The traditional ruler of Umueri, Umueri Royal Cabinet, Umueri General Assembly and the entire good people of Umueri Oke-ebo kingdom in Anambra East Local Government Area will tomorrow, Saturday 30th September, 2023 celebrate the new yam festival of the community, tagged Iwa Ji Umueri 2023. The event will be held at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Sir Benneth Izuchukwu Emeka, JP, Oke-ebo the second of Umueri at Number 2 Igwe Sir Ben Emeka Road, Udabor, Umueri.
The new yam festival will commence with a non-denominational church service at the palace by 12noon.
Yam is said to be the mother of all crops, a staple food that occupies an exalted position in Igbo land. This describes the reason the festival is held in high regards among the Igbo. Umueri Oke-ebo kingdom in Anambra East Local Government Area is not an exception.
Celebration of new yam festival in Umueri is a time the community shows gratitude to God for enabling farmers in the community enjoy a good farming season and to ask God for a bountiful harvest the 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 a sight to behold and an experience to relish.
This is why Ndi Umueri are inviting everyone to this important event. During the event, the arrival of Igwe Oke-ebo the second of Umueri to the Iwa Ji arena will be heralded with twenty-one gun salute. Igwe Emeka after prayers and breaking of kolanut, will cut the new yam and share it among the three quarters in Umueri, namely Ezi, Ikenga and Ivite Umueri. It will be followed by serving and eating of roasted yam with red oil garnished with other traditional condiments, pounded yam and all forms of yam-derived cuisines to all the invitees at the occasion.
Cultural music, dancing, merry making, banters and other activities will feature at the event. Different groups, age grades, youths, the elderly, the Oluokala and Umuada will
take turns to display their dancing steps and pay homage to Igwe Oke-ebo. Dancers from other communities are also invited to supplement Umueri dancers as a mark of hospitality and openness of Umueri community.
Significantly, there are significant features that make the celebration stand out each year. In 2021, it was the unveiling of Igwe Oke-ebo foundation known as Chinwatakweaku Foundation which empowers youths, the less privileged, among others through education and cooking competition by young girls from different quarters of Umueri organized by Oche-Eze Umueri, Lady Chinwe Emeka, the wife of the traditional ruler of Umueri. In this year’s Iwa Ji Umueri, Igwe Oke-ebo the second will give chieftaincy titles to some prominent individuals in Anambra state who have contributed immensely to human and societal. It will also feature traditional wrestling.
Igwe Oke-ebo the second of Umueri is a man of vision who always initiates new things to better the life of Ndi Umueri and that will bring development to the community.
As it is in his tradition to conclude his annual events with a thanksgiving to God for a successful celebration, Igwe Emeka accompanied by family members, Umueri Royal Cabinet, Umueri General Assembly and the entire good people of Umueri will on Sunday October 1, 2023, go for thanksgiving at Our Lady’s Catholic Church, Umueri. The thanksgiving mass will begin at 10.00am.
Therefore, on behalf of Umueri General Assembly, Onowu Iyasele Umueri, Umueri Royal Cabinet,, Ndi Ichie Umueri, Ezi, Ivite and Ikenga Quarters of Umueri, Iyom Umueri, Umueri youths and the entire good people of Umueri, this is inviting men and women of good will, in-laws, friends and well wishers and indeed all and sundry to Iwa Ji Umueri 2023 to share in the joy of Igwe Benneth Izuchukwu Emeka, Igwe Oke-ebo the second and the entire people of Umueri Kingdom.
To God be the glory.
Written by PRINCESS NGOZI OKOYE
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