Old Umuahia Autonomous Community Celebrates New Yam Festival Amid Fanfare
The popular Afo Ibeji Market Square was agog with great fanfare as the people of Old Umuahia Autonomous Community in Umuahia South local government area of Abia State celebrated their 2024 New Yam Festival.
The epoch-making occasion held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
As usual, the entire people of the seven villages of Old Umuahia Autonomous Community both at home and in the Diaspora, in-laws, friends and esteemed guests graced the occasion in their numbers.
In his address, the traditional ruler of Old Umuahia Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Rev. Victor Ufondu (Eze Oha 1) ably represented by the Traditional Prime Minister, Christian Okezie Meregini (Dike di Oha Nma 1) appreciated all those present for gracing the occasion. He described their 2024 New Yam Festival as very peaceful and unique.
According to him, it is the first New Yam Festival they are celebrating after the coronation of their traditional ruler December last year.
He expressed profound gratitude to God for keeping them alive as well as for granting them a bountiful harvest.
He said that the New Yam Festival is celebrated in different parts of Igbo land since time immemorial and affords them the opportunity to come together, to know one another, to foster unity, peace and progress in the community.
He lauded their illustrious sons and daughters for their immense financial contributions to the success of the New Yam Festival.
Highlights of the New Yam Festival were cultural displays by various groups including Okonko, Ekpe, masquerades, Ohafia War Dance among others.
There was also a joyous procession by the various villages and dancing to the admiration of all and sundry.
In his remarks, the chairman, Planning Committee, Nze Obinna Ezeigbo, the ‘Okwu 1’ of Umuokwu Umuezeala village in Old Umuahia Autonomous Community described the New Yam Festival as a moment of joy and gratitude to God for a bountiful harvest.
He said that the New Yam Festival has remained a bond of love, unity, peace and progress for them over the years and urged them to sustain it.
He thanked God for the miracle of planting little yam seedlings and harvesting very big yams after sometime.
He described yam as the king of crops in Igbo land adding that big time yam farmers in the past were highly respected in Igbo land and honoured with the prestigious ‘Ezeji’ title.
He harped on the need for Ndigbo to engage in the cultivation of yam and celebrate the New Yam Festival with the yams from their farm instead of the ones they bought from elsewhere so that when God is blessing their land and new yam, their blessing would not elude them and go to the place they bought the yam they used during the New Yam Festival.
He appealed to every Nigerian to go back to farming in order to abate the worsening food crisis across the nation.
Also speaking, the President General of Old Umuahia Federated and Overseas, Hon. Chibuzor Ejimagwa expressed profound gratitude to God for keeping them alive to celebrate their New Yam Festival this year with great happiness despite the increasing economic hardship across the nation.
He appreciated their prominent sons and daughters within and outside Nigeria for their huge financial support towards its success.
On his part, Hon. Prince Chigozie Ndubuisi Madumere, the Leader, Umuahia South Legislative Council/Coordinator, Abia State Legislative Council Leaders Forum expressed satisfaction with the New Yam Festival of Old Umuahia Autonomous Community.
The Leader who represented the Mayor of Umuahia South local government area, Attorney Ejikeme Nnochiri Obike (JD) described it as peaceful and well-organized.
He said that the New Yam Festival is an integral part of Igbo cultural heritage and urged them to sustain it.
Contributing, Chief Kenneth Chinonyerem Nwakpuda expressed satisfaction with the New Yam Festival saying that it is one of the things they do every year.
According to him, it brings them together to showcase their rich cultural heritage in the community and beyond.
He maintained that there is nothing fetish about it and urged the people to be proud of their culture.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman, Planning Committee, Nze Obinna Ezeigbo on behalf of their traditional ruler, HRH Eze Rev. Victor Ufondu, his cabinet and the Planning Committee thanked all and sundry for gracing the occasion as well as the sponsors for their huge financial commitment.
He described the New Yam Festival as a huge success and assured the people that next year’s celebration would be more elaborate.
He wished all safe journey back to their various destinations.
At the end, all roads led to Nze Obinna Ezeigbo’s house where he feted his numerous guests and the cultural groups that accompanied him and his beautiful wife, Lolo Peace Obinna Ezeigbo home to an unforgettable reception.
