The Och’Idoma, His Royal Majesty Agabaidu Elaigwu Odogbo, has warned against growing cultural shame and identity avoidance among the Idoma people, calling for a deliberate revival of language, values and traditions to safeguard the heritage of the nation.
The royal father issued the warning while delivering an address at the Idoma Cultural Day celebration, held in collaboration with the Idoma International Carnival in Otukpo on Wednesday.
The monarch expressed concern that many young Idoma people are distancing themselves from their roots in pursuit of misplaced validation.
According to him, culture begins to die when a people become ashamed of their language, accent and traditional practices.
“Culture dies when its people apologise for it,” the Och’Idoma declared.
“We must never be ashamed of our culture or our accent. Our accent is our identity, and we should be able to speak our language and sing our songs anywhere we find ourselves.”
The monarch identified insecurity and displacement, language erosion in homes, cultural shame, leadership fragmentation, poor documentation of heritage and social media ridicule as major threats confronting Idoma cultural survival.
He noted that the ridicule of Idoma people, leaders and institutions in public spaces, particularly on social media, has contributed to declining respect for the culture, stressing that ignorance and lack of patriotism often fuel such attacks.
Calling on Idoma sons and daughters to become “gatekeepers” of their identity, the Och’Idoma urged responsible digital conduct, accurate storytelling and dignified engagement in defending the image of the Idoma nation.
“We must respond to falsehood with facts, dignity, and love. We shall not hand over our image to mockery,” he said.
The monarch also stressed the need for unity among Idoma cultural organisations, warning that fragmentation and rivalry weaken cultural direction and collective strength.
“Where leadership is fragmented, direction becomes confused. Culture cannot survive in the midst of ego-driven rivalry,” he added, urging alignment of structures, programmes and messaging to enable the Idoma people to speak with one clear voice.
As part of efforts to revive Idoma identity, the Och’Idoma announced the institutionalisation of Idoma Cultural Day, declaring December 23 of every year as an annual celebration dedicated to promoting Idoma heritage, language and values.
He further declared that the grand finale of the celebration would henceforth hold at the Och’Idoma Palace, with plans underway to upgrade and rebrand the Palace Square to international standards in order to boost cultural tourism.
The royal father called on Idoma youths, cultural groups, corporate bodies and friends of the Idoma nation to work together in unity, noting that cultural survival depends on cooperation rather than competition.
“We are many expressions, but one Idoma soul,” he said, urging renewed commitment to cultural pride, unity and collective destiny.
