The traditional ruler of Abacha community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, His Royal Majesty Igwe Godwin Nwabunwanne Odiegwu, (Eze Dioramma) says all plans has been concluded in preparations to celebrate its 2025 New Yam Festival.
Igwe Odiegwu also revealed that preparations are underway for his second Ofala Festival, scheduled to hold later this year and that these two festivals are among the most significant cultural events in the community because they promote unity, love, and brotherhood among the indigenes.
Speaking during a brief interview with journalists in his office in Onitsha recently, HRM Igwe Odiegwu stated that the annual New Yam Festival, celebrated with great splendor, will be held on August 8th at his palace in Umudisi village, Abacha. The Ofala Festival, he noted, will take place later in the year.
According to the monarch, the two festivals are expected to bring together both indigenes at home and those in the diaspora, while also attracting friends and well-wishers to join in the celebrations.
The traditional ruler further disclosed that this year’s New Yam Festival will be celebrated on a low-key scale as the entire cabinet focuses on preparations for his second Ofala Festival.
The Igwe assured that the New Yam ceremony will still include the traditional breaking of yams, prayers for a bountiful harvest, and homage-paying by various age grades, village groups, the town union and its affiliates, as well as friends of the community. However, he added that there will be no conferment of chieftaincy titles during the New Yam Festival, as such honors have been reserved for the Ofala celebration.
“Apart from this, I want to use this opportunity to commend Governor Chukwuma Soludo, for his effective leadership, especially in the areas of security, road construction, and infrastructure development. I also appeal to him to kindly remember my town,” he said.
Speaking at the media briefing, the traditional prime minister (Onowu) of the town, High Chief Paul Omofia, and Ambassador Jeff Uba a former President General of the community and current cabinet secretary emphasized that the New Yam Festival would be modestly observed to enable the town focus on making the second Ofala Festival a grand success. They noted that preparations are already in top gear.
Corroborating this, High Chief Engr. Chinweuba Adabanya (Ichie Ogidi), High Chief Emeka Okelo both former Presidents General of the community and Chief Ejike Okafor, the current President General, affirmed that the New Yam Festival would still be held to mark and honor the enduring peace the community has enjoyed since the ascension of HRM Igwe Godwin Nwabunwanne Odiegwu Abachacheleku III to the throne.
