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By Njoku Macdonald Obinna
The Igbo new yam festival is an annual occasion of offering and celebrating immense thanks to the gods of the land (or God) for making the farm yields possible as well as offering for even a better harvest in the subsequent planting season.
On Sunday, August 25, 2024, the entire Orlu zone and Imo by extension were practically shutdown as an ancient kingdom, Umuna in Orlu local government area, led by a charismatice leader and first class traditional ruler, Igwe of Umuna , His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr. Douglas Okwara (Okwarachukwu IV, Obi of Ebeassa), celebrated yet another new yam festival on the traditional ancient stool of his forefathers for 22 uninterrupted years.
It was simply a display of glamour and celebration of Igbo rich cultural heritage. The peaceful ambience that surrounded his royal palace, the harmless presence of security personnel who mounted at the junction for survillance and the expressed joy on the faces of Umuna people served as a pointer that Igwe of Umuna – Dr. Douglas Okwara, is a natural ruler, loved and mostly revered not just by Orlu nation home and abroad, but also by ndi Imo.
Igwe of Umuna, HRM Eze Dr. Okwara Douglas (Okwarachukwu IV); is an epitome of an ordained King from the womb as he always radiates with an extraordinary brilliance, swag of royalty; embodying leadership virtues that inspire his subjects, Umuna ancient kingdom, and the entire generation. His traditional stool and reign, no doubt, is a huge tastament to the celebration of royalty, ancient wisdom, knowledge, entreprenurship, community development, leadership of inclusiveness, and that of humanity.
The colorful ceremony which held at the Ishiobi, palace of Igwe of Umuna, His Royal Majesty Dr. Douglas Okwara, was accompanied with pomp and pageantry as it showed off a wide range of social activities: cultural dance, royal parade, acrobatic and masquerade displays while Bongo Live Band was on ground to entertain the guests.
Having returned back home safely from his world tour in the United Kingdom (UK), Parish in France, Munich in Germany, Belgium, Austria, etc, where he had town hall meetings with sons and daughters of Umuna and Orlu zone preparatory to the now celebrated Iriji Ohuru Umuna; with a show of gratitude to the gods of the land and his ancestors for another fruitful harvest; an obviously elated Igwe of Umuna, Eze Douglas Okwara, while addressing members of his ancient kingdom and numerous guests present before performing the new yam cutting rites with traditional libation, thanked members of his ancient kingdom, families and farmers who tiled the soil to have a bountiful harvest and rich yam barn that villages and communities in Orlu are celebrating with. He commended members of his royal cabinet, village heads, titled chiefs, ndi Nze -na Ozo, president- generals of the various villages in Umuna, farmers, the artisans, traders, including market men and women for turning out in their numerous to attend the remarkable 2024 Iriji Ohuru Umuna.
During his remarks, Eze Okwara said, the Igbo new yam festival is a cherished culture of ndi Igbo , stating that our relationship with the spirits which are our foretfathers should not be discarded because of modernism.
He however, urged the youths to desist from social vices such as drugs which he noted are harmful to them. Eze Okwara Douglas further stated that the youths should at all times protect, project, and promote the origin of the Igbo man.
Performing the usual ritual of cutting the new yam, he expressed gratitude to God for making a bountiful harvest after the planting season. He also prayed God to aid Igbos to sustain their rich cultural heritage and values.
The special guest of honor and Imo State Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, ably represented by Imo Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Barr. Jerry Egemba, brought a heartwarming goodwill message of encouragement, of solidarity and support to His Royal Majesty Eze Dr. Okwara Douglas (Okwarachukwu IV), the citizens of Umuna and all foreigners who are residing or gainfully employed in the area, admonishing them to live in peace and harmony in the day flowing with milk and honey.
His Excellency, Distinquished Sen. Hope Uzodimma thanked Igwe Douglas Okwara for according him and the good people of Imo State warm reception at his royal palace during the new yam festival. Affirming his long lasting relationship with the traditional ruler which has run over two decades even before his emergence as Imo State governor.
The governor also ceased the opportunity the medium provided to admonish Orlu and Imo youths to be law abiding; maintaining that peace is priceless and the only way to bring about accelerated socio-economic development while engendering prosperity and political stability in the state.
From one speaker to another; community leaders as well as invited guests took turns to eulogize the paramount ruler of Umuna Ancient Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr. Douglas Okwara, for showing exemplary leadership, charming and endearing personality, and also elevating the traditional stool of his forefathers to an enviable level.
The highpoint of the event was the conferment of chieftaincy titles on well deserving illustrious sons of Umuna that have contributed immensely towards community development. They included; Chief Okechukwu Agunenye ( Ikeoha 1 of Umuna ), Chief Mrs Azuka Okafor ( Obata Ihe Adi 1 of Umuna),
and Chief Joachim Olumba ( Ezi Enyi nonamba 1 of Umuna ).
The epochmaking event attracted diginatries from and across Imo State; tourists, visitors, including Orlu billionaire businessmen from abroad. Among the traditional rulers and other diginatries in attendance included but not limited to;
His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma CON, ably represented by Hon. Barr. Jerry Egemba.
His Royal Majesty, King Amb. Dr. Leslie Eke , Eze Gbakagbaka)
Traditional Ruler of Woji – Evo Kingdom, PortHarcourt, Rivers state.
His Royal Highness Eze MC Nwokoma (Ksc, Jp, Mpa)
Okaa-Omee 4th of Umuokanne Ancient Kingdom, Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Imo State.
His Royal Majesty Eze Edy Akano, OFR
(Ezerioha iv of Isu Ancient Kingdom)
His Royal Highness Eze Godwin Ejiogu
(Kara of Umunakara, Nwangele LGA, Imo State)
HRM Eze G.A.E.O Agbajim
(Ezeahurukwe of Amike)
HRM Eze Prof. Dele Odigbo
(EzeIgwe of Nkwesi Ancient Kingdom Oguta)
HRH Eze Oliver Njoku
(Abazuma II of Abazu Ikeduru LGA)
Others are; Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum (Ekwueme of Dim-na-Nume Isu-Nwangele,
Governor United Isu Progressive), Hon. Chief Cosmos Maduba (Odoebube Isu), Imo Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Chief Marcel Odunze , Chairman of Max Aluminum Ltd, Prince Chris Akano of Isu, Hon. Nze Tex Ukonu , Hon. Barr. IK Ihezuo (Ikemba Umuna), House of Assembly member representing Orlu State Constituency, Hon. Chief Anthony Ahaneku, Hon. Amb. Charles Mbachu, among others.
