Grand finale: Ebonyi clan’s new yam festival in style

Martha Iloke, Abakaliki

The ancestral home of the Ezza Nation, Okpoku Ezekuna, reverberated with joy and tradition as the Ezza clan gathered to celebrate the New Yam festival.

It was a significant cultural event that showcased the clan’s rich heritage and traditions. The festival, which is an integral part of the community’s identity, brought together people from all walks of life to celebrate the harvest season and the importance of yam farming in the area.

The festival featured a range of cultural displays and performances, including traditional dances, music, and art. The event was marked by a sense of community and togetherness, with people coming together to celebrate their shared heritage and traditions.

The New Yam Festival also highlighted the economic and social benefits of the event. It promoted social cohesion and community bonding among the people of Ezza.

During the festival, community leaders and stakeholders emphasized the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of Ezza.

They called for efforts to document and promote the festival, as well as to pass down the cultural knowledge and traditions associated with it to younger generations.

The Okeaku Ezza Festival, a significant cultural event in Ebonyi State, has been lauded by commissioners in the state government.

The commissioners emphasized the importance of culture in shaping the identity and values of the people

The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, and Business Development Agency, Oguzorkanu Ofianwali, described culture as the existence of a clan or community and likened it to a religion.

He emphasized that the Okeaku Ezza Festival is a celebration of unity, peace, and the existence of the Ezza people. He also praised the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for promoting peace and unity in the state.

Other commissioners, who spoke at the event, highlighted the significance of culture in shaping the values and behavior of individuals.

The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Francis Orji described culture as the way people live their lives and encouraged people to embrace their culture.

On his part, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Chinedu Nkah, emphasized that culture is a key to life and that those who do not value culture are often the ones who spoil society.

They called on the people to continue to cherish their culture and to promote unity and peace. They emphasized that the state governor’s commitment to peace and unity has created an environment conducive to development and progress.