Featured Project
ICM EVENTS
- MANCHESTER
Join us for an exciting event designed to connect, inspire, and create lasting experiences. Enjoy engaging activities, meaningful interactions, and unforgettable moments in a vibrant atmosphere.
- Manchester Igbo Iriji Festival
- End of year party
- Anniversary Celebrations
- Igbo Christmas party
EVENT
ICM 10th Anniversary Celebrations
The 10th Anniversary of the Igbo Community Greater Manchester (ICM) was a landmark occasion—an elegant night of awards, fundraising, and celebration. One of the highlights of the evening was the launch of a commemorative brochure, widely regarded as one of ICM’s proudest achievements in 2019. Funds raised during the event have been dedicated to the development of an Igbo Centre in Manchester—a true home away from home.
In their addresses, the Chairman and Chairlady reflected on ICM’s vision, reminding guests of the association’s goals, progress, and future direction. The Anniversary brochure served as both a celebration and a reaffirmation of ICM’s mission, inviting all brothers and sisters to share in the richness of Igbo socio cultural life in Greater Manchester.
From cover to cover, the brochure highlights the vibrant diversity of the Igbo community—our leadership, sense of history, entrepreneurial spirit, the elegance of our women, the strength of our families, music, art, intellectual traditions, generosity, and communal values. These qualities define us and are worth celebrating, preserving, and passing on to future generations.
Traditionally, a 10th anniversary is marked with gifts of aluminium or tin, symbolising resilience and longevity. ICM’s celebration honoured the association’s achievements and recognised the remarkable contributions of individuals who have helped move the organisation to greater heights.
A reflective moment at the event paid tribute to the pioneers and past leaders who guided the transformation of the organisation—from the Igbo Progressive Union (IPU) in 2013 to the Igbo Community Greater Manchester (ICM) in 2016. Over the years, ICM has evolved under various leaderships, consistently strengthening its role in promoting Igbo cultural heritage.
EVENT
Manchester Igbo Iriji Festival 2017
Ndigbo in Manchester have again achieved a milestone in their celebration of Igbo cultural traditions in a foreign land. Manchester, a vibrant city in the North-Western region of England is far away from Igboland. As it is well known, Igbos are not deterred by any circumstances from living life to the full, or at least struggle to do so. Living life in its fullness means feeling at home, making any place a home, and all the while being in their elements. The characteristic Igbo entrepreneurism and ingenuity is common knowledge. As change is embraced, and new opportunities exploited, yearning for the fatherland, with respect for our forebears endures.
Igbos have been celebrating Iriji festival, that pre-eminent cultural festival of all Igbos everywhere in Manchester. The celebrations have been organised by various Igbo communities or associations, successfully, and in the process made Igbos, home and abroad, proud. But we do not rest on our oars. Hence, leaders of various associations have over the years thought about doing more with the Iriji festival, for the sake of the peace and prosperity of Ndigbo. As Igbos are wont to say, girigiri bu ugwu eze; and also, anyuko amiri onu, ogbaa ufufu – ‘the more the merrier’ in colloquial English. Thus, a joint collaborative celebration by Igbos from different associations in Manchester became a worthy goal.
EVENT
ICM 10th Anniversary Celebrations
Other Key Milestones Include:
- 2016:ICM undertook internal restructuring and adopted a formal bylaw. In the same year, the women’s wing, launched its iconic dance, Egwu Ifunanya, with strong support from the men. ICM children also showcased deep knowledge of our cultural traditions.
- 2017:The introduction of our unique uniform added vibrancy and identity to key events such as the Iriji (New Yam Festival), weddings, and child dedications.
- 2018–2022:Discussions began on uniting all Igbo associations in Manchester for a joint Iriji celebration. In 2022, ICM successfully sponsored and partially achieved this goal. Since 2023, all Igbo associations in Manchester now celebrate the New Yam Festival together—United, we stand!
- 2022:ICM launched an Education Awards Programme, recognising students who achieve 6 A grades at GCSE and at least one A grade at A Level. Many young people have since achieved exceptional results. This initiative has flourished thanks to generous donations from members and supporting businesses. Parents also deserve high praise for their dedication.
- 2024:ICM hosted its first Biafra Remembrance Day in May, which has now become a permanent annual event in the ICM calendar.
EVENT
Manchester Igbo Iriji Festival 2024
There was a successful joint celebration by Igbo Community Greater Manchester (ICM) and Abia Community Manchester in 2022 and, henceforth with Anambra Welfare Association (AWA), Enugu Progressive Union Manchester (EPUM) and Imo Kultural Welfare Union (IKWU), Ebonyi State Association Greater Manchester (ESAGM)
Bold innovation in 2024 is a logo of the Manchester Igbo Iriji Festival and its motto and in early 2025, the framework for the joint celebrations was registered as a charity with Community Interest Community. Ndigbo in Manchester has clearly said that they have arrived, to tell the city and the world, what the Igbos are made of. See www.miif.org.uk
We must therefore doff our caps to the organisers of the Igbo Iriji in Manchester. They are showing themselves to be true leaders and visionaries. May they begin to see even clearer and farther afield, and always to have the courage of their convictions!
EVENT
African Hub Event Opening Night 29th January 2026
African Hub is a new gallery in the Manchester museum where knowledge, understanding and connection is shared and created. It extends an invitation to help share insights and valuable community knowledge on the African objects and collections at the museum. Offering a space on the understanding of how best these collections can inspire future generations across greater Manchester.
Igbo Community Manchester ( ICM ) sits at the heart of the Africa Hub project. As a community organisation of Igbo heritage, this initiative aims to ‘Reconnect Igbo knowledge’.
EVENT
African Hub Event Opening Night 29th January 2026
Igbo Community Manchester (ICM) members at the opening night of the African Hub exhibition at Manchester Museum January 2026
EVENT
African Hub Event Opening Night 29th January 2026
In 2025, ICM partnered with Manchester Museum on this research and collaborative project focused on collections of Igbo origin. ICM members were involved in identification, and selection of objects. Shared the traditional names of items, and explained their cultural significance.
The display of these Igbo artefacts in co-curation with Manchester Museum represents a new voice in the narrative of our rich cultural heritage and reconnects them with our community.
EVENT
African Hub Event Opening Night 29th January 2026
Chief Okey Ikeme displayed Igbo traditional performance during the event night.