Event: Ijegun Ijeododo Community Agog as ‘Obi Chukwu’ Palace Celebrates Igbo Cultural Day
By Onome Naomi
The Igbo cultural day is set aside especially to celebrate Igbo sons and daughters at home and in diaspora. It’s a means of preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people. It provides an opportunity for Igbo individuals and communities to showcase their traditional values, customs, language, arts, music, and dance, as seen in the celebration of the new yam festival known as ‘Iriji’ on Sunday, September 15, 2024, by the Ezendigbo of Ijegun Ijeododo, Chairman Council of Ezes in Lagos, Eze Amb. Dr. Eze Chika Nwokedi of Obi Chukwu Palace.
The highlight of the event involved the cutting and eating of the new yam, the presentation of kolanut, Igbo cultural displays, traditional folk music, masquerade displays, and others.
The first half of the occasion commenced with the bestowing of the chieftain title on eight members identified with Obi Eziokwu Palace in recognition of their behavioral qualities in the last 10 years. These title holders include: High Chief Chibuzor Obidike, ‘The Oyi of Oyi’ Ijegun Ijeododo; High Chief Obiora Okonkwo, ‘Ozo Igbo Ndu Guruguru’; Chief Udegbe Sylvester Chioma, ‘Ozuo ome 1 of Ijegun Ijeododo; High Chief Dr. Ndubuisi Ebem, ‘Uru ka Na Chukwu Ijegun Ijeododo’; and High Chief Christian Ikechi Uwaeme, Akaekpuchionwa 1 of Alimosho.
Speaking with the title chiefs, Naomi Sophy Blog gathered that the titles were given according to the roles played individually towards members of the society. It is expected that the chiefs maintain the given titles to enable a wider scope in their effort and responsibility towards people in the community, as emphasized by Eze Chika.
The second half of the event was done glamorously with a rich display of cultural heritage in welcome of the new yam. According to customs and tradition, the Iriji is celebrated in the ember months. For Eze Chika Nwokedi, he celebrates ‘Iriji’ every 3rd week of September yearly to usher in the king of all crops as well as the commencement of a new era of fruitfulness. It is an Igbo culture to celebrate the bountiful harvest of yams before consumption.
A speech was given in reference to the new yam festival by Chief Ifeanyi Iguegbe as he welcomes all in attendance. In the official speech, it is noted that the new yam festival is an epic historical event that should be observed by Igbos at home and in diaspora, as seen in Eze Chika’s yearly event for being a custodian of tradition.
Speaking with Chairman of the occasion Chief Martins Ifenedebem, the former president of the ‘Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria Alaba International Market’, he noted that the importance of the new yam festival is in significance with the Igbo culture, which stems from revering yam as the king of all crops before consumption to enable a better harvest in subsequent years. Advices Igbos to plant their own yam and watch out for it’s harvest as tradition demands.
Eze Amb Dr Chika Nwokedi, the Ezendigbo of Ijegun Ijeododo, Chairman Council of Ezes in Lagos, in excitement, told pressmen at the new yam festival of 2024 that despite the economic downturn, the turnout of attendees from all tribes coming together to celebrate the Igbo cultural day with the Igbos in the Ijegun Ijeododo community in unity makes the occasion a remarkable event. He stated that it is paramount for Igbos to represent their culture anywhere in the world, as it is a reminder of one’s origin. Advices Igbos against unwise decisions of accumulating wealth to purchase material things, forgetting they do not own landed properties. Do well to help the less privileged rather than do frivolous spending, he added.
As usual, the magnanimous monarch, Eze Chika, in company of his wife, Pst. Tessy Chika Nwokedi ‘Ugoeze,’ gave out lots of gift items as well as educated attendees on the act of giving. Eze Nwokedi, who has helped a lot of people, including widows and the incarcerated, will be empowering over 100 more widows and widowers in December 2024 as he encourages his VIP friends to support his course.
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Lastly, the cutting and eating of the new yam as the occasion demanded was done in the company of co-monarchs and dignitaries present. The VIP attendees of the Iriji event include: AIG Ogundele J. Ayodeji of FCIID Alagbon, Chief Sunday Udeh President of Igbo Speaking Community Lagos, Chief Martins Ifenedebem, Eze Jude Arinze, Eze Eze Nwoye the Bobaselu of Ejigbo, Eze Igwe Augustine Sunday Ojukwu, Chief Chukwunonye, Nwachukwu Austin Onyeka, High Chief Sunday Uwanogho, the Ijegun Ijeododo palace chiefs of Eze Chika Nwokedi, entourages from the Oba of Ijegun and Ijeododo palace, and other invited guests.
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