The Ebo (Igbo) Landing Project

My address to the CISA FEST 2025

The Igbo Landing Project (ILP) extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Council of Igbo States in Americas (CISA), in proud partnership with the Igbo World Assembly (IWA), on the historic convening of a transformative milestone—one that bridges centuries of separation and rekindles the ancestral flame of unity. This historic event represents the inaugural Igbo Land event of the globally esteemed Council of Igbo States in America’s (CISA) Igbo World Wide Festival of Arts and Culture, that takes place annually in Brunswick, Glynn County—where Igbo Landing is situated on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, USA—to Igbo Land itself. It is not merely a festival—it is spiritual return, it is a reconnection, a renaissance.

“The Water Spirit Omambala brought us here. The Water Spirit Omambala will carry us home.”
~ Orimiri Oma M bala bu anyi bia. Orimiri Oma M bala ka anyi ga ejina ~

This invocation of those Igbos captives who walked back into the waters of Dunbar Creek, rather than be slaves echoes across time, carried in the breath of our ancestors whose spirits, though once torn from their homeland by the brutal tides of Dunbar Creek and the transatlantic slave trade, now rise within us. Their spirits —our essence—encoded in our DNA, pulses with the rhythm of homecoming. From Igbo Landing to Igbo Land, the cycle completes. We return not alone, but as vessels of ancestral memory, bearing their spirit back to Omambala.

The ILP salutes Madam President Chief, Dr. (Mrs.) Uzoamaka Josephine Aguoji of CISA for her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to this crowning achievement of her tenure. Her bold proposal—a novel idea —is now a reality destined to become a watershed moment in the annals of Igbo cultural renaissance.

The ILP also honors the Regent and Onowu of Abagana, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze whose dual role as host of this seminal event and as the driving force behind its realization cannot be overstated. As President of IWA and Chairman of CISA, his tireless efforts have galvanized the global Igbo diaspora, especially across the Western Hemisphere, into a unified movement of cultural reclamation and spiritual return.

For the ILP, this event is the fulfillment of a sacred mandate—the reconnection of African Americans of Igbo descent an initiative commissioned by His Majesty, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, Eze Eri, Ezeora 34th & Aka Ji Ovọ Igbo of the Iduu Eri Kingdom, in July 2012. Today, that divine charge finds its manifestation in this glorious convergence.

Let Igbo Land bear witness.
Let Nigeria stand in awe.
Let the world know—we are coming home!

Chief, Prince Eluemuno I of Iduu Eri Kingdom
(Sidney L. Davis, Jr )
President and Co-Founder, the Igbo Landing Project

https://www.jungle-journalist.com/cisa-iwa-unite-diaspora-at-maiden-homecoming-cultural-festival-in-anambra/ #

CISA Homecoming African-American Festival CISA, IWA Unite Diaspora at Maiden Homecoming Festival in Anambra: Diaspora Igbos meet in Anambra to celebrate culture

https://igboacienthistory.weebly.com/ebo-landing.html?utm_source=perplexity

EBO LANDING EBO LANDING PROJECT GETS A BOOST FROM AGULERI – ​THE LAND OF THE ORIGINAL AFRICAN SUN-KING

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DS7DqUYhr/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Know Your Ethnic Group. Reclaim Your Heritage Discover Your Roots

The leading DNA company for tracing African Americans back to Africa is African Ancestry, which specializes in identifying specific African ethnic groups and regions through maternal (mtDNA) and paternal (Y DNA) lineages. Other major options include AncestryDNA, Living DNA, and MyHeritage, but African Ancestry is regarded as the most targeted for African American heritage.[1][2][3][4][5]

Most Recommended Companies

- African Ancestry specializes in tracing African lineage to particular ethnic groups by comparing your DNA against the largest repository of African lineages and is dedicated to privacy and cultural reconnection for people of African descent.[3]
- AncestryDNA offers the largest overall database, covers 15–20 African regions, and identifies DNA links to hundreds of African American and Afro-Caribbean communities, making it highly effective for broader regional ancestry tracing.[1]
- Living DNA provides especially detailed regional breakdowns with 72 African sub-regional estimates which can help pinpoint the origins within Africa at a higher resolution.[1]
- AfroRoots DNA is a Black-owned alternative focusing on autosomal DNA to analyze recent ancestry over approximately 5–6 generations.[6]

