The Afikpo Local Government resources
The Afikpo Local Government Area is richly endowed with great resources, the resources can be classified into Cultural resources, Natural resources and Mineral resources.
A. The Cultural resources: Afikpo has rich cultural heritage which they express in their various festivals.
- OKOSA FISHING FESTIVAL
Okosa fishing festival is an annual event that takes place in the month of February in a lake called OKOSA. This lake is a home to different forms of fishes ranging from Tilapia, catfish, scarfish, prawn, crab etc. This fishes are allowed to grow and reproduce from the end of the festival to the beginning of another the following year. During this festival, great fishermen from the community compete with each other in all day and night fishing thereby making available excess fresh fishes for people at a small rate. This festival lasts between 1-2months.
- THE NEW YAM FESTIVAL (IKE JI IN UNWANA DIALECT)
It is an annual festival by the Unwana people held at the end of August. The Ike Ji festival (literally "new-yam eating") indicates the beginning of a harvest and the beginning of the next work cycle. The celebration brings the members of the community together.
Yams are the first crop to be harvested, and are among the most important crops in the community. Yam which is regarded as the king of our farming seedlings, is symbolic to this celebration as newly harvested Yam is cooked and it's the food of the day. Families prepare this food waiting for friends and relatives to visit so that they can eat and dine together in celebration of a successful farming season. Nobody is allowed to harvest his/her farm produce (especially Yam) before the festival until after the celebration. The day is full of enjoyment and plenty is shared with friends and well-wishers.
- IKO FESTIVAL (GASTRONOMIC EVENTS)
This gastronomic event is a festival of reconciliations, love and sharing. During this festival, families are expected to prepare a delicious meal which is normally their native white soup prepared with molded melon, such that can serve the family members, friends and well-wishers. The reason for this is to bring the community members to eat and dine together so as to reconcile with each other and to create a formidable love amongst them. This festival just as the Ike Ji festival is also extended to the neighbouring community to build a stronger relationship between them.
- IGBAMGBA (WRESTLING FESTIVAL)
This is a festival for the brave men. In the olden days, this festival was used to test the muscular strength of the men in the community such that before you get married, you must show your muscular strength to the community by participating in the festival. This is a festival in which strong men show off their muscular superiority by contesting in wrestling and emerging as champions.
- OKUMKPO MASQURADE FESTIVAL
This is one festival I love so much. It is used to expose the evil deeds of the evil men in the community. The whole community gathers at the village square to watch concert displays by the masquerades. These masquerades convert the evil deeds of people in the community into songs and sing it even in the presence of the evil men at the festival venue. Before the event, the masquerades will go out very early in the morning and move from house to house, to wake the community up and to greet good morning to the village elders. They can also be found along the roads were they greet people and beg for arms. This is one of the finest festivals in the community.
B. Natural resources: - Afikpo Local Government has some of the most beautiful sites in Ebonyi state. The sites relate with attractive natural features and environmental interesting areas that is good for viewing.
- UNWANA GOLDEN SAND BEACH
Unwana Golden Sand Beach is a good tourist attraction. It is good for boat cruising and also perfect for picnic, refreshment, and recreation. It is a source of sand for builders and sand dealers around the community. Fishing is an economic activity found around that place.
- OKOSA LAKE
Okosa is a beautiful lake in Unwana. This lake harbors varieties of fishes like Tilapia, catfish, scarfish, prawn, crab etc. This lake is where the Okosa Fishing Festival takes place. The fishes in the lake are allowed to grow and reproduce from the end of the festival to the beginning of another. This lake will become a very good tourism attraction if well developed.
- OTA PAM PAM MINI WATERFALL
Ota Pam Pam Mini Waterfall is a wonderful natural attraction in Unwana. The water pours out constantly like water from a turned-on tap. The water does not dry up both in dry and raining seasons.
C. Mineral resource: - Afikpo has concentration deposits of certain materials that are of economic value in their land. Afikpo is blessed with mineral resources such as: Quartz, Limestone, and Granite.
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