Ogbunike: The Birth Of Cave City Film Festival (From The Archive)

On August 9, 2015, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group in the nation’s entertainment industry known as Ohanaeze Ndigbo Nollywood staged an Igbo Film Festival titled ‘Ogbunike Cave City Film Festival’. It was a gathering of Crème-de La-Crème of the Nigeria’s Creative Industry, a 2-day event set aside for the celebration of Igbo culture and tradition, craftily designed to project Filmmakers and films made in Igbo language.

The festival received over 50 movie titles made in Igbo language; it was the highest number of entries made to it since inception of the film festival in 2011. This year’s edition which took place on the soil of Ogbunike town, an ancient Cave City in Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State witnessed a large turnout of entertainment industry people from all over the country, Government Officials, Traditional Rulers, Clergy, Scholars, Politicians and students from various universities in the state.

The event started on a sound footing with the arrival of HRH Eze Ikemba of Ulakwo ancient Kingdom of Umuselem,Etche,Rivers state who was accompanied by a highly revered Igbo Leader from Nri town the Eze Ofo-Ndigbo gburugburu, His Excellency Amb. Ramas Okoye Asuzu (FCN). Amb.Dr. Harris Chuma the Ogene Ndigbo and Founder of the Cave City Film Festival in convoy with Exco mebers of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Nollywood took the Royal Fleet of Eze Ikemba to the Palace of Igwe Ogbunike. It was a historical visit as the Traditional Ruler of Ogbunike town in his welcome address heartily wishes the visiting Monarch a great stay in his Kingdom.

The highly elated Igwe Ogbunike, HRH Igwe Ositadimma Umenyiora blessed the day and officially declared the Ogbunike Cave City Film Festival Open, during the kolanut communion, the first class monarch Igwe Ogbunike prayed for the success of the event, and urged the visitors to feel ahome in his kingdom. While commending the organizers, Igwe Ogbunike opined that he was proud of their son Amb.Dr Harris Chuma for the great initiative in celebrating the Igbo film festival on Ogbunike soil, most importantly his resolve to use the Nollywood medium in promoting the ancient cave.

Arriving Ogbunike Town hall, the prestigious venue of the epoch event, guests were received by various sizes,shapes and colors of masquerades ranging from ‘nnunu-ozala to omaba’. Musicians of great talent were on the stage dazzling the audience with scintillating performances as they took turn to exhibit and express their musical skills. The arrival of the President of Ogbunike Traditional Council of Ndichie/Ogbuefi Chief Comr. Godwin Ibekwe followed by the Ichelle of Ogbunike, Ogbuefi Dr. Aniweta Onunkwo a great scientist of Ogbunike Origin set the ball rolling.

Key Nollywood Practitioners were also on ground to participate actively in the Anambra state’s greatest industry event of the season.

Shortly after the commencement, the representative from the office of the Governor of Anambra state Hon. R.U.Egenti an illustrious son of Ogbunike made his entry with loud ovation, he was closely followed by One Mr. Sam who represented Hon. Mrs Vivian Okadigbo the State House of Assembly member representing Oyi LGA, Anambra. The arrival of the Governor’s Representative was electrifying and the general audience got turbo –charged in readiness for the reason of the season. Resoundly, HRH Eze Ikemba officiated the breaking of kolanut and guests settled down to savor the entertainment package of the day. Little Princess Sharon Ifedi mounted stage with her scintillating musical performance and dance drama, an outstanding performance which saw Eze Ikemba appreciating the nine year-old musician with a scholarship award.

The High point of the event was the crowning of ‘Face of Cave City’ (IRU OGBA OGBUNIKE), amongst the 6 final contestants, a young lady from Azu-Ogbunike Miss Odinaka Chiegbu carried the day with her excellent performance during the quiz session.

Consequently, she was crowned as the first Face of Ogbunike Cave(Iru Ogba). Queen Odinaka Chiegbu was later presented to Igwe Ogbunike for official recognition, endorsement and royal blessing. The organizers of the event also, paid solemn visit to the Ogbunike holy Cave with the ‘IRU OGBA’ were she performed the traditional rites as the ‘FACE OF OGBA OGBUNIKE.’ As a tradition, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Nollywood presented awards to the numerous supporters of the event, and gave special Nollywood Veterans’ Awards to deserving practitioners. Don Jerry Amilo, Rita Edochie, Ngozi Ezeonu, Prince Uche Ndigwe, Ifeanyi Azodo, and Clemson cornel Agbaogidi were amongst the recipients.

The best film in competition “Obodo Gburueze’’ Produced by Ifeanyi Igwe was honoured with the prestigious CAVECITY award. While Ohanaeze Ndigbo Nollywood Grand Patron’s Award was conferred on HRH Eze Ikemba of Ulakwo ancient Kingdom, Umuselem, Etche LGA, Rivers State.
Before the curtain-fall, Masquerades and cultural dancers took over the stage in full glare and admiration of the guests who could not wait to have the pictures of the exciting moment streaming on social media.

Issued by:
DR. HARRIS CHUMA-ODILI.
Founder Ogbunike Cave City Film Festival
August 12, 2015