What Sets African Ancestry Apart

- Tracks both maternal and paternal lines directly to African ethnic groups, using their proprietary African Lineage Database.[2][3]
- Has the largest African reference collection among direct-to-consumer companies, often providing results not matched by other mainstream tests.[3]
- Facilitates cultural reconnection through initiatives like African Ancestry Family Reunion trips to the traced homeland and partnerships for language and citizenship programs.[3]
- Maintains strict privacy standards, never sharing customer DNA data for profit or research.[3]

Choosing the Best Company

- If your goal is learning your exact tribal or ethnic origin in Africa, African Ancestry is the best choice.[5][2][3]
- For those seeking insights into general African or African American roots across many regions and historical migration context, AncestryDNA or Living DNA provide excellent alternatives.[4][5][1]
- Individuals who want to combine ancestry with health insights or recent autosomal matches should consider Living DNA or AfroRoots DNA for a slightly different approach.[6][1]

Key Considerations

- African Ancestry is most trusted for specificity and is Black-owned, but is sometimes critiqued for cost and limited autosomal matching features compared to mainstream tools.[7][4]
- Mainstream companies allow easier transfer and matching to relatives (e.g. AncestryDNA, 23andMe), but may not reveal as much about precise ethnic roots.[6]

For in-depth ethnic lineage tracing, especially to reconnect you with specific African communities, African Ancestry is widely recommended as the best choice.[2][5][3]

Sources
[1] 4 Best DNA Tests for African Ancestry (2025) - DNA Weekly https://www.dnaweekly.com/blog/best-dna-tests-for-african-ancestry/
[2] African Ancestry Reviews 224 - Trustpilot https://www.trustpilot.com/review/africanancestry.com
[3] African Ancestry, a Black-owned company revolutionizing DNA testing https://www.washingtoninformer.com/african-ancestry-dna-testing/
[4] Black person with 100% African Ancestry, ranks DNA websites for ... https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/comments/xzlhp8/black_person_with_100_african_ancestry_ranks_dna/
[5] Which DNA test is best for African Americans? - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_1tgdRfHXA
[6] Best DNA test for African Americans? - kinkofa https://www.kinkofa.com/blog/bestdnatestforafricanamericans
[7] If you took the African Ancestry DNA tests and got specific tribes ... https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/comments/1aig88r/for_african_americans_if_you_took_the_african/
[8] Has anyone did the African ancestry DNA kit? - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/275114380263865/posts/540994253675875/
[9] How do you find the best African DNA test? - Nebula Genomics https://nebula.org/blog/african-dna-test/
[10] 23andMe vs. African Ancestry: A detailed comparison | Nucleus https://mynucleus.com/blog/23andme-vs-african-ancestry

23andMe vs. African Ancestry: A detailed comparison | Nucleus Compare 23andMe vs. African Ancestry to discover which DNA testing service offers better ancestry insights and aligns more closely with your goals.

IGNITE YOUR IGBO SOUL: CISA-FEST 2025 – The Ultimate Cultural Renaissance That's About to Blow Your Mind!

Dear Igbo Global Family,

You're personally invited to an UNFORGETTABLE celebration of our roots, resilience, and radiant future! The Council of Igbo States in Americas (CISA), in epic partnership with the Igbo World Assembly (IWA), is unleashing CISA-FEST 2025 – where we Reconnect Igbo Global Roots for Cultural Renaissance!

Theme: Oganiru Ifediche (Positive Impact) – Because together, we're unstoppable!

When: December 12th, 2025 | 9AM - 5PM
Where: Ikendigo Event Center (Opposite Njikoka L.G.A Headquarters, Abagana, Anambra State, Nigeria)

Get ready for a whirlwind of vibrant cultural dances, mesmerizing masquerade displays, and SO MUCH MORE that'll have you dancing to the beat of our ancestral drums!

Spotlight on Our Stellar Special Guests:
1. Commissioner/Mayor Pro Tem-Griffin Lotson (USA)
2. Host - Chief Dr. (Mrs) Uzoamaka Josephine Aguoji (President CISA)
3. Dr. Juan Avila Abrahams (Expert in Constitutional Law & Human Rights)
4. Chief Laverne Holden (Ugosimba 1 of Ibagwa Nike Kingdom | CEO Able Farms Ltd)
5. Chief, Prince Dr. Sydney Davis Eluemuno
6. Lolo Nneka Chimezie (IWA Women President)

This isn't just an event, it's a MOVEMENT to celebrate our heritage and forge unbreakable bonds across the diaspora! Who's ready to make history?

