SACRED "IRI - JI " : Eze Okpoko Epitomizes New Yam Festival's Hidden Spiritual Dimension,Raises Over N400,000 For Needy 72 Year-Old Woman Minstrel

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In what many of his guests aptly described as “a novel “Iri – Ji Festival ” laced with prophetic and spiritual exposition” , the Eze Ndigbo of Ijegun-Ijedodo and Eze Okpoko I of Obodoukwu, Eze Dr.(Amb.) Chika Nwokedi, last Sunday ,September 20,2026, brought to the fore , the hidden spiritual dimension of the Igbo New Yam Festival ( Iri- Ji ) cultural and traditional festival .

Being led in a high prophetic unction throughout his “Iri-ji Celebration, Eze Okpoko, who has been a respected exponent of classical Igbo cultural and traditional heritage , was said to have commenced the ” Iri-ji ” process with a spiritual cleansing of the land , which he did by killing a male goat earlier in the day , as a symbol of thanks giving to God, before the commencement of the celebration proper.

When the festival started in earnest , it was a deep and colourful display of Igbo Traditional dressing paraphernalia ,as Igbo traditional leaders , Diaspora community leaders, titled men and women, cultural groups and other dignitaries , converged at Ndigbo Buru Otu Association Office Complex, located at 56, Kudeyibu street, Ijegun, Lagos, to witness and partake in the annual ritual.

Indeed , it was an annual exposition of traditional rites of thanksgiving for a bountiful new Yam harvest, accentuated with prayers, cultural displays, entertainment and a show of empathy for the less privileged members of the society .

Shortly after the traditional presentation of kolanut by different women groups , one of them was led by Ugoeze Pastor Tessy Nwokedi , there was prayers , libation and breaking of kokanuts.

In a surprise exhibition of raw prophetic spiritual gift , Eze Nwokedi was moved in the realm of the spirit to connect and reveal the financial and spiritual estate of some of his guests , especially the needy and down trodden ones, who he eventually sowed financial love seeds to their lives.

One of the stunning examples , was the prophetically revealed case of a 72 years old elderly woman drummer and minstrel , Mrs. Beatrice Ngozi Iwundu, who he gave a golden wrist watch and cash gifts totalling more than N200,000.

Eze Nwokedi , who revealed how the elderly woman offered N1,000 during the breaking of the kola nut traditional support , said he was moved to pick her out to support her ,after he saw through his prophetic vision that the money the elderly woman offered for kola nut, was all she had with her and was borrowed to enable her attend the festival .

Based on the vision , Eze Nwokedi subsequently gave her N100,000 and other gifts.

He encouraged all his guests to bless the elderly woman ,so as to tap from the blessing of her longevity and physical gift.

As guests dashed out of their seats to bless the woman with money, as well as to tap from her long healthy life, the woman who was now unable to hold with her two hand ,the streams of money been given to her, now flowing like torrents, amount said to have exceeded N400,000 ,bursted into tears as she was being led to her seat by other women.

True to Eze Nwokedi’s prophecy , the woman was said to have later confirmed that she had borrowed money to attend the event because she was determined to see Nwokedi, having benefited from his generosity on previous occasions.

According to Nwokedi ,the case of the elderly woman, reinforced his belief that acts of kindness can create opportunities for people in unexpected ways.

“I don’t have massive wealth, but I have the heart of giving,” Nwokedi said, adding that he believes every person would eventually be accountable for the lives they touched during their lifetime”,he said.

Nwokedi said his philanthropy was not dependent on having enormous wealth, stressing that his philosophy of giving was rooted in his desire to touch lives and serve humanity.

According to him, his giving is also connected to his spiritual calling and a tradition handed down to him by his father and forefathers.

Another Philanthropic highlights of the celebration was Nwokedi’s distribution of bags of rice, semovita and other food items, Ankara materials, wristwatches and other gifts to guests and members.

Speaking on the shrouded spiritual dimension of the new Yam festival, Nwokedi explained that “Iri-Ji” represents thanksgiving for life, harvest and divine protection, noting that traditional rites preceding the feast, including the sacrifice of animals, symbolise thanksgiving and prayers for protection.

While making reference to the biblical account in Exodus 12:13, where God told the Israelites: “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you”, Nwokedi said the passage informs his understanding of the symbolism of blood in the traditional prayers associated with the festival.

Speaking on the importance of preserving “Iri-ji ” among Igbos in the diaspora, he urged people to sustain their culture according to their circumstances and convictions.

He cautioned that people should not engage in activities beyond their means simply because others were doing so, stressing that philanthropy should be guided by one’s capacity and calling.

Prominent Industrialist , Igbo leader per Excellence and Eze Ndigbo in Abaranje and Okerube , Eze Boniface Chukwudi Okparaku, the Bobaselu of Ikotun Land, in an interview with Journalists , emphasized that the New Yam Festival remained an important part of Igbo culture, traditional heritage and should be preserved without infringing on the culture and laws of host communities.

Eze Okparaku, who is the Chairman of Bonchudi Group of Companies and “Amuruonyenaego “of Ihitenansa , ORSU LGA , Imo State , sensitized Igbo parents in the diaspora, to encourage and teach their children the Igbo language and culture , noting that language remains an important part of cultural identity.

