The hospitable people of Umuoma Nekede Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State Nigeria have successfully celebrated the New Yam Festival in the community on Saturday 10, August, 2024.
The Festival commenced with an official traditional pronouncement of Odu date by the oldest man in the community and on a later date, followed up with a one night pre- Odu show cum sit out termed “ODUESHI UMUOMA” held on Friday 9th August, 2024, the eve of the New Yam Festival proper.
A few minutes Interdenominational church service was also held to open up the arena for the smooth celebration of the New Yam festival in Umuoma Nekede on Saturday.
The Traditional Ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, HRH Eze Morrison Soronnadi James Eke-Ph.D declared the year 2024 Odu Umuoma New Yam open amidst crowds of notable personalities, traditional rulers and community leaders in the area, that trouped out en-masse witness to witness the yam festival held at Centra school playground Nekede.
While speaking, Eze Omadike told his constituents that Odu Umuoma Nekede is a yearly Festival that is being celebrated few market days after Iriamogu Ihiagwa heralds the arrival of New yam in Ihiagwa Owerri West.
Recall that 9News Nigeria has earlier reported the heralding of the year 2024 New yam event that was held in Ihiagwa, a brother neighboring community to Umuoma Nekede autonomous Community in Owerri West Imo state.
The Odu Umuoma Nekede New Yam Festival 2024 was well attended and featured the public harvest of New Yam tuber by the Opara Odu and Ada Odu entourage led by a distinguished daughter and Ngboto Okwu Umuoma, Mercia Morgans.
Ada Odu is a cultural space created to signify the princess of culture in Nekede. Its appearance was targetted at a display of Yam harvesting, which re-enacted the importance of Yam tuber as a stable crop.
The troupe displayed a memorable drama that confirmed the true origin of their aboriginal ancestor OMA and the significance of his introduction of Yam tuber to EDE, the forebear of Nekede as captured by Onyenwe Princely of 9News.
9News Nigeria reports that Elder Joseph Ohale, oldest man in Okwu and Umuoma Nekede autonomous Community Owerri was graced to witness another Year New yam festival at his hundred and four (104) years on this planet earth.
Elder Ohale had earlier performed the traditional announcement of the New yam festival as Umuoma culture demands. The pronouncement of the date of Odu Umuoma festival can only be done by the oldest in the community preceded with traditional rites and cultural sacrifices as 9News reports.
The pronouncement of the date of Odu Umuoma by the oldest living man in the community is backed up by certain traditional laws that was pronounced at same event to guide the actions and conducts of the people in the area during the week of the New Yam festival.
The special guest and chairman of the Festival, Prophet Dom Daniel Anyanwu, (THE SEER) reassured the people of his cordial relationship with Ndi Umuoma and Nekede at large while promising to keep assisting in human empowerment and Community development in the area.
Prophet Dom Daniel is a High Chief conferred by the traditional ruler HRH Eze Morrison Eke, Omadike of Umuoma Nekede autonomous Community. “He is a prophet of God from mbaise clan that came to a busy land and transformed the environment with developmental strides.”
He has in several ways impacted goodwill on Ndi Nekede and some residents in the area which he once again re-established while appreciating the honour done on him as Special Guest and Chairman of the event held at the prestigious Central School Nekede playground Saturday.
President General PG DIKEOHA OKECHUKWU OPARA and his Umuoma people’s Assembly UPA Executives laudably established their strength in efficiency and sound management, administrative coordination, unwavering effort and the required capacity, capability and trust in handling community matters x-rayed on the 2024 Umuoma New yam festival to a resounding success.
The year 2024 Odu planning committee Chairman, Sir Sam Chiekezi Azuike who happens to be an intending Nze of the community to be conferred next weekend as gathered by Newsmen, applauded his teammates and thanked the generality of Ndi Umuoma and guests that came from all works of life to witness such a recorded huge success at the New yam festival.
9News Nigeria spotted photos of edifice which included, Umuoma health centre , Nkwonunuyo Market, Police headquarters Umuoma Nekede, Police training school Umuoma Nekede, Mmiri Nkwoahia, Oha Nnodi Town Hall, Befitting traditional palace of Umuoma, renowned Central School Nekede and Ojah court hall in Umuagwu, all in Umuoma Nekede encapsulated in the festival broucher. The above historical edifices are confirmable and verifiable at press time.
The highlight of event was the proper eating of New yam through a processional royal dance led by the Traditional Ruler of Umuoma Nekede, Eze Omadike amidst crowds of witnesses at the event.
Colony of recognized age grades, women groups, youth groups, Town Chairmen, Community leaders, Umuoma Royal cabinet URC, Ndi Nze na Ozor, Ndi Ngboto and Ndi Ogo- (inlaws) were in attendance.
Ndi Eze and Ugoezes, traditional prime minister TPM Nze Aharanwa, Barr (Chief) Victor Muruako, chairman fiscal policy commission Abuja, some Nollywood personalities, High class MCs, Clergy, dance Groups and masquerades, well-wishers and guests too numerous to mention attended the Odu New Yam Festival in Umuoma Nekede Owerri West.
Earlier in the new yam festival, a moment of silence was called by the chairman of the event to bid the Soul of the faithful departed son, former chairmanship aspirant of Owerri West LGA Council on the All Progressives Congress APC political party , Chief Victor Osuji babaukwu alongside others a peaceful end back to Godhead. No doubt the news of the death was a rude shock to the entire Community while the yam festival ended in admiration.
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-Princely Onyenwe reporting
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