The just-concluded Face of Idoma International Pageant 2021 has been trailed with tons of mixed reactions, especially with the fact that for the first time in the history of the prestigious pageant, there emerged a non Idoma winner in the person of Onumaegbu Chidinma Ruth (Miss Sapphire), an Igbo native who defeated 17 other girls to win the coveted crown at the grand finale of the Idoma International Carnival held in Otukpo, Benue State, on Sunday, 26th December, 2021.
The people may be divided over the fair and inclusive approach of the organizers that has produced a “non-Idoma face of Idoma”, but not on the first class entertainment and its associated socioeconomic dividends, that the organization has consistently doled out to Idoma people (and Benue State at large) for the past nine years, without any government funding or community (financial) support.
Since its maiden edition in 2013, the carnival has being running annually without any break until last year (2020) when the organizers because of their concern for the safety of attendees and being law abiding citizens decided to put the funfair on hold, and host a special Idoma International Carnival Charity Edition tagged ‘Ohigbu K’ Achoalo” (For the sake of our people), for the underprivileged, instead. Rice, yam, groundnut oil, palm oil, noodles and lots more were distributed to hundreds of beneficiaries from across the nine (9) Local Government Areas in Idoma land.
The 2021 return of the carnival where a “non-Idoma” was crowned Face of Idoma that is causing controversy on social media today, alone has dozens of A-list Nigerian celebrities including; veteran actors, Chiwetalu Agu, Harry B; singers, 2Face Idibia, BlackFace, Faze, Terry G, Harrysongz, Sky B, Oxlade, comedian, Funnybone, just to mention a few, all in attendance.
We all know how expensive it’s to book such A-list celebrities. Not to talk of the juicy prizes that the organizers have been doling out to talented youths in a talent hunt tagged Idoma Got Talent, the Face of Idoma pageant, and other competitions at the carnival year in, year out. Let us at least applaud the organizers for place branding; for projecting Idoma Nation, attracting visitors/investments to Otukpo, the carnival town and Headquarters of Idoma, and for making Idoma Land a tourist centre and favorite holidays destination.
That been said, it’s pathetisad that we (Idoma people) who claimed to be highly exposed, civilized and liberal, allowed ourselves to be tricked into some myopic sentiments by some sadists and peddlers of misgivings, to be crying wolf in public over the emergence of a “non-Idoma girl” as winner of a pageant in Idoma Land.
What’s wrong if an Igbo girl is Face of Idoma? Need I remind you of how an Idoma girl, Alice Alache Akla Adepe, won Miss Kano as far back as 1962? Yes, Miss Alice, an Idoma lady from Otukpo-Icho defeated over a dozen contestants (including Hausa girls) to emerge Miss Kano in 1962, despite not being an indigene of Kano. But the Hausas were not so uncouth and clannish as well as today. Instead, they accepted and supported her and she went on to win Miss Nigeria in 1963, and brought honour and glory to Kano.
Why can’t we (Idomas) do the same for Chidinma; accept, support and give her the chance to make us proud? Or, are we no longer the fine, liberal, exposed and learned silk we pride ourselves to be?
We must not allow the misgivings of an insignificant proportion of our society to redefine who we are. We are Idomas, we are hospitable, we are liberal and civilized!
The emergence of Chidinma as Face of Idoma would even boost the image of Idoma International carnival among people/tourists from other climes, partners and supporting brands (and I guess you know that the supporting brands are non Idoma owned companies?). It would also help our Idoma brothers and sisters, the organizers to achieve their goal of making Idoma carnival a detribalized, international carnival of global repute which would increased the number of tourists/investors to Idoma Land, and the associated socioeconomic dividends would be to the benefit of our dearest homeland.
Ai’enem, let’s support this vision for the progress of Idoma Land. Idoma ronu!
Sunny Green Itodo, writes from Otukpa, Ogbadibo LGA, Benue State.
He can be reached on greenbox247online@gmail.com
