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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
All over Igboland, feasts of new yam are celebrated between July and September every year. Dates for the celebrations are always indicated in the lunar calendar charts, specially adopted by every clan and determined by nature of soil, fertility, weather facilitating early yam plantation and duration ripe for harvest.
It is observed as a public function on certain appointed days of the year. It is the feast of new yam; the breaking of the yam; and harvest is followed by thanksgiving. An offering is put forward and the people pray for renewed life as they eat the new yam.
An offering is usually made to the spirits of the field with special reference to the presiding deity of the yam crop.
In the olden days, fowls offered as sacrifice must be carried to the farm and slain there, with the blood being sprinkled on the farm.
In Ebonyi, this year’s new yam celebration has begun with one of the most populous clans in the state-Ezza which celebrated the new yam festival known as Oke-aku in grand style. The Ezzas usually celebrate the festival before every other clan in the state.
Their ancestral home, Nchionu, Okpoku Ezekuna reverberated with joy and tradition on Sunday, 13th July, 2025 during the traditional celebration of the festival which showcased their rich cultural heritage.
Oke-aku in Ezza land, signifies the end of old yam harvest period and the beginning of the new yam harvest and new year.
The festival is full of tradition, visitation and heartfelt act of charity which shows how Ezza people hold themselves as one indivisible family and how they respect God who provides for them.
This year’s festival drew thousands of Ezza Ezekuna sons and daughters as well as groups from all over the federation and overseas and grand children of Ezekuna from different parts of the state especially Ugwulangwu, Onicha, and Ohaozara Local Government Areas of the state when the people marked not just the end of the symbolic cultural calendar of Ezza Ezekuna and also renewal of bond, stronger unity, hope, brotherly love and reconciliation.
The festival featured a range of cultural displays and performances, including traditional dances, music, and art. The event was marked by a sense of community and togetherness, with the people coming together to celebrate their shared heritage and traditions.
The New Yam Festival also highlighted the economic and social benefits of the event. It promoted social cohesion and community bonding among the people of the clan.
During the festival, community leaders and stakeholders emphasized the importance of preserving the cultural heritage.
They called for efforts to document and promote the festival, as well as to pass down the cultural knowledge and traditions associated with it to younger generations.
The people thanked God for abundance, blessings, prosperity and peace upon them.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, the National President of Ezza Union, Rev. Fr. Gabriel Enogu, described Oke-Aku cultural festival as not just a celebration of new yam festival, but a celebration of stronger unity of brotherlines, love and truthfulness which Ezza people are known for as bequetted to them by their progenitor, Ezekuna.
He enjoined them to maintain the tempo and remain united in peace and love for prosperity and peace of Ezza land.
He commended the efforts of Ezza union, the elders and other custodian of Ezza culture for their continued remarkable roles in creating awareness and upholding the rich cultural heritage of the Ezza nation and enjoined the youths to imbibe the core values of Ezza culture of what he called authenticity and never allowed themselves to be used against the interest of Ezza nation or cause violence in Ezza land.
On Thursday July 17, 2025, the Ezekuna cultural civic center in Onueke was abuzz with excitement when the people marked the Oke-aku grand finale festival with pomp and pageantry.
The cultural centre was agog with excitement and cultural display during the grand finale which marked the completion of the festive period, which spans across the four traditional market days; Orie, Afor, Eke and Nkwor according to the Ezza Ezekuna cultural calendar
It witnessed unprecedented turnout of illustrious sons and daughters of Ezza, both at home and in the diaspora, alongside guests and culture enthusiasts from other clans across Ebonyi State, including Izzi Nnodo, Ikwo Nnoyo, Ngbo Ejogu, Afikpo, Ohaozara, Amasiri, Igbo Asaa, among others, who came to identify with the people of Ezza in the colourful celebration.
This year’s grand finale was particularly symbolic and unique as the large cultural centre couldn’t contain the mammoth crowd that stormed the centre to witness the historic celebration.
The atmosphere was electrified with cultural dances, traditional displays, and communal feasting that showcased the rich heritage and unity of the Ezza people.
Governor Francis Nwifuru who graced the occasion as the special guest of honour, was received with warmth and admiration by the people. Traditional gunshots rented the air during the event to mark as honour and respect for the state chief executive.
