By Mokobia Rita.
Akwukwu-Igbo/Nigeria: The Ogbe-Oniha Quarter of Akwukwu-Igbo, His Royal Majesty, Chief Alexander Mokobia, has led members of the community in celebrating the 2026 New Yam Festival, with the traditional ruler describing the annual ceremony as an occasion for thanksgiving, unity and the preservation of cultural heritage.
The festival, held on Friday, September 25, brought together members of the community as families and well-wishers shared the year’s new yam in keeping with a longstanding tradition associated with the harvest season.
Chief Mokobia said the ceremony represented more than the consumption of the first harvest, describing it as an opportunity for the people to appreciate God for the fruits of their labour and strengthen bonds within the community.
He explained that the traditional celebration begins with the preparation and sharing of the new yam among family members, guests and other members of the community.
The Oniha also clarified that the festival should not be interpreted as an act of idol worship, saying its significance, as observed by the community, centres on thanksgiving for a successful farming season and appreciation of God’s blessings.
He expressed satisfaction with the atmosphere of togetherness during the celebration, noting that cultural occasions such as the New Yam Festival provide opportunities for families and community members to renew relationships and promote harmony.
The eldest son of the Oniha, Dr Emeka Okonkwo, described the festival as an important part of Akwukwu-Igbo’s cultural heritage and a reflection of the community’s agrarian identity.
According to him, yam remains one of the major farm produce in the community, making the arrival of the new harvest a significant moment for farmers who have invested months of work in their farms.
Okonkwo said the festival therefore provides an opportunity for the community to celebrate the outcome of the farming season while passing its cultural values from one generation to another.
He stressed the importance of preserving such traditions, particularly at a time when changing lifestyles and modern influences continue to reshape community practices.
Also speaking, an elder of Ogbe Oniha Quarters, Mr Agili Medoh, said tradition required the Oniha to perform the community’s New Yam Festival before other members begin their individual celebrations.
Medoh described the ceremony as an important marker in the community’s annual agricultural calendar and prayed for continued prosperity, good health and long life for the Oniha, his family and the people of Akwukwu-Igbo.
The celebration once again brought together traditional leadership, families and community members around a cultural practice that continues to link Akwukwu-Igbo’s agricultural heritage with communal identity and thanksgiving.
