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From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka
New Yam festival signals the end of planting season and ushers in harvest of yam, a major agricultural produce of the Igbo.
Each year, every community takes time to mark this special day, using the opportunity to celebrate the agricultural strides of the progenitor of the Igbo. Fathers and heads of families take time to offer special prayers of thanksgiving to God for the previous planting season and for robust harvest.
Traditional rulers who kick off the celebration during the Iwa Ji or Iri Ji celebration in various communities offer special prayers of thanksgiving for their entire communities and pray for more yields in the next planting season.
This year’s National New Yam Festival of Igbo-Ukwu community, in Aguata council area of Anambra State, was historical as it presented many sides to the annual celebration.
The Igbo-Ukwu community came alive as the National New Yam Festival (Iri Ji Ndigbo), with the theme “Showcasing the best of Igbo culture and hospitality,” unfolded at the National Yam House, Etiti village.
One of the highlights of this year’s event was the unveiling of a statue of the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Anambra State elections, Sen. Uche Ekwunife. The traditional ruler of Igbo-Ukwu kingdom, Igwe Alex Azike, unveiled the statue.
Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Dr. Hanatu Musawa, who was the special guest of honour, was full of praise for the celebration, which afforded the people an opportunity to deliberate on the progress of their community.
Ekwunife, was surprised to behold a great statue erected in her honour and unveiled by the community.
National coordinator of Mbido Igbo Association, Chief Okoaforuzu Ugochukwu, said this year’s festival was symbolic as Ndigbo chart a new course in agriculture.
He said the amazon was honoured because of her numerous contributions to the advancement of Igbo culture and heritage.
Chairman on the occasion, Chief Nzubechukwu Ikeji, said the time for Igbo rediscovery and renaissance had come, while urging Igbo leaders to contribute towards the preservation of Igbo culture, especially the language.
Igwe Azike explained that the idea of honouring Ekwunife with a statue was to show her the way her contributions and dedication had affected the lives of the people positively.
Director-general of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Dr. Obi Asika, who was represented by the council’s South-East liaison officer, Chief Edozie Obiajulu, also commended Ekwunife for her numerous contributions to the community.
In his goodwill message, the director-general, Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, Richard Ovie Esewhaye, said that his office was open to collaborating with any group towards developing tourism through culture and tradition.
His National Gallery of Arts counterpart, Ahmed Bashir Sodangi, expressed optimism that, through robust synergy between federal government and local communities, the country will revamp its rich cultural heritage through arts.
Also, both the Director-General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), Aisha Adamu Augie and Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, DG of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Nigerian communities must sustain their culture as their identity.
In her remarks, Ekwunife who is the DG, South East Governors’ Forum, disclosed that the governors of the region were working on a common front to save the dying Igbo language. She was upbeat that the governors will also adopt a common position in addressing other challenges.
She further said that the region was poised to adopting a unified position on the ‘Igba Boi,’ the Igbo special apprenticeship programme, as a way of encouraging young entrepreneurs and taking the youth out of the streets.
Ekwunife reaffirmed her dedication to preserving and promoting Igbo culture, urging Ndi-Igbo not to lose touch with their rich heritage in the face of modernisation: “As the first titled woman in this town, I am pleased that the respect accorded to me continues today. I will work closely with our royal father, Igwe Alexander Ejikemeuwa Azike, to elevate this festival, making it even more befitting, glamorous, and remarkable.”