Nwifuru, while addressing the mammoth crowd, extolled the people of Ezza Ezekuna for their overwhelming turnout and the continued show of love and solidarity towards his administration.
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The governor, who was deeply touched by the unity and massive support of the Ezza , urged the people to remain steadfast in their support for the present government, as their loyalty and unity are sure pathways to attracting more government attention in the pursuit of their collective aspirations.
He expressed gratitude to the elders, cultural custodians, stakeholders, youth groups, and particularly the Ezza Elites Club led by renowned businessman Mr. Chibuike Orogwu (popularly known as Baby Oku) for the honour, gifts, and solidarity shown to him during the celebration.
Nwifuru reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring peace and development across Ezza land and the entire Ebonyi State, emphasizing unity, oneness, and peaceful coexistence as essential for progress and sustainable development.
He urged the people to uphold the Oke-aku new yam festival that has remained their binding force.
Chairman of the occasion and former chief judge of the state, Justice Alloy Nwankwo, lauded Nwifuru for his love for the Ezza clan. He described the event as very colorful and the best so far since the celebration started in the clan.
Nwankwo called for peace and unity in Ezza clan, saying that without unity, the people cannot achieve anything.
“We should love ourselves. This type of occasion calls for sober reflection where people should think and know that there is need for unity, there is need for peace, everybody need that peace,” he stated.
Senator Ken Ezze, representing Ebonyi central zone, described the event as important occasion in Ezza land.
“This is the culture that unites the true sons of Ezekuna. It is a practice that started from our ancestors and they transferred this culture and tradition to his descendants starting from Ezekuna who is our famous ancestor that gave birth to us. Once we do our celebration as we are doing now, others will follow up in order of seniority.
‘This is our traditional way of counting our own calendar. So, we started the new year now by the celebration that marked the end of last year which is Oke-aku festival.
“This Oke-aku festival is very significant because we believe that it is the time that our elders releases blessings to his children. Its all about blessings, we are praying for what we are to see in the year we have entered and we believe that once we celebrate this occasion and we receive the prayers and blessings from our elders, that sons will be blessed in their businesses, in their work places, in any kind of trade they found themselves doing”, he said.
Eze also said that the festival shows that Ezza people have embrace peace, love and unity.
The state Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Business Development, Oguzor Offia-Nwali, said Oke-Aku fosters more peace, unity and brotherlines among Ezza people living in different parts of the world. He noted that the festival marks the beginning of the new year according to the Ezza calendar.
“This significant event signifies the start of a new cycle, allowing Ezza indigenes to embark on new endeavors, including harvesting yams. The festival is a cherished tradition that brings together sons and daughters of Ezza Ezekunna.
“This celebration is a testament to the strong bonds within the Ezza community. Ezzas from various local government areas, including Onicha, Ishielu, Ohaukwu, Ebonyi, Ezza North, and Ezza South.
“We expressed our heartfelt gratitude to all attendees, including His Excellency, Governor Francis Nwifuru, for making time to participate in the celebration. We pray for a prosperous new year, hoping that it would surpass previous years in blessings and success”, he said.
One of the stakeholders of Ezza clan, Senator Julius Ucha, said the grand finale was the summary of the celebration of Oke-Aku festival.
“Oke-Aku festival is the new year of Ezza Ezekuna. It is announced by the elders of the clan. This elders known as Ozos are made up of ten people selected from different homes and communities by Ezekuna himself.
“Those Ozos are the only authority that announce the ceremony. After having identified the moon, they will announce it and once they announce it, nobody can controvert it because it’s only the Ozos that has this right as decreed by Ezekuna himself.
“So, Oke-Aku is our new yam festival, it is also our new year and we celebrate it with one word-Anyi aboo! Which means God has given us opportunity to live for one whole year and the dawn of that new year has now been ushered in”, he said.
The commissioner said the celebration remains a call to the younger generation to uphold and propagate their cultural values, as culture, according to the elders, is the true identity of a people.
The event also featured special prayers for a bountiful harvest, good health, peace, and prosperity for the Ezza people and their well-wishers all over the world.
Various gift items such as cows, tubers of yam, coconuts, bunches of snuff, and other symbolic items were distributed to the attendees, further deepening the communal spirit and celebratory mood.
Visitors from other clans were warmly received, reinforcing the festival’s significance as not only a cultural celebration but also a unifying platform for fostering inter-communal relationships.
