New yam festival has been one of the traditional and cultural festivals Igbo people do not play with and without performing this festival as group or individual, no full-fledged or mature man eats new yam in Igbo land.
The festival is done at community level first and then well placed individuals now take queue to celebrate their own with members of their families and friends, thereby kicking off the eating of new yam whether you are rich or not.
Umuoji community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, last Saturday led by the Regent of Umuoji, His Majesty, Dr. Chris Nnedu, Prince, celebrated the community’s New Yam festival with members of Igwe-in-Council and community groups and indigenes as custom demands.
The ceremony witnessed the presentation of gifts of cows, cattle and goats including assorted types of drinks by groups, age grades and well meaning sons and daughters of Umuoji to the Regent and members of the Igwe-in-Council, for yet another successful year of New Yam festival and in appreciation of the peace they have maintained and development they have brought to the community till date.
The regent, Dr. Chris Nnedu in the company of members of the Igwe’s cabinet as well as other members of the community marked the celebration in a colourful manner.
The regent’s castle where the ceremony was held had the scene beaming with life with the unique sound of Ufie music emanating from large wooden gongs, which gave the occasion a dignified setting of a traditional propriety.
However, cultural dancers adorned in rich cultural costumes danced to the admiration of the spectators. The array of masquerade performances, created a strong feeling of awe among visitors, especially as Umuiv masquerades Umuoji added glamour with their dancing steps.
The traditional regent of Umuoji community, Dr. Chris Nnedu, “Odenigbo Umuoji” expressing gratitude to God Almighty for another harvest year noted that the traditional celebration of new yam festival is embedded in the people’s culture and tradition. “It is a ceremony to appreciate the wonderful gifts and blessings of the Creator”. “I fell very happy looking at my elders in council of Umuoji community celebrating new yam festival. So once any indigene gets home, he is now free to eat the new yam. I am also grateful to God for this day because we did not experience any form of rainfall”.
“This is our culture; it is an old aged tradition. It is not easy to plant a very small seed of yam and in some months, it comes out to be a big tuber of yam”.
The regent said the act of new yam festival is not a ritual ceremony but an event to give Almighty God thanks for giving the people a prosperous harvest season. He observed that the indigenes of Umuoji are predominately Christians.
The regent in his speech described Iri Ji as an ancient Igbo culture and traditional statutory in Igbo land, adding that the traditional ruler heralds the feast, after which his cabinet members and subjects can eat the new yam.
Nnedu however expressed sadness over the concerns about certain cultural misconceptions regarding the festival and other rites, arguing that there is a huge difference between the unique Igbo cultural norms and what is perceived as fetish.
Also speaking, High Chief Barr. Okechukwu Udah, Ichie Abosiugo Umuoji noted that “the regent council is patterned in such a way that every village in Umuoji has an Ichie selected to form the cabinet of Igwe. Now if the Igwe is not around, the vice chairman of the council turns to be the regent.
Udah who doubles as the chief legal adviser to the council stressed that the community is still on the selection stage of the kingship and resolving the processes to obtain a substantial Igwe that will rule the Umuoji community.
Corroborating, traditional ruler of Ideani community, Idemili North Local Government, His HRH Igwe Steven Onyekwelu Ezeji, advised Ndigbo to always endeavor to practice yam farming so that they can always use their own yam produce for the festivals instead of buying from the market. Igwe Ezeji equally called on the government to ensure that rural farmers are empowered with yam seedlings and fertilizers as they stand to be producers of food in the state.
Also speaking, a Medical Radiographer and also the Director of Chriscord Industries, Ubaka Christopher Nnedu said it’s a great honour to experience this year’s successful iwa ji festival owing to the fact that the regent represents the mouth piece of the community and also the chief celebrant.
He noted that the practice has been kept safe from the forefathers and today it is been recognized in almost all the Igbo communities. Chief Ubaka attributed the benefits of Uwa ji as one that breeds success, prosperity in the land and open doors in the community.
Former House of Assembly member, Hon. Chukwuka, Mmili Umuoji while speaking to News Echo lamented over some cultural decadence, stressing that the low level of performance was as a result of church dominance in the Igbo culture. “The church which is now rooted deep into our society has affected the customs and practices, although the truth now is that the church has come to understand its significance and that is why some churches like the Roman Catholic practice the new yam festival as well”.
Chukwuka called on Igbo sons and daughters to have a think home philosophy. “They should know it is very important for them to showcase Igbo cultural heritage even at the diasporan level so as to keep that which the fore fathers have left for the generation. “Our people need to imbibe and always practice that which our ancestors have left in our hands”.
The new yam festival in Umuoji community, according to the community members, is an important way of marking the beginning and end of the farming season. They tagged it a celebration of life, accomplishments in the community, culture and well-being.
Retired civil servant, Mazi Ikenna Okoye Okoye, in his own view said occasions like the New Yam also provide a platform for communal unification, adding that the present administration is poised to backing policies that strengthen cultural growth and development.
Leader, Uruegbe Youth Development Association (UYDA), Umuoji, Hon. (Ambassador) Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu (KSJI) who spoke to News Echo said the occasion, apart from its traditional imperativeness, enhances cultural reorientation and sets a course of interaction among the members of the community.
He further asserted that “It was a nice outing. Our culture is our identity. We should promote, cherish and celebrate it. Any race without a culture will never make any meaning progress. Umuojians are culturally driven. We guard our culture judiciously and jealously. New yam festival is an annual event. Hon. Abuchi however expressed his loyalty on behalf of Uruegbe Umuoji Youth Development Association (UYDA), in congratulating the Regent and his council members while praying for bountiful harvest and better outing next year”.
News Echo reports that Iwa ji ceremony can rightly be said to be the most prominent traditional festival of the royal kingdom. People hold this ceremony so close to their hearts, especially as it signals the beginning of harvest and consumption of “the chief crops called Yam.
Highlight of the event was the official cutting of the new yam by the traditional ruler as well as other cultural performances.
