The great people of Ihiagwa in Ochie political bloc of Owerri West local government area of Imo State Nigeria have on Sunday, 21st day of July 2024, celebrated their Odu New Yam Festival.
The event was successfully organised by Mr Geoffrey Opara led planning committee which comprises of Chief Mike Opara as secretary, Basil Oparaugo, Goddy Nluma, Benjamin Osunkwo, Nelson Iwunze alongside other members.
The Paramount Traditional Ruler His Royal Highness Eze Kingsley Odu in collaboration with His Royal Highness Eze Lucky I. Ajoku have brought together the epoch making Odu Ihiagwa festival.
Speaking at the event, the President General PG of Dindi Ihiagwa Chief Eugene Ohakwe reiterated the huge benefits and lessons derived from the New Yam celebration.
Hon Ohakwe told the Press that Ihiagwa in Owerri West has remained the first clan in Owerri zone to open up the announcement of the New Yam celebration within the Owerri environs in Imo State Nigeria. This wonderful Odu Ihiagwa festival has traditionally announced the new yam to be harvested and circulate the markets.
PG Ohakwe who spoke on behalf of HRH Eze Kingsley Odu had maintained that the New Yam can only be heralded annually by Ihiagwa clan before other neighbouring communities in the area will be permitted to eat and sell new yam.
This culture has remained functional from aboriginal backgrounds. It was inherited and passed unto the present descendants.
He added that the Odu festival will continue to be observed by their people as a yearly cum annual New yam ritual to pronounce its harvest, eating and circulation across the markets.
9News Nigeria reports that the Owerri (Owere) people cannot eat new Yam unless Ihiagwa clan does the celebration according to culture and tradition of the land. The Odu festival of Ihiagwa is symbolical and very significant as I have investigated thoroughly with factual evidences.
The President General PG of Ancient kingdom Ihiagwa, Hon Ken Mgbachi also added that Odu Ihiagwa festival is a yearly event that showcase the eight villages (Ofor Asato) of Iriamogu, Ibuzo, Nkaramoche, Aku, Mboke, Umuelem, Umuchima and Umuokwo respectively.
Chief Dan Opara, General President, council of Ihiagwa Age Grades told our correspondent that seventeen (17) age grades are operational in Ihiagwa clan but it was only sixteen (16) that were cleared and approved to show presence of participation at this Year Odu Ihiagwa New Yam Festival. This implies high sense of respect, discipline and traditional honour to this great event.
9News was able to capture the following age grades in attendance at Odu Ihiagwa Festival in Owerri West ; Mezie Ihiagwa, Ugwumba, Ogueri, Azuogu, Onyeagala Nwanneya, Ikemba, Ezinwanne Akolam, Umuoma Chituru Ugo, Maranwanne, Ezinwanne, Ugochinyere, Oganihu, Ubamaka, Umuchimereze, Nwanne Di Uto and Utonwa age grades.
It is on record that the seventeenth (17th) age grade was serving suspension terms and was not able to hoist their flag at the celebration. Such serious discipline was initiated by the leadership of the General President council of Ihiagwa Age Grades, Chief Dan Opara Inline with the age grades constitutional and orders of the land as 9News Nigeria reports.
The heat of the festival was the traditional Ushering in and procession of the oldest man in Ihiagwa Elder Lawrence Anah who hails from Iriamogu village at his Ninety six (96) years to take the Odu dance. It was his third appearance as the oldest man in iriamogu Ihiagwa.
The Chief Priest of Ihiagwa, Agwu kelechi Oparaugo in agreement with Ndi Iche and council of Elders performed the kolanut rituals and opened the dance floor that showcased the majestic dancing steps of the oldest man (Papa Law Anah) on stage.
The second son of the oldest man in Ihiagwa Donatus Anah alias (Power) also told the press that his aged Father Lawrence is full of strength and high sense of reason while thanking God for making it possible for him to celebrate three times Odu festival as a back-to-back eldest in iriamogu Ihiagwa clan. Any oldest man in iriamogu will automatically take the Odu dance until he passes on , another will follow in that order , because my investigation reveals that Iriamogu is head of Ihiagwa clan.
