Obi Asika’s Iba Ajie: A Creative Hub’s Lost Promise
When Obi Asika renovated Iba Ajie in Onitsha, he clearly envisioned a singular destination for all things creative. Inside Onitsha’s Iba Ajie, you discovered arguably the museum with the world’s most extensive collection of ancient Igbo artifacts. Moreover, it housed a culturally inspired lounge, a movie theater, a STEM lab, a rich library, and the most captivating environment I’ve ever experienced.
A Vision Takes Shape: Iba Ajie’s Grand Design
Indeed, Iba Ajie’s presence alone revitalized Onitsha rapidly. Consequently, I became the first person to utilize Iba Ajie for a creative event, launching the initial two editions of Oliona – Onitsha Literary Society. Furthermore, other activities quickly followed. For example, the inaugural Onitsha Twitter Hangout, which subsequently birthed the thriving Onitsha Twitter Community, occurred at Iba Ajie. Similarly, Kulture magazine also launched there.
A Creative Spark: Iba Ajie Ignites Onitsha
In April 2021, Obi Asika facilitated the visit of the world-renowned dancer, Qudus Onikeku. As a result, my wife and I shared hours with this dancing enigma, envisioning the impact Qudus Onikeku’s visit would have on Onitsha’s Golibe Festival street dancers. Then, in September of that year, Obi Asika hosted Nzuko n’Egwu (Gathering In Music) at Iba Ajie. During this time, the legendary Nze Tony ‘Akatakpo’ Odili, a 93-year-old drum master, and the esteemed Gerald Eze were brought to Onitsha. Ultimately, this gathering proved to be a unique experience.
Dreams of Collaboration: Meeting with Obi Asika
In 2022, TEDx Ugwunobankpa took place at Iba Ajie. Moreover, beyond being the city’s sole TEDx event, it provided a platform for Onitsha’s young community leaders and storytellers to share their narratives. Subsequently, it became apparent that Obi Asika harbored a grand vision to spark a creativity revolution in the city. Therefore, I reached out to connections who knew Obi Asika and requested a meeting. Nonso Chukwudebe, a grassroots community builder, arranged the meeting. Then, I invited Anambra State creatives. We sought to understand Obi Asika’s aspirations for Iba Ajie, and importantly, explore collaborative possibilities.
The Unfulfilled Promise: Closure and Lost Hopes
During the virtual Sunday meeting, Obi shared his goals: to promote IT, connect the business community to modern practices, encourage open mic sessions, and establish a relaxation center. However, our meeting concluded when he excused himself to prepare for his officiating role on Nigerian Idol. Nevertheless, we felt immense excitement about the progress happening in Onitsha. I envisioned Obi bringing figures like Davido, Chimamanda, and Funke Akindele to Onitsha. Indeed, we recognized Obi’s considerable influence. I even suggested asking him to bring major auditions to Onitsha. Instead, Iba Ajie closed down for unknown reasons, extinguishing all the dreams it represented. Now, with Iba Ajie’s closure, it became clear that the primary channel through which Obi Asika could directly impact Onitsha creatives had vanished, taking our aspirations with it.
The Aftermath: A Community’s Loss
Presently, the center remains locked. Consequently, no one can access the movie theater, STEM hub, or library. Furthermore, teenagers no longer take pictures in a space that once rivaled Africa’s top creative centers. Moreover, Onitsha’s children have lost their museum for school excursions. In short, it seemed as if we didn’t deserve such opportunities. Finally, the hope we had suddenly disappeared.
