Aguleri

A profound ancestral shrine and sacred grove of monumental significance in Igbo oral tradition. Regarded as the spiritual birthplace and home of Eri, the legendary progenitor of many Igbo kingdoms, it serves as a central site for cultural pilgrimages, prayers, and historical preservation. Visitors can view structural heritage layouts and historic architectural symbols of the Eri Kingdom.

Established in 1888 by French Holy Ghost missionaries, this historic site became the first rural Catholic parish in Eastern Nigeria in 1891. It serves as the spiritual cradle of Catholicism in the region and is deeply tied to Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi, Nigeria’s first beatified priest, who served here as a school headmaster. Elevated to a Cathedral status in 2023, the serene compound features the Bishop's secretariat, a massive outdoor ceremonial podium, a dedicated Blessed Tansi pilgrimage memorial, and magnificent outdoor religious monuments.

A major cultural homecoming event that attracts thousands of indigenous Igbo people, historians, and tourists from the global African diaspora. The festival honors the legacy of Eri, the foundational patriarch of the Omambala river basin civilization. It features profound spiritual remembrance prayers at the ancient grove, spectacular displays of rare ancestral masquerades (like Akwuneche Enyi), and massive exhibitions of traditional dance groups.