Funeral Mass Held in Honour of Eze Samuel Anyanwoke.
2 min readFriday 19 April 2023 was yet another great day in Nsukwe Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State. Some may possibly say that the day which was the third day of several events and activities mapped out for the marathon burial ceremonies of the king of the land of Nsukwe, HRH Eze Samuel Iheukwumere Anyanwoke, the Isiala 1 of Nsukwe Ubakala was the greatest day in his burial activities. On this particular day, three prominent events took place: first was the funeral Mass which was held for the repose of the royal father’s soul at St Andrew’s Church under the Anglican Communion Umuahia Diocese Abia State.
Over 30 priests and high profile members of the society were in attendance during the funeral Mass service. By the time the Mass came to an end, the priests, reverend sisters, family members, Nsukwe elders and many more people who were in the Mass service trekked to the palace of the monarch for his royal internment. Because the compound was not enough to contain the uncountable number of people who came from several areas of the country and beyond, people were directed to move straight to the fiend where the reception would hold. The moment this was done, the internment began. The officiating priests began graveside prayers and hymns. Few minutes later, the casket was lowered into the grave and more hymns rented the air.
More prayers were conducted which indeed signaled the end of an eventful era of a man of peace and justice who was born in 1922 and he died in 2023. The life and times of the late HRH Eze Samuel Iheukwumere Anyanwoke, the Isiala 1 of Nsukwe Ubakala meant a lot to those who knew him personally. He influenced many in diverse ways and he was an epitome of greatness and social uprightness in his 101 years sojourn in the world. The king of Nsukwe was hailed to his grave by his people. End of an era.