The 2018 edition, held last Christmas, which featured more than 20 cultural groups from the South East attracted visitors from all over the country and beyond, including a Russian family that visited Nigeria for the first time. There is no gainsaying the fact that the present generation of South Easterners are now embracing their cultural heritage, which for many years appeared to have been abandoned as they trooped to the cities in search of green pasture.
For the younger ones who sparingly visit home, the Eden East festival provides an opportunity to appreciate the culture handed down by their great grand fathers, which needs to be bequeathed to the upcoming generation. The last edition provided opportunity for people to see the popular Theresa Onuora and her Egedege Dance Group from Nnewi, as well as the famous Nkpokiti Dance Group, from Umunze in Aguata Local Government Area.
Worthy of note is the concept of establishing an integrated development project to boost tourism. According to Maduafokwa, “Tourism is enabled by such cultural festival in the communities. We want to establish infrastructure to encourage visitors to come down to the East. Over 2 million square metres of land is being acquired to establish an integrated development from recreational to scenic tourism, sporting and a non seasonal kind of business.
“It is a joint venture between the Eden East Company and the community. Our own village, Umudike, Uzoakwa is supposed to own the land in question. It is ancestral land that has been unused. An agreement has been signed to that effect. “Eden East is still waiting for the community to resolve the internal wrangling. We cannot make investments when there is squabble. The community has to agree 100 percent before we venture into the project. It is meant to benefit every member of the community. “Foreign investors are expected from Europe, America and Asia,” Maduafokwa added.”