This year’s New Yam festival in Adazi-Enu Community, Anaocha Local Government Area came to a climax with the eating of the new yam in various villages after the traditional Ruler of Adazi-Enu, Igwe Alphonsus Okpalaechelu had earlier performed the ceremonial cutting of the New yam.
It is in the light of the above that one of the villages, Enugwu village, which performed the ceremonial eating of the new yam based on the authority of the traditional Ruler of Adazi-Enu, said the essence of the festival is to rekindle the Interest of Ndigbo in respecting their rich cultural heritage.
The event kicked off with the prestigious Egwu Ndi Ichie followed by the appearance of the popular Izaga and Ekwuru masquerades respectively.
Speaking during the event, the Chairman of Enugwu Village Adazi-Enu, Chief Jideofor Okongwu, who described culture as people’s way of life, called for the compulsory teaching and learning of Igbo language and culture in all schools and colleges in the South East geopolitical zone to save it from extinction
Chief Okongwu, a lawyer and member of the National Executive Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association, used the opportunity to call on youths to embrace Agriculture in order to become self-reliant, in addition to ensuring food security.
The legal practitioner urged affluent Individuals to always channel their resources in those programmes that will impact positively on their various communities and called on Ndigbo to find ways of making the new yam festival a tourist attraction.
The President of Rotary club of Awka Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Mr Abuchi Nwozor who also attended the new yam festival advised Ndigbo to always differentiate between culture and idolatry and cautioned youths against indulging in Idolatry in the name of culture.
Some members of the Village including Chief Ezenne Nkwoka, Mrs Josephine Okonkwo and Reverend Izuchukwu Okongwu while thanking God for a bountiful harvest, prayed for more progress, unity and progress in the community.
Musical and cultural displays and eating of the new yam by guests were the highlights of the ceremony.
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