The Journey Beyond Borders: Keeping an Ancient Tradition Alive - Report by: Marvellous Obasi THOMAS

Our culture remains solid, unshakable, and deeply rooted in the legacy of our ancestors. In the quiet but proud community of Achara Ihechiowa, nestled within Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria, tradition is not just remembered, it is lived. Each year, just days after the New Yam Festival, the men of the village prepare for a sacred adventure. It is a journey that stretches beyond familiar footpaths, leading them to the borders of their homeland, to the very limits of their identity. The purpose is clear: to rediscover the ancient landmarks that tell them where their land begins and where it ends. This is no ordinary walk. It is a tes
t of strength, unity, and resilience. From dawn, the men, young and old alike, gather in groups arranged by age grade. Their voices rise in chants, their steps fall in rhythm, and the journey begins. They walk, they jog, and they push their bodies forward with songs that lift the spirit and echo the courage of those who came before them. But tradition comes with discipline. No participant may eat or drink before or during the trek, for to do so would sap his strength. Elders, wise and watchful, walk alongside, ready to remove anyone who falters. Women are not permitted to join; this remains a sacred duty of the men, a rite that binds generations together.

The road is long and demanding. Each age grade has a stopping point, though the strongest may go farther. Along the way, quarrels and fights are forbidden; peace and order are enforced with strict consequences. For beyond testing endurance, the journey is a mirror, revealing the strength, courage, and unity of the men who carry the honor of the community. At last, the path opens to the banks of a great river, a natural boundary dividing villages. Here, time seems to stand still. Traditional rites are performed, and gunshots ring into the air, announcing arrival at the edge of the homeland. Standing tall nearby is an enormous tree, older than memory itself. Its bark is carefully peeled and shared among those who completed the journey, a token of pride and proof of endurance.

For Achara Ihechiowa, this is more than ritual. It is heritage. It is the living heartbeat of a people determined to preserve what was entrusted to them. Passed from generation to generation, this annual rite keeps the bond between past and present alive. In a world where traditions are fading, Achara Ihechiowa reminds us that culture is not just history, it is identity. And as Igbos, and as Nigerians, we must hold tightly to these practices, for they are what make us unique and give us a voice beyond Africa’s borders.

One Nigeria, One Africa

Report by: Marvellous Obasi Thomas 
Mass Communication, FUNAI