One Work on Preservation of Ibusa History and Heritage Completed; Another Work Begins

 One Work on Preservation of Ibusa History and Heritage Completed; Another Work Begins

I have now completed work on my book, *Ibusa Iwu Festival: Dancing Through Time,* and I eagerly await its unveiling.

The journey of researching and documenting this important aspect of our cultural heritage has been both rewarding and enlightening. The book explores the history of the Iwu Festival, a festival believed to have been introduced into Ibusa from Ogwashi-Uku and one that is also celebrated in Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Uno, and Illah.

The Iwu Festival appears to be a shared cultural heritage among the communities of Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Uno, and Illah, just as the Ikenga Festival is widely celebrated across Amai, Akoku-Uno, Umuebu, Ebedei, Umutu, and other neighbouring Ukwuani communities. It is my hope that this work will contribute to preserving and promoting this rich cultural tradition for present and future generations.

I sincerely appreciate the support and encouragement I received from many individuals during the course of this project which spanned approximately seven years. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Mr. Emmanuel Nwadei whose thought bore this work; Mr. Emmanuel "Kwasa" Amatokwu; the Mayor of Ibusa, Chief Sebastian Adigwe; the Owelle of Ibusa, who graciously wrote the Foreword; Mr. Frank Isioma Okafor, President of the ICDU Abuja Branch who was relentless in providing motivation; Sir Tony Uso Oraegbu, Worldwide Secretary-General of the ICDU; and many others whose contributions made this work possible.

To everyone who has consistently called to ask when another book would be available, your patience and encouragement have meant a great deal to me. When *Ibusa Iwu Festival: Dancing Through Time* is unveiled, I encourage you to pick up a copy. To my loyal readers and customers, prepare to add another valuable title to your personal library.

Even as I await the unveiling of this book, work has already begun on my next project:

 *The Nigerian Civil War: An Ibusa Perspective* 

 _A Community History Based on Oral Testimonies and Written Sources._ 

This book seeks to present the Nigerian Civil War through the lived experiences of the Ibusa people. It will combine oral histories, local testimonies, personal experiences, archival records, and other written sources to reconstruct the story of how the people of Ibusa understood, endured, and survived one of the most defining periods in Nigeria's history.

While much has been written about the Nigerian Civil War, the story of Ibusa from the perspective of its people remains largely undocumented. I hope this carefully researched work will make a meaningful contribution to both local history and the broader scholarship on the conflict.

More importantly, I hope it will become a lasting record for future generations of Ibusa sons and daughters who wish to understand what their parents, grandparents, and ancestors experienced during the war.

I therefore appeal to the people of Ibusa and friends of the community to support this project by introducing me to men and women who witnessed the war and are still alive. Every testimony matters. By preserving these memories today, we ensure that our community's history is accurately documented and passed on to generations yet unborn.

Emeka Esogbue

(Pen Master)