Stakeholders Call for Sustenance of Anambra New Yam, Masquerade Festival

By Ukpa Ewa

Stakeholders and cultural leaders in Anambra State have called for the continued support and enhancement of the Iri Ji (New Yam) Festival.

The call was made following last weekend’s well-attended, colorful New Yam Festival with Masquerade razmatazz at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.

The event, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Entertainment and Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Communities, and Chieftaincy Affairs showcased the cultural and agricultural heritage of the state.

Speaking to Journalists, the traditional ruler of Olumbanasa, Igwe Pius Omachonu, commended the 2024 Iri Ji Festival but noted it faced lower attendance than in 2023, partly due to insufficient involvement of traditional rulers, which he described as a shortfall.

“The New Yam Festival is a time-honored celebration primarily for traditional rulers, but their absence this year was a minus,” he remarked, adding that the yam competition should focus on single, large tubers rather than bundled yams for transparency and fairness.

Igwe Omachonu also highlighted the importance of early planning and funding at the grassroots level. “Proper funding and earlier timing would allow all groups, especially masquerade and demonstration teams, to showcase their best,” he said.

He urged the government to elevate the Iri Ji Festival to the status of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) listed cultural events like the Argungu Fishing Festival and Osun-Osogbo Festival, to bring greater recognition and cultural pride to Anambra.

In her remarks, the Deputy Mayor of Orumba South, Mrs. Ngozi Obidike praised Governor Soludo’s efforts in supporting the Iri Ji Festival and highlighted its significance in promoting Anambra’s identity as an agricultural hub.

“This festival has become an annual event we look forward to, showcasing our roots and agricultural pride,” she said, expressing her gratitude to the governor for strengthening cultural ties.

While the president of Ofuobi Cultural Organization, Anambra State Chapter, Ichie Anselm Okonkwo, emphasized yam symbolic role as a mark of abundance in Igbo communities. According to him, the arrival of yam represents the end of hunger and the beginning of abundance. He pointed out that the festival serves as both cultural celebration and an economic opportunity, bringing tourism and business to the area. He urged the state to improve planning for future festivals to encourage wider participation.

The festival, attended by traditional rulers, government officials, community leaders, featured prize presentations to farmers for the largest harvested yams, traditional dance performances, and masquerade displays. Farmers were rewarded for their achievements, with the top farmer receiving three million naira, a boost from the prize amount awarded in previous years.

The event celebrated not only the new yam harvest but also the resilience, unity, and agricultural strength of Ndi Anambra. Local government representatives from Aguata, Anaocha, Dunukofia, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Awka South, Ekwusigo, Ogbaru, Orumba North, among others showcased cultural displays, reinforcing the sense of community and tradition that the Iri Ji Festival symbolize.