The traditional ruler of Umueri Igwe Bennet Emeka and Umueri Oke-ebo kingdom, Anambra East Local Government Area will on Saturday this week celebrate Umueri 2024 new yam festival, tagged Iwa Ji Umueri 2024 at the palace of Igwe Emeka, Oke-ebo the second of Umueri. The new yam festival will commence with a non-denominational church service at the palace by twelve noon.

Yam regarded as king of all crops is a staple food that occupies an exalted position in Igboland.This is perhaps why communities hold in high esteem the annual new yam festival in Igboland. Umueri Oke-ebo kingdom is not an exception among communities that celebrate the annual new yam festival.

The New Yam Featival has a long history in Igboland. It is as old as farming. Among other crops including cassava, maize, potato and cocoyam, Yam is the most highly respected and is held in high esteem by Ndigbo. Not only is it perceived as a reward of hardwork and a measure of wealth in traditional Igbo society, it is also seen as a masculine crop and accorded a pride of place in Igbo land.

Celebration of new yam festival in Umueri is a time the community expresses gratitude to God for blessing farmers with successful farming season and pray for bountiful harvest next farming season. It is also a time to foster peace, unity, oneness and brotherly love among Ndi Umueri as their sons and daughters from far and near return home for the celebration. Umueri new yam festival is always a sight to behold and an experience to relish.

This is why Umueri community is inviting the general public to the 2024 Iwa Ji Umueri. The arrival of Igwe Emeka on that day will be heralded with twenty one gun salute and after prayers and breaking of kolanut, the traditional ruler will cut the new yam and share it among the four quarters in Umueri, namely Ezi, Ikenga, Ivite and Otuocha Umueri.

This will be followed by serving and eating of roasted yam with red oil garnished with other traditional condiments and spices, pounded yam and other forms of yam derived food to members of the community and guests.

The festival will also feature Cultural music, dancing, merry making, and other activities as different groups, age grades, youths, the elderly, the Oluokala and Umuadas will take turns to entertain the people and pay homage to the traditional ruler. Dancers from other communities are also invited to perform during the ceremony.

During the Iwa Ji festival, there will be unveiling of Igwe Oke-ebo foundation known as Chinwata-kwe-aku Foundation which focuses on empowering the youths and the less privileged among others in education, presenting of cars to five Umueri indigenous priests serving across the nation to enhance their work of evangelism , cooking competition by young girls from different quarters of Umueri ,organized by the wife of the traditional ruler Oche-Eze Umueri, Lady Chinwe Emeka,

honouring of some prominent individuals in Anambra state who has contributed immensely to both human and Society development with chieftaincy titles, traditional wrestling among other activities.

Igwe Emeka is a man of vision who brings initiatives and innovations to improve the life of Ndi Umueri and accelerate development of the community, which confirms the saying that when the righteous is on the throne the people rejoice.

Igwe Emeka accompanied by family members, Umueri Royal Cabinet, Umueri General Assembly and the entire people of Umueri community will on Sunday 22nd September 2024, go for thanksgiving service at the Cathedral Church of St. Gabriel Umueri at nine o’clock in the morning to conclude the annual event .

The Umueri community both at home and in the diaspora, invite friends, well-wishers and general public to the festival.

To God be the glory.