CULTURAL EXTRAVAGANZA: As Igbo Speaking Community In Ijegun/Ijadado, Under Eze Dr. Chika Nwokedi, Flaunts It’s New Yam Festival Heritage With Fanfare. Watch Videos Below

By Divine Chisom Emmanuel 

It was a cultural fiesta and traditional expositions last Sunday, September 15th, 2024, in lagos State ,when Eze Ambassador Dr. Chika Nwokedi and his Igbo Speaking Community in Ijegun and Ijadado part of the state,painted the area in red with their epoch making New Yam Festival and  Igbo Day celebration.

The rich colourful event was attended ,witnessed by retinues of enviable dignitaries cut across Nigeria cultural barriers, including top Ndieze, Captains of Industries and Security Agencies.

Indeed, the remarkable occasion started around 10 am with Chieftaincy installation at the palatial Palace of Eze Nwokedi, before the cultural train moved to the newly built ‘Igbo Buru Otu’ Secretariat and Event center located at 56 Kudeyibu street, Kudeyibu Estate Junction, Ijegun,where the New Yam Festival Heritage and other cultural endowments, such as rare masquerade society, traditional musical expositions and rich Igbo menu, were relished by the mammoth crowd that trooped and converged at the venue.

Infact, the Ijegun serene Community was literally set on fire in celebration mood,with some noticeable Igbo cultural activities announcing  ‘Obi Chukwu/Obi Eziokwu Palace’, as a formidable Igbo Cultural Center .

It would be recalled that  Igbos popularly addressed as Ndigbo, attaches much symbolism to its cultural and traditional heritages, especially ‘Iriji’, otherwise known as New Yam Festival , which is yearly  set aside to honor and appreciate God for yet a successful and bountiful yam harvest, as well as to celebrate Igbo sons and daughters at home and in diaspora. 

It was in keeping with the tradition, that Ambassador Nwokedi, who is the Eze Ndigbo in Ijegun/ Ijadado and Chairman, Council of Ndieze in lagos State, keyed in, to showcase,preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage,traditional values, customs, language, arts, music, and dance of the Igbo race.

As the tradition permits,Eze Nwokedi, used the opportunity created by the celebration to recognize and  bestow   Chieftaincy titles on eight individuals, who his Cabinet carefully selected for their roles over the years, especially in identifying with his Palace .

These Chieftaincy beneficiaries are  Chief Chibuzor Obidike, ‘The Oyi of Oyi’ Ijegun Ijeododo;  Chief Obiora Okonkwo, ‘Ozo Igbo Ndu Guruguru’; Chief Udegbe Sylvester Chioma, ‘Ozuo ome 1 of Ijegun Ijeododo; Chief  Ndubuisi Ebem, ‘Uru ka Na Chukwu Ijegun Ijeododo’; and High Chief Christian Ikechi Uwaeme, Akaekpuchionwa 1 of Alimosho.

In his welcome address , One of the Cabinet members,Chief Ifeanyi Iguegbe , while welcoming guests, emphasized  the importance of the new yam festival, cutting and eating of the new yam, the presentation of kolanut, Igbo cultural displays, traditional folk music, masquerade displays and other traditions to all Igbos both at home and in diaspora.

Speaking, Chairman of the occasion Chief Martins Ifenedebem, also known as ‘Egbeyiugo’, who was formerly , President of the ‘Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria ,Alaba International Market’, re- emphasized  the importance of the new yam festival and it’s significance to the Igbo culture, noting that  it’s traditional symbolism relates to  reverencing yam as the king of all crops before consumption, in expectation of a better harvest next year.

Egbeyiugo, further enjoined all Igbos to cultivate their own yams and keep to the cultural and tradition heritage.

Speaking with News hunters, the Chief Host, Eze Nwokedi, expressed his gratefulness to God Almighty, noting  that despite the economic downturn, the general turnout of guests from all tribes, to celebrate the Igbo cultural day with the Igbos in the Ijegun /Ijeododo community was remarkable . 

Ambassador Nwokedi advised Igbos to not only invest in personal property acquisition but also should be proud to celebrate their culture anywhere in the world, as it is a reminder of one’s root. 

Supported by his wife, Pastor Mrs.Tessy Chika Nwokedi ‘Ugoeze,’ , Eze Nwokedi doled out gift items to some recipients .

Some of the dignitaries at the occasion were the Assistant Inspector General of Police,AIG Ogundele J. Ayodeji of FCIID Alagbon,  Chief Martins Ifenedebem,  Eze Alex Nwoye, the Bobaselu of Ejigbo, Eze Jude Arinze, Eze  Augustine Sunday Ojukwu, Former President of Ladipo Section,Paramo, Jeo Japan ,Chief Chukwunonye Nwachukwu Austin Onyeka and Representatives of Oba of Ijegun amongst others.