President Message
On behalf of Anioma Association, Inc. Belgium Chapter, I welcome you to our website. We are non profit, non-political and socio-cultural group. Our primary focus is to enhance community development through education, one community at a time. As diverse as we are, we have cohesively sought ways to help us achieve our goals through fundraising events and donations from the general public. We have accomplished a lot, but there is still more to be done. We humbly ask for your donations to help us realize our noble goals. I hope your visit to our website is informative and fulfilling to you as it is to our members.
Who we are
Anioma Welfare Association Belgium VZW is a registered non-profit organization that serves as a cultural home, support network, and community anchor for Anioma people and friends of Anioma living across Belgium.
The Anioma people are an Igbo-speaking subgroup indigenous to the Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State, Nigeria, spanning nine Local Government Areas: Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North-East, Ika South, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, and Ukwuani. Formed from the major sub-regions of Aniocha, Ndokwa, Ika, and Oshimili with MA added, Anioma means “Good Land” in the Igbo language. While unified under an Igboid identity with deep ties to South-Eastern Nigeria, our linguistic dialects authentically reflect our distinct sub-regions, including Enuani (Aniocha/Oshimili), Ika (Agbor and surrounding areas), and Ukwuani-Aboh (Ndokwa).
In the diaspora, our association brings this rich heritage to Belgium. Guided by our motto Jide-Ofu-Obi (One Mind, One Heart) and our traditional greeting Anioma nu! — Ka-Anyi-Cho!, we foster a welcoming space where all generations stay connected to their roots while thriving in Belgian society.
What We Do
Promote Anioma Culture: We host traditional events, celebrate language diversity, and manage the Ofu Obi Anioma Dance Group to showcase our traditional music and dance at public and private gatherings.
Provide Family & Social Support: We stand by our members through life’s key moments, offering support and visits for birth celebrations, weddings, child dedications, and times of bereavement or illness.
Facilitate Integration in Belgium: We assist members and families with settling into Belgian life, encouraging host-language learning, civic participation, and strict compliance with local laws.
Foster Youth & Community Development: We organize gatherings and programs that help young people and children of Anioma descent build self-esteem, connect with their heritage, and forge strong social networks.
What We Do
Promote Anioma Culture: We host traditional events, celebrate language diversity, and manage the Ofu Obi Anioma Dance Group to showcase our traditional music and dance at public and private gatherings.
Provide Family & Social Support: We stand by our members through life’s key moments, offering support and visits for birth celebrations, weddings, child dedications, and times of bereavement or illness.
Facilitate Integration in Belgium: We assist members and families with settling into Belgian life, encouraging host-language learning, civic participation, and strict compliance with local laws.
Foster Youth & Community Development: We organize gatherings and programs that help young people and children of Anioma descent build self-esteem, connect with their heritage, and forge strong social networks.
Our Objectives
Personal Well-Being: Build self-esteem, personal worth, and self-acceptance by connecting members to their heritage; offer a grounded cultural framework for understanding the world; and provide emotional support through shared experiences.
Social & Community Cohesion: Promote unity (Jide-Ofu-Obi), reduce prejudice, preserve our history and dialects for future generations, and foster an inclusive environment built on mutual respect.
Our Goals
1. Unify the Community: Gather all Anioma descendants and families in Belgium under one supportive cultural umbrella.
2. Preserve Heritage: Safeguard and pass down Anioma traditions, language dialects, and values to younger generations.
3. Enhance Civic Integration: Help members excel in Belgian society while maintaining full respect for host-country laws.
4. Provide Mutual Welfare: Maintain a robust system of financial, social, and emotional care for members during both celebrations and hardships.
5. Support Homeland Progress: Stay engaged with socio-cultural developments in Delta State and support initiatives that benefit the Anioma homeland.