ROLL OUT THE DRUMS!

This is the season of great things. It is a season for celebrations. A season of love, brotherhood and of course of forgiveness. Umudim is bustling again; the sons of Dim Orioha have shaken away off them, the negative and divisive acts that could never be found in the ancient Umudim lexicon.

There is a great celebration even in the great beyond, I could see Dara Akudinfe walk up to Ezeana Akaegbuchi Onwa and hug him while wiping away his misty eyes. I could almost hear Madubuiwe Nnuego as his voice rings out in high pitch – ‘ihe emere na’mma’. Umudim the land of the mystical ones, who has ever been able to explain who you are. This is the land of the sacred Odi Isaa Council, that great assembly of wise ones, the custodians of the ancient mysteries of Orioha.

There is celebration going on everywhere, in the USA, in Ethiopia, oh yes Umudim Orioha are everywhere, there is celebration in South Africa, in Denmark, in Sweden, oh I hear the shout of rejoicing in Canada- still the sons of Dim Orioha.

I remember the yester years, the years of great men-great mystics and great paradox to their neighbours. I remember the days of Ume Udeogwugwu, of Adinuba and Dara Ugochukwu of Ezeana Ochem and Ume Nnahibe,

I remember the great wits of Ezike Nwosu and Oforjuo’s unforgettable fists. This celebration has been on for centuries, right from the time of Dim Ibe – a time of great awakening and enlightenment; Umudim had always held up the light of brotherly love and great theocratic ethos. Nothing could extinguish it because no man can understand its source or the depth of its manifestations. Great men, wise men, men of vision and lofty ideals, men like Eze Onyekwe who proved that longevity and respect for sacred traditions go hand in hand. Spiritual giants.

Yes all Umudim is celebrating, for our sons, for our in-laws and above all for us. It is inconceivably unthinkable that foreigners should seat as mediators over Umudim – No- when the time came, the sons of Dim Orioha guided by unseen hands came together forgave one another and in brotherly embrace once more proclaimed their uniqueness – that is the Umudim I am talking about. My special gratitude to the members of Umudim Peace Committee: Dim Nnakife, Sir Aloy Okoli, Austen Okoye, Timothy Nwosu, Sunday Okoye, I hail my brothers : Rev fr.(Dr) CC Okonkwo, Steve Okoye, Chief Augustine Anene, Elder Obiajulu, Ben Okoye, Greg Anabaraonye and a host of others who cares for Umudim.

I doff my caps to you sons of Okwutuo Ovuegbe: Umu Orioha and Umu Okpara Ukwu, I call on you to realize who you are, we have never been slaves or servants to anyone. Our stars have never dimed. It is still in its ascendancy. Celebrate for you are all great men. Yes roll out the drums, celebrate yourselves.

God granted it that Dim Nnakife would clock 70 years the same year that Umudim came together after 16 years of bewilderment. But we were never confused. Our identity never eluded us; Dim Nnanyelugo I salute you! for your steadfastness for holding on when most faltered, above all for your large heart in gathering and nourishing the sons of Orioha. You are like a general returning in victory with great spoils – Umudim has found her voice again and shall never lose it

I am here now with my family celebrating with my brethren at home, our hearts are with you, though here winter bites, yet we raise our glasses in salute!

UMUDIM shall be great!!!

God bless you all.

Tony OkoyePlainfield Illinois USA.