OFEKATA 1 AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY AWO-OMAMMA CELEBRATE NEW YAM FESTIVAL IN GRAND STYLE

 By Ike Njoku

The memories of October 30,2025,will continue to linger in the hearts of indigenes of Ubogwu Ofekata 1 Autonomous Community Awo-omamma in Oru East LGA of Imo State,as the community celebrated their new yam festival with pomp and pageantry.

The event held at Ubogwu Secondary School field,commenced with a thanksgiving holy mass at St Mary's Catholic Church Ubogwu,after which natives and guests retired to the secondary school field.

The epoch making event had all the  kindreds,Development centres,including Ubogwu Young Golden Club pay homage to the traditional ruler of the community.

In their various remarks, Umunamba, Okpanaji,Obilofia kindreds, expressed satisfaction on the leadership qualities of the royal father and prayed God to continue to protect him and grant him more wisdom.

Fielding question from journalists,the youthful royal father,HRH Eze Ethelberth Ononobi,disclosed that they celebrate their new yam in the month of October every year,adding that it is a time set aside by Almight God for feast.

Eze Ononobi further hinted that the significance of new yam festival is to thank God for bumper harvest and to ask him to continue to bless them for more fruitful harvest.

Contrary to speculations that new yam festival is a fetish festival for idol worshippers,the vibrant and ebullient traditional ruler said that new yam festival is ordained by God,disclosing that it is a time for communities to showcase that farming is  tradition and to thank God for a succesful and bumper harvest.

Odemjiji women cultural dance,Obilofia women and Okpanachi women group thrilled the audience with their cultural dance.

Seemingly,there were masqurade displays,as the popular "ajo ofia" masqurade was on ground to entertain the audience.

In his remarks,the President-General of the Community,Chief Austin Igweche,thanked the royal father for his innovations  and for bringing back some forgotten culture and prayed God to continue to protect their community.