Omambala River

The project is called Ebo Landing in commemoration of the heroic death of African women and men of Igbo/Ebo extraction who drowned themselves in the St Simmons Island Creeks singing “Orimili Omambala bu anyi bia, Orimili Omambala ka anyi ga eji na”, meaning “Omambala River brought us hither and it will carry us home”. Omambala river is actually located in Enugwu Aguleri, Anambra state, Igboland. Here is the river. – Catherine Acholonu

His Majesty Eze Chukwuemeka-Eri

He is the ruler of Eri Kingdom and Eze Enugwu Aguleri

HRM Eze A.E Chukwuemeka-Eri (Ezeora 34th & Aka Ji Ofor Igbo) is the custodian of the Ofor-Eri . His Majesty Eze Chukwuemeka-Eri (JP) (Ezeora 34th and Aka Ji Ofor Igbo) is the sole custodian of the custom, culture and tradition of Aguleri Clan, the custodian of the (Ofo-Eri) ‘The Oldest Symbol of Authority in Igbo-land’ in which the kingdom in the past has 34 kings.

“Our interest in the Ezeora as far as this program goes, is because Omambala is within his domain. He did not approach us for this program, rather we approached him, and the program is to be an annual program from this point on, involving other Ezes and communitties in Igbo land. It is directed by the gods and goddesses of our land. The last thing we want is for any Igbo to think that the program has been hijacked by any one Eze or any interest group (they are already saying so), so please sheath your titles for now. This is an all-comers program for the Igbo and even African Diaspora.” – Catherine Acholonu

Catherine Acholonu at The Waters of Omambala

ST. SIMONS ISLAND

At Ebo’s Landing, during St. Simons Island’s plantation era, where slaves were once brought ashore along Dunbar Creek, the leader of the Nigerian Igbos tribe led his people into the waters of the creek rather than submit to slavery, and if you listen carefully, you can still hear the slaves singing their song of freedom; “Orimiri Omambala bu anyi bia. Orimiri Omambala ka anyi ga ejina.”