Mbanefo, Igbo Leaders Mark New Yam Festival In Abuja

Igwe E.A. Mbanefo, the Ozuruoha II of Orsumoghu, has marked this year’s New Yam Festival with an in-house solemnisation astatine his residence successful Lokogoma, Abuja.

At the event, Igwe Mbanefo emphasised the taste and spiritual value of the yearly solemnisation among the Igbo people.

According to him, the New Yam Festival is much than a feast; it reflects the agrarian practice of the Igbo assemblage and serves arsenic a reminder of their corporate efforts to unafraid nutrient done farming.

“The solemnisation is our taste heritage. Every titled antheral is entitled to devour caller yam, which signifies the opening of harvest. Though the festival is taking spot successful Osimmm assemblage successful Ihiala, Anambra State, we are marking it present to punctual our radical successful the diaspora that they indispensable not hide their civilization and identity. It besides gives the younger procreation an accidental to larn and fortify communal bonds,” the monarch stated.

Mbanefo further noted that the festival has a relation successful boosting nutrient information arsenic it encourages much farming and amended harvests. “Whoever eats yams connected the time of the solemnisation partakes successful the blessing,” helium added.

Hon. Agatha Manafa, Liaison Officer, Anambra Abuja, described the festival arsenic a practice of abundance and thanksgiving. She lauded the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and his woman for supporting farmers done assorted cultivation initiatives, which she said person improved nutrient information successful the state.

Also lending his voice, Sir Arinze Anadu, president-general of the Towns People Association, Anambra State, highlighted the symbolism of yam successful Igbo culture. “The New Yam Festival, observed annually betwixt August and September, is simply a clip of thanksgiving to God for the harvest. Yam remains the staple nutrient of the Igbo, and aft the ritual, the harvest play begins,” helium said.

Anadu pointed to the resilience of farmers successful the look of information challenges, noting that galore present works yams successful bags wrong their compounds—an innovation calved retired of necessity.

High Chief Ofodum Vitus (Ikenga I of Mbosi) expressed gratitude to God for witnessing different harvest season, remarking that the continuity of the festival contempt information challenges is simply a testament to the people‘s enduring spirit.