NORTH HAVEN, Conn. - Marylandian -- On Saturday, Igbozue Connecticut, USA, held its 2026 Summer Family Picnic at Wharton Brook Park in North Haven, Connecticut. About 100 members, their families, and friends gathered for the annual celebration of community and Igbo culture.

The Igbo, one of Nigeria's major ethnic groups, have a rich cultural tradition centered on family, community, language, and collective identity. Igbozue—loosely expressing the idea, "If only all Igbo men could gather and speak with one voice"—is a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization that supports its members and Igbo communities in Nigeria.

The formal event began with the breaking of the kolanut, an important symbol of welcome, hospitality, and unity in Igbo culture. Rain and storms had threatened the picnic the day before, but, as one member put it, the weather—perhaps under the intercession of the Igbo ancestors invoked through the kolanut—"behaved itself."

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Soon, the pavilion and surrounding grounds came alive. Children and adults played soccer, table tennis, and the entertaining "pull a bottle by the rope" game. Men sang old Igbo folk songs and played the ogene and gongs as guests mingled and danced.

Under a tree across from the pavilion, members of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America (NANNNA) offered blood pressure checks. Nearby, a man in an upturned brown cowboy hat handed out raffle tickets.

And there was food—plenty of it. Tables were filled with jollof rice, fried plantains, puff-puff, pepper soup, beef, fish, egusi soup, and other delicacies, while fresh corn, meat, and hot dogs sizzled on the grill.

The picnic also provided an opportunity to pass Igbo language and culture to younger generations. Youths learned expressions such as Bịa—come; Bịa ebe a—come here; and Biko, bịa ebe a—please, come here. A woman in a blue ichafu praised the effort while expressing concern about the declining use of Igbo among younger generations.

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Igbozue President Mr. Ike Chukwurah said supporting members in the United States and communities in Igboland remains central to the organization's mission.

Toward the end, Secretary Chief Tony Madu encouraged Igbo men living in Connecticut who have not joined Igbozue to become members. Raffle winners then received gift cards, books, plaques, and other donated prizes.

More than food and fun, the picnic celebrated family, friendship, culture, language, service, and community—strengthening bonds in Connecticut while keeping alive connections to Igboland thousands of miles away.

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