By Magnus Emuji
OKPANAM/Nigeria: Culture has been described as an integral aspect of the history of the life of a people in every society.
Obi Ozili Adimabuah (JP) stated this in Okpanam during his new yam festival celebration (Iwa iji) which was graced by individuals from within and outside the community.
He said that cultural festival was a unifying factor for the people.
He said that it was true that cultural festivals such as the new were fettish, adding that people every society had one form of customs and traditions.
Obi Adimabuah Ozili posited that the significance of the new yam festival was to appreciate God for bountiful harvest and to seek for more blessings from Him.
While urging the people to be peaceful during and after the new yam festival, Obi Adimabuah Ozili stated that peace was an essential element for the growth and development of any community.
Speaking on the just celebrated ‘Nwambele’ festival, Obi Adimabuah Ozili stated that ‘Nwambele’ festival was significant with history, adding that when culture was borrowed the destiny of the people would be destroyed.
Obi Adimabuah Ozili, who is the Asagba of Okpanam, however, said that the festival of ‘Nwambele’ originated from Umumale family, expressing that the festival of ‘Nwambele’ was initially for women even as he noted that Azama was the first Omu of the community who according him hailed from Umumale.
According to Obi Adimabuah, women were very powerful in those days, adding that in recognition of their strength she was referred to as the woman in charge of the market
He recalled that there was a shrine at Obi Agba’s compound which he said was Omu Azama’s shrine.
