Isingwu Community Gears Up For 2024 New Yam Festival
UMUAHIA – All is now set for the 2024 New Yam Festival (Iwa Ji) of Isingwu Autonomous Community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia state.
Answering questions from newsmen at his palace, the Traditional Ruler of Isingwu Autonomous Community, Eze Daniel Ukaegbu said the festival which will hold on Saturday this week, (Nkwo Market Day) will be used to thank God for successful farming season.
Eze Ukaegbu revealed that they are working to revive the culture of farming in the community especially the cultivation of yams, pointing out that before now, you cannot celebrate New Yam Festival without harvesting yams from the farm.
The Royal Father made it clear that there are no fetish practices associated with the celebration but purely to thank God for successful farming season and used the forum to invite friends and well wishers of the community to come and celebrate with the community.
Also speaking, the Traditional Prime Minister of Isingwu Autonomous Community and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Sir Chris Onwuegbu, said the culture of the Igbos has suffered huge setback because of the erroneous belief that the only way to become a Christian is to throw away one’s culture pointing out that the “Iwa Ji” festival has no fetish practices attached to it.
Sir Onwuegbu further disclosed that the present administration is intentional about protecting, preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the state hence the creation of the new Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy.
The highpoint of the briefing was the display of the traditional presentation of Kolanut in Igbo land.