Igbo Fest in Minnesota stands out as a vibrant tapestry of culture and community spirit. This festival is a showcase of music, dance, and colorful traditional attire.
Members of Imo Progressive Association of Minnesota perform at the 28th Annual IgboFest held at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on Saturday, August 12, 2023. Photo: Tom Gitaa/Mshale
A Brief History
Until 2005, the state’s Igbo Fest celebrations had been held indoors. That changed in 2005 when the first outdoor festival was held on the grounds of St. Thomas University in St. Paul.
The Igbo community in Minnesota and their invited friends celebrated their 12th annual Igbo Fest on the open grounds of the University of St. Thomas at St. Paul on Saturday, August 13.
The Umunne Cultural Association
Igbo Fest is presented by the Umunne Cultural Association of Minnesota and held annually in August at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park.
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Umunne Cultural Association in Minnesota held the 28th annual Igbo Fest on Saturday on the grounds of North Hennepin Community College.
Umunne Cultural Association in Minnesota is a nonprofit organization focused on bringing Nigeria’s deep-rooted cultural heritage to the Minnesota community. Umunne Cultural Association strives to accomplish its mission through organized cultural events, including Igbo Fest; community-based educational programs; member volunteer activities; and by establishing relationships with other Minnesota-based organizations that share in the cultural diversity mission of the state of Minnesota. They also work to educate Igbo students to build successful careers and professions so that they may become substantial members and positively contribute to the communities in which they live.
Dr. Mrs. Jane Nwaudo, president of the Umunne Cultural Association in Minnesota, and the first female to be president of the organization, middle, is escorted to the high table by members of the Igbo Women League of Minnesota during the 28th Annual Igbo Fest at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on Saturday, August 12, 2023.
Igbo People
Highlights of Igbo Fest
The official start of the festival was Saturday but the previous night is when the weekend celebration kicked off with a gala at the Brooklyn Park Community Center featuring a saxophone live performance and beauty pageant anchored by comedian MC Chaz.
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“With the powers vested in me as the chairman of the planning committee of this year’s festival I hereby declare Igbo Fest 2023 open,” said M. Peter Egbudom flanked by his wife on the left. Dressed in a stylish Nigerian Senator suit, red fez-like hat and red linking chain, Egbudom was described as “fearless and charming” in his chairmanship of this year’s planning committee by Dr. Mrs.
The event brings together more than 5,000 attendees to immerse themselves in this unique and distinctive culture through tasting traditional African dishes and trying African crafts, enjoying a variety of dance performances and processions.
The festival drew visitors from across the city, state and the globe, most notably from Canada. For years, Umunna Association of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Minnesota’s Umunne Cultural Association have had what the two organizations call a “special relation” where they send representatives to each other’s festivals and that tradition continued on Saturday.
Ms. Monica Nkwocha, a Champlin High School senior, left, leads the Anambra Youth Dance during their presentation the 28th Annual Igbo Fest at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on Saturday, August 12, 2023.
“I have been coming to Igbo Fest since before I could walk,” said festival attendee Ms. Monica Nkwocha, a senior at Champlin Park High School. Nkwocha said participating in Igbo Fest is part of a long family tradition and she has been part of the dancing teams that showcase Igbo culture during her growing years. She has risen to become one of the instructors for the young dancers, she said.
Read also: Voice Translation: Igbo to English
In between dance groups, masquerade shows were used to transition to the next group, and they have become one of the many highlights for festival goers over the years. Masquerades are an important aspect of Igbo culture and are believed to embody the spirits.
The Igbo who have earned for themselves the title of “The Jews of Africa” come from South Eastern Nigeria and have distinguished themselves as successful business men and women, highly educated, vibrant, sociable and a God-loving people. Presently the Igbo tribe, numbering about 45 million account for one third of the Nigerian total population, Africa’s most populous nation.
The Igbo people do not just preach theory, indeed they practice what they preach. One of their greatest milestones associated with their excelling in education and culture is the Igbo school located at Higher Ground Academy on 1381 Marshall Avenue at St. Paul.
One of their greatest milestones associated with their excelling in education and culture is the Igbo school located at Higher Ground Academy on 1381 Marshall Avenue at St. Paul.
Ohafia war dance at the igbo festival 2018 held in Charlton park London on the 14/7/18
Community and Inclusivity
Mr. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota’s Third District, which includes Brooklyn Park, and Mayor Hollies Winston who was attending his first Igbo Fest as mayor of Brooklyn Park.
Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota’s Third District, which includes Brooklyn Park, and Mayor Hollies Winston of Brooklyn Park watch proceedings at the 28th Annual IgboFest at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on Saturday, August 12, 2023. The mayor’s wife, Mr. Latrice Winson is on the mayor’s left.
“This diversity (Igbo Fest) shows why Brooklyn Park is the best place to live in,” Winston said.
Past Events and Fundraising
This year’s main event that attracted a number of participants was a raffle whose first prize was a 2005 Mercedes Benz C-230 which was won by Henry Kesr by his winning ticket number 642 which he purchased for only $ 50. The second prize was a Velux Motorbike and the Third Prize was $ 1,000 gift certificate for the Mall of America. Proceeds from the raffle would be invested in building a Cultural Center in Minnesota.
Historical Context
The Igbo people have gone through some hard times, like during the 1960s when their leader General Ojukwu wanted to create a separate Igbo state by the name of BIAFRA.
I put this question to Mike Anunike, President of the Umunne Cultural Association: “Our people were being targeted for killings. It was genocide. The media only characterized it as a rebellion. It was a bitter struggle for three years and our people stood firm.
I also asked him what the West can learn from Africa; he replied: “Africa is the cradle of mankind. Africans are a productive and creative people. They observe strong family and ethnic ties as well as remaining sociable to fellow human beings.
On Igbo Fest, he had this to say: “Igbo Fest has brought and shared Igbo arts and culture all across the state to communities that might not otherwise experience Igbo cultural theatrical performances, traditional dances, masquerades, African fashion, or hear ethnic music and seasoned keynote speakers.
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