Pomp, As Rep Igariwey Treated Constituents To New Yam Cultural Fiesta

Judex OKORO

THE ancient city of Ehugbo in Afikpo local government of Ebonyi state was once again agog with festivities as chief Iduma Igariwey Enwo once again treated the constituents to new yam cultural fiesta.

Igariwey, popularly called Okpudo, representing Afikpo North/ Edda federal constituency, has for over five years running, hosted the August fiesta to celebrated the rich cultural heritage of Nde Ehugbo. 

The festival is not only about having a rollicking time out per se, but showcasing Ehugbo cultural cuisines, bringing together the people of Afikpo and Edda who share some cultural affinities, adding intellectual debt and unify all strata of the society.

The event is also an opportunity to reminiscence on the past, present and future of the society with regard to cultural preservation, values and norms as well embracing the societal dynamism.

However, this year was no exception as it attracted the crème de la crème from across the state and even beyond. The traditional chiefs and leaders made up of Ezeogos, Rekweris, Horis, Onikaraka, Ichies, Essas, Etos, Isi Elia, women groups, Umu Ada, various age grades and youths, were there in their different regalia to add colour and panache.

The academia were there to add intellectual vent to the festival. So far, scholars have systematically looked into the ethnographic, linguistic, archaeological, and evolutionary dimensions of new yam celebrations among the people of Ehugbo and Edda.

The event, under the chairmanship of Chief Dave Nwachukwu, also attracted captains of industries, heads of institutions, past and present, civil society and support groups as well as cultural enthusiasts.

The political class were not left out. Political bigwigs across party lines were there in their numbers to either show loyalty and to identity with a performer, who is co-mixing political power and cultural influence.

5th Okpudo Ikeji lecture

However, the 2025 Okpudu Ikeji had as its theme "Celebrating the richness of our culture: The 5th Okpodu Ikeji Annual Lecture Series Explores Land Inheritance in Afikpo and Edda.

The lecture set this year tone for cultural exploration and dynamism as well as pollination of African festivities with academic configurations.  

The guest lecturer, Prof. Eseni Azu Udu, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, went down memory lane x-raying the characteristics and commonalities of Afikpo and Edda land inheritance despite internecine clashes that have somewhat polarised the border communities. He also highlighted the conflicting oral land histories.

The renowned scholar decried poor documentation of traditional histories and the enforcement of the land use act as responsible for infractions, leading to communal crises around the communities, and called for reassessment of our customary laws. 

In all, the lecture addressed the issue of land inheritance and acquisition, achieved its objectives of fortifying the basement of knowledge in land matters for constituents, and the need to usurp traditional legal apparatuses in seeking redress. 

Rep Igariwey welcomes constituents 

Chief Host, Rt. Hon. Iduma Igariwey Enwo, has remained steadfast and committed to using new yam festival to promote Ehugbo and Edda culture.

Welcoming his constituents, he said this year festival is aimed at addressing challenges facing land inquisition, land inheritance and see how we can foster understanding as well as sustain our cultural heritage amid the diversity.

According him, new yam festival is one of the soicio-cultural ways of fraternising with constituents, celebrating the richness of our land and identifying the core of human existence. 

The lawmaker, while addressing the mammoth crowd, also highlighted the need for peaceful co-existence amongst sister communities and encouraged youths to key into the phlegm of tolerating one another at all times. 

Cultural displays

As usual, there event was marked by customary sharing of tubers of harvested yams from Okpudo's yam barn. The yams were shared amongst the hierarchical files of Ehugbo age grades, matrilineal lineages, and dignitaries.

He also supported farmers with bags of fertilizers as a demonstration of his commitment to supporting agricultural growth and cultural development across the constituency.

As characteristics of such event, the 2025 Okpudo Ikeji celebrations was also a display of Ehugbo rich cuisines as the guests were served "Ohe sarara" with molded melon, dry fish and "okporokp" (white soup with stock fish), Egusi soup with dry and stock fish with pounded yam.

The traditional rulers were not left out as they were served with oji (koala) and hot ose-oji with dry fish and palm wine. There were also served with roasted yams to be eaten with red oil and pepper.

 While clicking glasses in toast for the end of year and to usher in the traditional new year (Aho ohuu), which Ikeji heralds in Ehugbo calendar, the hundreds of guests were entertained by traditional dance groups led by Nkwa Umuagbogho and Nwkawite, the conventional bands rendering old Ehugbo songs and dances reminiscent of yester-years.

Speaking, a senior citizen, Oniklkara Ekuma Azubuike from Ugwuegu community, said:"This year Okpudo Ikeji was something to behold. It reminds us of olden days and unit all of us. We enjoin him to keep it up."

Also hailing the Okpudo Ikeji festival, Ichies Ugwu Nnachi, from Amuro, said: "We are very proud of Chief Iduma Igariwey and commend him for restoring our dying tradition. 

"Today, we can now celebrate in style our new yam festival and dance our old tunes in remembrance of olden days. Each year I come here, I feel proud of our son, who has brought smiles to our faces. May God continue to bless him for bringing Ehugbo new yam back to the annual cultural calendar."