RSVP NOW & Secure Your Spot: Chief Mathias Mgbeafulu (CISA PRO): +1(313) 729-2076
Comrade Ofoedu Clement Mbabuike (Cabinet Secretary): +234 804 370 826
Mr. Chukwuebuka Ogbodo (IWA Youth Coordinator): +234 806 791 3931
Comr. Uzo Ekemezie Esq. (Director, Mmaigbo Empowerment Foundation Worldwide): +234 706 911 1771

Prince Eluemuno Eri with his majesty the Eze Chukwuemeka Eri Ezeora 34th & Aka Ji Ovo Igbo, at the sacred water of Oma M Bala.

THE DAY Prince Eluemuno Eri WAS KISSED BY MMANWU

An Igbo masquerade (Mmanwu) is considered a spiritual being representing the spirits of ancestors, deities, or nature itself in Igbo culture. When you interact physically with a masquerade—such as being kissed—this can be significant as the masquerade is believed to be a mediator between the living and the spirit world. Such an act may symbolize a blessing, a spiritual connection, or an acceptance by the ancestral or spiritual realm. The masquerades embody ancestral wisdom, bring blessings, protection, and healing to the community, and their performances are not merely entertainment but a living spiritual tradition. Therefore, the kiss from the masquerade likely carries spiritual meaning symbolizing acceptance and a shared connection with the Igbo ancestral spirits or community blessings.[1][2][3]

In Igbo culture, masquerades are sacred, and their gestures are meaningful beyond the physical act. It is respectful to acknowledge the spiritual significance and treat the experience with reverence, as it represents a bridge between you and the Igbo ancestral world.[5][7]

Direct gestures like a kiss from a masquerade are very rare and carry special significance, often interpreted as a spiritual blessing, protection, or acceptance by the spirit world. Because masquerades are regarded as sacred and powerful intermediaries, any physical interaction beyond ritual dance steps is treated with reverence and is not a common everyday occurrence. It would be considered an extraordinary and noteworthy experience within the community, symbolizing a strong connection to the masquerade’s spiritual role.

The kiss is significant as a positive spiritual symbol, an indication of a great blessing or a mark of inclusion in the protective presence of the masquerade spirits. It was a happy expression and such a moment to celebrate Prince Eluemuno Eri as a true son of Igbo land, a true son of the soil.

Sources
[1] Masquerades of Igboland: The Art, Mystery, and Spirituality https://www.nkenne.com/blog/masquerades-of-igboland-the-art-mystery-and-spirituality
[2] Masquerades and Movement: The Sacred Connection ... https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/masquerades-movement-sacred-connection-between-igbo-dance-ifesinachi-hnnwf
[3] The Nexus between Igbo Traditional Belief System and ... https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=106369
[4] One of roles of masquerade in Igala culture apart from ... https://www.facebook.com/100063611917108/posts/one-of-roles-of-masquerade-in-igala-culture-apart-from-entertainment-is-its-pres/1182690357194684/
[5] The Cultural and Symbolic Significance of Igbo ... https://ozikoro.com/the-cultural-and-symbolic-significance-of-igbo-masquerades-masquerades-are-a-cornerstone-of-igbos/
[6] Igbo masquerade festival is the best you can ever witness ... https://www.facebook.com/EZENWANYImamalawo/posts/igbo-masquerade-festival-is-the-best-you-can-ever-witness-igbo-masquerade-practi/412955996902380/
[7] Masquerade Festival in Igboland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masquerade_Festival_in_Igboland
[8] Exploring the Origin of Masquerade in Igbo Culture https://www.tiktok.com//video/7479537083800079671
[9] The tradition of masquerades in Igbo culture, ... https://www.facebook.com/groups/278825246443542/posts/1180772329582158/
[10] Celebrating the Igbo Masquerade Dance https://www.tiktok.com//video/7469706501347691781

Dedicated to the memory of all Africans who perished in the waters from Igboland to all the Igbo landings in the Americas.