By Adaeze Onuora, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mrs Chinwe Okah has reiterated the importance of the Ojiji Izhi Festival, saying that it is a ceremony normally performed at the ancestral home of Amegu before Izhi man begins to eat new yam.
While calling on the people to continue promote their culture, maintain identity and age-long tradition, adding that culture is a common heritage.
Mrs Okah, during an interactive session with newsmen at the occasion of Izhi Nnodo Ekumenyi Ojiji 2023 Grand finale of the New yam festival on Saturday, noted that Ojiji is significant and it’s the culture of the people, that every Izzi man whether at home or in the diaspora accepts to give respect to age-long tradition.
Chinwe stressed that she is from Ohofia-Agba in Ishielu local government Area, that Amagu and Agba are brothers, they do things in common, and that’s why people from Agba are here to grace the occasion of Ojiji Izhi Yam Festival
” You will see when the people of Amagu were sharing all the goodies and the people of Agba also gave us our shares because we are like brothers”
“Culture is our inheritance, and it’s the culture, we have not seen for a long time, This Ojiji festival is significant and all people from inside villages, and different places are here projecting their culture, Maidens are here showcasing the culture and this is where you see someone who ripens for marriage in the old days, through their display.”
Okah noted that Agba and Amagu have the same tradition and cultural intensity of the celebration of the new yam festival, She added in her village at Agba, they have done their new yam festival but their tradition and culture of Amagu are the same.
” My village Agba, we have done our new yam festival, even masquerade came, the tradition is same, exactly what is happening here in Amagu, is what happened in our village Agba ”
She encourages everyone in the society to keep promoting their culture and traditions because culture is our common heritage, cultural value, and identity.
” You can see children, mother and every other person here are very happy with the culture,” the Commissioner said
On her part, Dr. Nkechi Emma' Echiegu, the wife of the Chief of Government House Ebonyi State, in an interview disclosed during the occasion of the Ojiji Izhi Festival, that culture is the identity of the people and pride of a people, where real people come home with their traditional, nature and attires to showcase age long tradition
His words;
“The celebration of the Ojiji Izhi Festival, it’s massive, if you look, you will see maidens, It’s awesome, I love culture, and different things happening today I am overwhelmed and extremely excited, about what is happening, You can see yams, you can see men, children, everybody in a happy mood and a there’s a lot of goodies.
“I’m happy this Ojiji festival happening when woman are doing their August meeting, and August meeting is where women review all we are doing, to know, if we’re on the right track, and also to retrace our mistakes because a woman is a vessel of creature and honour”
She stressed that New Yam signifies birth, new life and a new beginning and the Ojiji festival is where decisions are taken that concern all people of Izzi land, and any decisions taken here nobody can change, I happen to be a daughter of the former (king)Eze Amagu, he ruled for 45 years.