Amuruonyenaego, fondly known as “Eze Chukwu kwadoro Ndigbo Na Lagos State” ,who is a notable Custodian of Igbo Cultural heritages , insisted that Ndigbo must unite ,speak with one voice and think home always.

As a classical custodian of Igbo culture , Amuruonyenaego commended Eze Nwokedi , describing him as a mover of men , this is even as he symbolically broke the traditional kolanut with the sum of N300,000 .He also appreciated Nwokedi’s dancing steps with some bundles of Naira notes .

The festival also featured the breaking of kola nuts, traditional music and dances by members of the Igbo Speaking Community, Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Eze Okpoko dance group, as well as the ceremonial eating of the new yam.

The cultural significance of the festival was also highlighted by Mr. Charles Kelechi Nelson Ngbe, Chairman of Ndi-Igbo in Ijegun-Ijedodo.

Ngbe described the New Yam Festival as a period of thanksgiving to God for life and the opportunity to witness another harvest.

He urged Igbo youths to learn their language, customs and traditions and pass them on to their children, warning that people who lose touch with their roots could eventually become strangers to their own heritage.

Other speakers similarly described yam as a central crop in traditional Igbo society and explained that the festival marks the commencement of eating the year’s new harvest.

Speaking , the Chairman of the Occasion , Barrister Ene Vincent Ifeanyichukwu, described Nwokedi as a philanthropist whose activities provide an example for other Igbo leaders to emulate.

For Chief Arinze Okpara, CEO of RH Mega Resources Limited, Ghana and Nigeria, who travelled from Ghana for the celebration, he commended Nwokedi for promoting Igbo culture and bringing people together.

Okpara, who stressed the importance of preserving Igbo heritage among people living outside Nigeria, called particularly for the teaching of children ,the Igbo language and traditions ,so that they would remain connected to their ancestral roots.

Newly coronated Super High Chief Miracle Urukanachukwu ,said his new title comes with a responsibility to promote unity, compassion and support for the less privileged.

He said he was inspired by the leadership and humanitarian example of Eze Okpoko 1, whom he described as a mentor.

He vowed to emulate Eze Nwokedi ,through reaching out to people in need, supporting those unable to meet their obligations and fostering unity among the Igbo.

Urukanachukwu also said the New Yam Festival provides an opportunity for Igbo people to reconnect, build relationships and strengthen their sense of community.

He expressed appreciation for the honour, saying he would continue to learn from Eze Okpoko 1 and use his new position to make a positive impact.

Similarly, Eze Chukwuemeka Sylvanus Onuoha, Ezendigbo of Iyana-Iba, described the festival as an avenue for Igbo children to learn their customs and traditions.

He appealed to Igbo leaders and cultural organisations to prioritise unity, saying disputes and supremacy struggles should not overshadow the original purpose of organisations established to promote peace, cultural preservation and mutual assistance.

Among those who attended were Eze Monday Lawrence Obijogu, popularly known as Eze Monday Lawrence Obi JP or Ezedioranma 1; Eze Okparaku Boniface; Eze Chukwuemeka Sylvanus Onuoha; Barr. Ene Vincent Ifeanyichukwu; palace chiefs; members and executives of the Igbo Speaking Community and Ohanaeze Ndigbo; representatives of various associations; and security personnel from the Nigerian Army, Police and NSCDC.

Other participants , who further explained the significance of the goat sacrifice conducted before the festival, included Chief Chika Victor Okeoma , who said the ritual was performed as a covenant and prayer for the protection of members of the traditional cabinet, their wives, children and the larger community.

He said the shedding of the animal’s blood symbolised a prayer that members of the community would be protected from death and other misfortunes throughout 2026.

According to Okeoma, the sacrifice is part of the traditional observance accompanying the New Yam Festival in his community.

For Chief Chukwuemeka Ezurike, founder and leader of Obi Udo Traditional Association, similarly explained that, in some traditional settings, an animal such as a cow, goat or fowl is sacrificed before the new yam is eaten.

He said the practice represents thanksgiving for being alive to witness another harvest and a prayer for continued protection and guidance into another year.

Ezurike explained that the New Yam Festival is primarily a celebration of harvest and an important aspect of Igbo cultural heritage. He said yam is traditionally regarded as the “king of crops” because of its historical importance in Igbo society.

In his own opinion ,Chief Emeka Onwukaobi, the Onowu of Ijegun-Ijedodo, also described the festival as a cultural tradition handed down from generations, noting that yam occupies a special position in Igbo society.

He explained that the festival traditionally marks the period when people begin to eat the year’s newly harvested yam after the required cultural observances have been performed.

The explanations about the sacrifice reflected traditional beliefs expressed by the participants that the ritual serves as thanksgiving and a symbolic plea for protection against death and misfortune. The practice, however, varies among Igbo communities.

This is even as Chief Godwin Anaeme (Akajiofo) explained that the sacrifice of the goat symbolises the shedding of blood in place of human lives.

He said the act is rooted in the belief that God instructed that a ram be offered on His altar.

According to him, the sacrifice represents protection, as the goat’s blood is believed to stand in place of human blood and cleanse the community of evil plans and afflictions attributed to the devil.

For Nwokedi, the 2026 Iriji celebration went beyond the eating of new yam. It became an occasion for thanksgiving, cultural preservation, community bonding and, most significantly, extending a helping hand to people in need.