The New Yam Festival stands as a pillar of cultural unity across Igbo land, drawing Ikem natives back home from all corners of the globe. Last week, the Ikem-Asokwa communities in the Isi-Uzo area of Enugu State held their annual Oruroezhi celebration.
Engr. Ifebuche Nnamani, a traditional custodian, explained that the event typically falls on the final Afor Sunday of July. The festivities span several days, kicking off on Eke market day, when traditionalists harvest their initial crops as an offering of gratitude. Ahead of the harvest, residents are required to tidy their compounds and clear out old yams to welcome the new stock.
Saturday, or Orie market day, serves as the primary window for harvesting and trading. To honor the yam as the king of crops, no other produce is permitted in the designated trading area. The day concludes with the Iwa Ji ceremony, where elders taste the new yam alongside traditional rites and masquerade performances. By Sunday, homes prepare festive meals of pounded yam and soups to share with neighbors, while evening hours are set aside for offerings to Ufiejioku, the deity of the harvest.
The celebration wraps up on Monday with Ote Mgbereke, a traditional wrestling tournament. Victors are awarded the title of Agu Mgba and granted the honor of dancing to traditional music. Beyond the rites, the 2026 event featured humanitarian outreach, including medical services and communal infrastructure projects.
HRH Igwe Engr. Okechukwu Ogbodo highlighted that Oruroezhi signifies the end of hunger and the start of the Igbo calendar year. It remains a vital occasion to express gratitude for agricultural abundance, fertile soil, and the overall well-being of the farming community.
