The umbrella organization for all Ozo title holders in Igbo land, Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo Nigeria (NONIN), has called for the unification of the New Yam Festival across all Igbo communities. This call was made by the National President of NONIN, Professor Ike Oluka, at the 2024 Ili-ji (New Yam Celebration) held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at the Enugu Sports Club, Gulf Section, Enugu.
According to Professor Oluka, unifying the celebration of Iliji Ndi Igbo has the potential to strengthen Igbo unity and socio-cultural identity, as well as reposition the Igbo nation on a bigger national and international visibility. He reiterated the need for all hands to be on deck to make the unification of the Iliji celebration a reality and admonished that all Igbo leaders in authority should strive to reposition the Igbo identity, authenticity, and social order.
The New Yam Festival is rooted in ancient Igbo cosmology, which prescribes that the Supreme Being (Chi-Ukwu) is the source of life and every other creation that complements the world. The Igbo, like the Greeks, believe that to access the Supreme Being for a particular purpose, one must pass through a specific cosmic messenger or a god in charge of such constituency. For instance, to access God for bountiful agricultural yields, one should plead the Ahajioku. Specifically, one should invoke Njoku, the god of yam for bumper harvests; the Amadioha, the god of thunder and lightning; Ala, the earth goddess; Ikenga, for strength and valour; Agwu for health and divination, Idemili, the god of sea and river; Anyanwu for Sun.
The New Yam festival is the Igbo expression of gratitude to the Almighty God for sparing lives from one farming season to the other, for bumper harvests, and also a supplication for more lives and prosperity. The use of yam to symbolize all other crops is because the Igbo regard yam as the king of all crops. Despite Western influences, the New Yam Festival remains a cherished tradition among the Igbo people.
Rev. Fr. Professor Nnamdi Nwankwo, Rector of Enugu State Polytechnic Iwollo, supported the unification call. He canvassed for a universal celebration of Ili-ji Ndigbo on a day recognized as a public holiday for the entire Igboland and the Diaspora. Prof. Nwankwo argued that if the Igbo in the Diaspora can centralize the new yam celebration in their respective countries, it is imperative for the Igbo to adopt unification in Igbo land.
Prof. Nwankwo further stated that, in Christendom, Christmas is celebrated on the same day. “My question is, why can’t New Yam Festival (Ili Ji) enjoy what Christmas has been enjoying for the past 2000 years? If the Church can do it, the Igbos can do it as well. The Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo can do it also.” Nwankwo asserted that “we have so much in the life of the Igboman that suggests unity, but nothing can unify us better than the food that sustained our ancestors ab initio.”
His Royal Highness, Igwe Engr. (Dr) Michael Uzoigwe, Chinenyeze II of Uwani Amokwe and Chairman of the event, explained that the New Yam celebration is one festival common to all parts of Igbo land, and its unification is one of the easiest ways to mobilize Igbo land towards consensus.
Other prominent Igbo leaders supporting unification include Prince Emeka Onyesoh, Oba Agbalanze of Nri and National Leader of NONIN, Ozo Ramsy Onyia (Nnabu Odii of Ngwo), Ozo Prof. Chike Anibeze (Ijele Ezeagu), Prof. CJC Akubilo (Ozo Madukanaya), Ozo Prof. Chris Ogwugwuam Ezeagwu – the Onu-Obi of Ezi Kingdom, Delta State, Ozo Johnbosco Offorbuike (Osisioma Achi), Ozo Donatus Oguejiofor (Omenihe of Eke), Ozo Joel Eke (Ozo Okedinachi of Okpogho), Ozo Chief Emma Ugwu (Enyidiru), Barr Emeka Odenigwe (Ozo Nnanyelugo), among others.
The group resolved to take the new yam unification advocacy to the South East Governors, traditional rulers, town union presidents, churches, and opinion molders.
By embracing a unified New Yam Festival, the Igbo people can reinforce their cultural heritage and promote unity among their communities.
The benefits of unification include:
– Strengthened Igbo Unity
– Increased Visibility
– Cultural Preservation
With this call to action, Nzuko Ozo Ndi Igbo Nigeria (NONIN) hopes to bring together all Igbo communities to celebrate their rich cultural heritage and promote a sense of unity and belonging.
Signed:
Ozo Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia
National Deputy Leader, NONIN