Mkpọkiti Cultural Dance Group was formed in Umunze, Anambra State, by Chief Festus Nwankwo on July 31, 1959. Since its inception, the Mkpokiti dance group has never obtained a second position in any competition.
Formerly, the Anambra state government chose Mkpokiti as its state dance but after the continuous clinching of first position in national competitions, the federal government adopted Mkpokiti as a national dance.
Mkpokiti represented Nigeria in FESTAC’77 in Lagos. Other places where Mkpokiti dance group representated Nigeria include, New York, Washington, Jamaica, Barbados, Brazil, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Port of Spain, and in the UK.
The federal government has taken the Mkpokiti dance group to all parts of the world except Australia. The achievements made in these travels include winning international events also in New York, Algeria and North Korea as well
With their exemplary global performances the Nigerian government, as a mark of honour, decided to have the image of Mkpokiti featured at the back of the Nigerian currency, the 5 naira note denomination
SOURCE: Twitter
IMAGE: Anaedo online
