

Website:        http://acharaihechiowa.webs.com    

Blog:              http://www.acharaihechiowanetworkforum.blogspot.com,www.acharaihechiowa.blogspot.com

Twitter:         https://twitter.com/#!/AcharaIhechiowa

Tigweb:         http://orgs.tigweb.org/achara-ihechiowa-network-forum    

Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/achara.ihechiowa/info   

Nairaland:     http://www.nairaland.com/acharaihechiowa 

Wordpress:   http://www.acharaihechiowa.wordpress.com

Naijapals:      http://www.naijapals.com/acharaihechiowa

Email:                  acharaihechiowa@gmail.com

MessageGroups: achara-info@googlegroups.com       

ToRegister Online: http://www.acharaihechiowa.webs.com/signup

For Emergency, Call: 0806-445-1455, 0705-425-8185

Achara: Notice of Congress-2013

NOTICE TO ALL ONLINE BROWSERS/USERS
we really hope to announce a DATE,VENUE AND TIME for Achara Network Forum/Asuami Kwenu Congress for all user of ICT both on facebook, Yahoo, 2go.co,, myspace,yookos,youtube.com,google ect latest before DECEMBER 25, 2012. SO all online Browsers Stay in Tune. You can as as well visit our portal at: http://groupspaces.com/AcharaIhechiowaNetworkForum/ or at: http://www.acharaihechiowanetworkforum.blogspot.com/ or at: http://www.acharaihechiowa.webs.com/. 

Announcer......PrinceDad

Achara Ihechiowa Network Forum (AINF) Congratulate His Excellency: Chief Dr. Theodore Ahanefula Orji (Ochendo) – AINF COORDINATOR

 

The Online Community Members of Achara Ihechiowa Network Forum (AINF) in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State wishes to congratulate our beloved Governor, His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Theodore Ahanefula Orji (Ochendo) for his one year in the office with uncountable infrastructural Development Projects in Arochukwu and beyond. We pray that your remaining tenure in the office would ensure the continuity of restructuring and rebuilding of the space of development that needed your assistant in ACHARA IHECHIOWA. May your laudable policies and future vision serve to move our beloved state beyond people’s expectation and as well pilot the affairs of Abians. Congratulations Your Excellency. http://www.abiastate.gov.ng

NWEKE PRINCE O.

AINF Online Community Members

Spokesman

Phone: 08064451455

Email: acharaihechiowa@gmail.com

About Evangelist Nnanna Kalu

Evangelist Nnana Kalu is a native of Achara Ihechiowa in Arochukwu Local Government Area , Abia State, Nigeria.  He was born into a very poor family, the father being a farmer and a part time pastor in a church that didn’t really believe in all the truth of the Bible.  He languished in this poverty until he finished the primary school without hope of going any further in education.However, a strange inspiration came upon him after the Nigeria civil war which led to him locking up himself in his father’s house to read for the University of London General Certificate of Education Examination which came up every January in the early 1970s.  His ambition was to become a medical doctor.  So he sat in the house and memorized the science subjects without seeing a laboratory.  He took the G.C.E. and cleared the papers in top grades.  With the results, he got admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to study Pharmacy.  He graduated with honours in 1978 and then went neck deep into the practice of pharmacy.
Because of this unexpected success, he resisted the Gospel of Jesus Christ until He went to do the Nigeria National Youth Service corps duties.

In February, 1980, in Gombe town in the Northern part of Nigeria, when he was basking in the  glory of his achievements educationally and otherwise, he received a visitation in his bedroom when deep a sleep at night.  A hand touched him on the bed and he was literarily thrown off the bed and before he hit the floor, all the sins he ever committed from the time he had the first memory as a child descended upon him as heavy weights trying to crush him to death.  As he cried and confessed each sin to God the weights left him as they came and deep down his heart the voice of Jesus sounded and told him all about the plans of God for his life.  He began from that day to share his testimony and preach to lead others to Christ.  He has done this with a passion, travelling to different countries of the world.

In 1992, the Lord asked him to resign from pharmacy and go to full time evangelistic and teaching ministry.  Evangelist Nnana Kalu has pursued this calling with a passion and the Lord has been working with him confirming the word of God from his mouth with various healings and miracles such as opening the eyes of the blind, raising the paralyzed, removing of cancers and some other outstanding miracles.
Nnana Kalu is available for ministry anywhere, anytime.  He is completely sold out to Jesus as a bond servant who has sworn to serve his Master for life.  Evangelist Nnana Kalu received a national honour for outstanding performance from the Federal Government Of Nigeria. Reverend Nnana Kalu was ordained a Clergy in November 1999.

Profile of Dr. Umachi Nnukwu Umachi

Dr. Umachi Nnukwu Umachi was born on April 20, 1936, at Achara, Ihechiowa in Abia State of Nigeria, to Mazi Nnukwu Kalu Umachi and Madam Ori Nnukwu Umachi. After his graduation from the University of Detroit, Dr. Umachi worked for two large Insurance Companies, the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S. and the Sun Life of Canada as an Agency Assistant.He later became a Charter Life Underwriter.

In 1978, he became a part-time instructor for Wayne State University and Wayne Community College.He later joined the Detroit Public Schools in 1982 as an Adult Education teacher.He was encouraged and went back to school.He graduated in 1986 with a PhD in Higher Education.

In 1987, he was offered the position of Junior Administrative Assistant by the Detroit Board of Education and worked at the School Center Building.In 1992 he was assigned to the African Heritage Cultural Center where he worked as a Program Associate.

Dr. Umachi advocated African Culture.He remained at the Center until his reassignment in 2001 as the Administrator in charge of the Harris Adult Education Center.He worked at this Center until he suffered a massive stroke that led to his retirement from the Detroit Public Schools System in 2001.

Dr. Umachi departed this world in the early hours of Saturday, January 10, 2004, at the Sinai- Grace Hospital after a prolonged illness.He will always be remembered for the special life he lived and the legacy he left behind.He loved people and was greatly loved by all.

His greatest pride and joy was his family.He was a devoted husband and father.He had so much admiration and appreciation for his wife and children and saw so much beauty in them.

Dr. Umachi was a God-fearing man.He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church in Nigeria and here in the U.S.He served as a deacon and elder at Fort Street Presbyterian Church.He also fellowshipped at the Church of the Living God Full Gospel Ministries in Detroit.

He was a highly respected and honored member and a great leader in the Nigerian community.He was a founding member of the Nigerian Foundation of Michigan, a lifetime patron of the Ibo Cultural Association of Michigan and the founder and the first president of the Old Bende Cultural Association of Michigan and Ihechiowa Development Union (IDU).He was also a member of various other organizations, including the organizations of School Administrators of Michigan.

Dr. Umachi left to cherish his memories, his wife, Mrs. Ngozi S.Umachi, four sons; Samuel N. Umachi, Chukwuemeka O. Umachi, Chinedum K. Umachi and Chidi O. Umachi.