Another wonderful performance was the Odu drum play that was excellently done by the Chief player Mr Kenneth Agu (Kendo) and his team. The sound of the drum and the dancing steps by both the Chief Priest and the oldest man in Ihiagwa cannot be forgotten easily because of its attraction, coloration, cultural candour and festive ambience. The Year 2024 Odu Festival was an epoch making festival as 9News reports.
A prominent Youth of the Area, Mr Chukwudi Akujuobi who spoke with 9News stated the obvious concerning the Odu Yam Festival. Chukwudi told us that the oldest celebrant of the year 2024 Odu is the only surviving son of Anah Ugwuegbu generation of Ozuruoke compound in iriamogu Ihiagwa Owerri west.
Mr Chukwudi further hinted the significance of iri ji while noting that without the Odu festival that heralds the iri ji , ie eating of the new yam, the New yam cannot be seen in the market or consumed by the people. Other communities including Owerri nchi ise cannot go to Ekwuema to celebrate the yam festival. In other words, they can go ahead with the ohuhu ji , (roasting of the old yam) which is until Odu Ihiagwa festival is concluded.
He added that the eldest man in iriamogu will definitely take the traditional position of Igba nkwa in Ihiagwa even though there is an eldest man from any other village in Ihiagwa. This is simply because the iriamogu is the head and the first village in other of seniority as he stated.
There was maximum security coverage rendered at the celebration of the festival in Ihiagwa Owerri West. The event commenced with an opening prayer said by Chief George Oparaigwe and kolanut was presented by PG Ohakwe.
However, the Odu 2024 opening remark was done by the chairman Nshi Ato Iriamogu, Hon Kelechi John Okere. There were remarks cum speeches from both PGs of Dindi and Chimelem, blessing of Odu festival, nkwa procession, the eating of New yam and red carpet entertainment by age grades and respective families, clubs were all observed accordingly as 9News Nigeria reports.
Newsmen sighted the divisional police officer of Nekede police divisional headquarter DPO Osifo and his galant officers including the vigilante group led by Uche Muruako and the Iriamogu Surveillance Group ISG led by CSO Anayochukwu Ekechi in active surveillance till the end of occasion.
The Odu New Yam Festival Ihiagwa Owerri West featured alot of dignitaries too numerous to mention. Ndi Iche Ihiagwa, Elders council, Chairmen of villages, women and youth groups, social clubs, Ndi Ngboto Ihiagwa, community leaders,age grades, government functionaries and President Generals PGs.
Our Newsmen also sighted Okenze Nollywood Ugochukwu and his team of actors and actresses present at the Odu Ihiagwa New Yam celebration held Sunday 21-07-2024 in iriamogu Ihiagwa Owerri West. The Odu Yam event was staged on a Sunday when Christians were in church but the church day did not counter the traditional event because according to those who spoke with 9News , the day was calculated on Market days in Igboland.
From my facts and figures, the Odu Ihiagwa Festival 2024 Was Well Attended Amidst Showcase Of Cultural Performances, Kolanut Rituals, Age Grades performance, Nkwa Procession.
The Odu Ihiagwa New Yam Festival Owerri West featured alot of dignitaries too numerous to mention. Ndi Iche Ihiagwa, Elders council, Chairmen of villages, women and youth groups, social clubs, Ndi Ngboto Ihiagwa, community leaders, crops of age grades, government functionaries and President Generals PGs.
Having taken the cognizance that Iriamogu village is the head clan in Ihiagwa, Hon Okere Kelechukwu John was the coordinating head of the event by his position as the chairman of the event committee in Iriamogu nchi ato as 9News Nigeria reports. He thanked all ad sundry who came to celebrate with Ihiagwa and wished them safe journey to their respective areas.
There is no doubt, the celebration truly showcased crowds of guests from all works of life and participants. The video link is open for all our viewers to watch.
Videos: https://fb.watch/tvy1wNEd4-/?mibextid=Nif5oz
-Princely Onyenwe reporting
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria @08036856526
