Culture and Tourism
Agulu Crocodile Lake is located along Awka road in Agulu, Aniocha Local Government Area of the state. A potential tourist site, it is home to an estimated three hundred crocodiles and water turtles. Fishing is not allowed on the lake and the crocodiles, being sacred animals to the people, cannot be killed. Legend says that these crocodiles were instrumental in delivering the town from enemy soldiers during the Nigerian civil war. It is believed that these sacred crocodiles and turtles transformed themselves into beautiful ladies and lured the soldiers unawares into the lake where they disappeared without trace. At noon the crocodiles and the turtles appear at the banks of the lake to take in sunlight.
Ogbunike Caves, listed by UNESCO as a world Heritage Site is one of the most visited tourist sites in Anambra State. It is classified as a Sandstone cave (Lateritic sandstones of Campanian-Miocene age). It has very scenic vegetation with attractive waterfall. It is situated in the Ogba hills Ogbunike, across the Ugwu-Aga Escarpment Umunya by the Enugu/Onitsha Expressway and lies in the coordinates of N06 11 11 and E06 54 21.
Igbo Ukwu Museum: Igbo Ukwu is an ancient town known for astonishing metalcrafts and has remained an attraction to tourists because of its bronze artifacts. The bronzes which were first noticed in 1938 and later excavated by Thurstan Shaw (an English archaeologist) date back to about the 9th century, are of high value and historic relevance.
Uzu-Oka: Awka is historically known for the great metal foundry, Uzu Craftmanship. Imo-Awka is an annual festival celebrated by the natives.
Other Anambra tourism potentials and cultural festivals include:
- Ijele Masquerade listed in UNESCO Archives as Intangible cultural element Ijele dance festival is home to the 'Olus' of the Omambala area: Omor, Aguleri, Umuleri, Awkuzu, Umunya, etc.
- Omaba Yearly New-Yam Festival.
- Aguluzigbo New-Yam Festival
- Ozubulu New-yam festival
- Ozoebunu masquerade of Ozubulu
- Ajana-Ukwu and Igu aro festivals at Omor.
- Obu Gad at Enugwu Aguleri.
- Ini Iguedo (Iguedo Grave) at Nando.
- Odinani Museum at Nri.
- Afia olu Festival in Nnewi.
- Olili Obibia Eri (Eri Festival) in Enugwu Aguleri attracts thousands of visitors home and abroad annually.
- The River Niger at Onitsha and Asaba with the famous Niger bridge is the eastern gateway linking the South East with Niger Delta and Western Nigeria.
- Uzoiyi Festival Umuoji attracts thousands of visitors annually.
- Ofala (Ovala) Festival is the commemorative of Kingship celebrated by various towns. It was popularised by Onitsha town.
- Igu-Aro is the major kingship festival among the Nri.
- Nkpokiti Dance, Umunze is known for fantastic acrobatic performances.
- Rogeny Tourist Village at Oba (a stadium that is equipped with recreational activities including a swimming pool, zoo, shrine, soccer stadium, et
Read more about this topic: Anambra State
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