The Anambra State Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr Don Onyenji, has said that the state would on October 21, showcase the best of masquerades and local delicacies in celebration of the state’s New Yam festival.
The Commissioner who promised that event would be the largest and most colourful new yam (Iri Ji) festival said the festival would hold at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka with Igwe Alfred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha and Chairman of Anambra Traditional Rulers Council as the Father of the Day.
He said the Iri Ji festival was symbolic as it marks the celebration of harvest season and the place of yam as the king of all crops in Igbo land.
The commissioner said Anambra had a rich cultural heritage including the new yam festival which is the most popular, normally held between August and November every year.
He said Anambra was peaceful and safe and everyone is invited.
According to him, in line with Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s agenda for reviving and promoting the Igbo cultural heritage, “As a State, Anambra is selling the festival to the world as one major cultural event. So the 2023 Iri Ji festival will be one with a difference.
“All the traditional rulers in Anambra, Town Union leadership will be there and the 21 Local Government Area Councils will be on parade.
“The festival is all about love and sharing. We invite all Anambra people and non Anambra citizens to come and witness the cutting of yam and the celebration associated with it,” he said.
Onyenji said the governor who would be the chief host would recognise the person with the biggest harvested with the king of yam ‘Eze Ji’ award.
The Commissioner said there would be traditional wrestling, masquerade displays and Local Government dance parades.
Onyenji said though new yam festival was for everyone, respect must be accorded to seniority and some of the abuse seen in some communities and kindreds should stop.
“We shall have masquerade shows, best of local cuisine and palm wine, shall not entertain foreign delicacies, it will be local food all the way. There is a protocol for Iri Ji in Igbo land. Nobody should perform the rite before the government recognised traditional rulers in that community; kindreds should also allow their most senior to do it before others.”
