ABOUT THE COUNCIL OF IGBO STATES IN AMERICAS (CISA)

The Council of Igbo States in Americas (CISA) is the top cultural organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of African Igbo arts, language and culture worldwide.

By promoting African Igbo cultural heritage at the international level, CISA helps foster cultural enlightenment, skills development and relationship building among culture lovers across nations.

CISA is a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization with a principal office in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

CISA partnered the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia to build and develop the Igbo village in Staunton, Virginia.

 Frontier Culture Museum tells the story of the thousands of people who came to America during the 1600s and 1700s from England, Germany, Ireland, and West Africa. The Museum is owned by the State of Virginia and located in the town of Staunton.

One of the stories told by the museum is that of Igbos captured from their farm villages in Nigeria and transported to colonial America, and how these slaves significantly contributed to the economic development of Virginia, Maryland and neighboring states in America.

To acknowledge the contribution of Igbos to America’s development, the museum commissioned the construction of a first-of-its-kind replica of an Igbo Farm Village, complete with mud walls (shipped from Nigeria), thatched roofs, clay pots and artifacts – shipped from Nigeria.

After the construction of Igbo Village, the museum and CISA developed and continues to maintain a great working relationship, partnership and collaboration on several fronts, including the hosting of the World Igbo Festival of Arts and Culture.