How HRM Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Ihenetu Is Making Global Impact Through The Annual Celebration Of Igbo New Yam Festival

NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA, ACCRA

The Iri ji Igbo, New Yam festival of the Igbo people, is practised throughout Igboland, West Africa, especially in Nigeria-Ghana, and even beyond the African continent; whereof the people celebrate their ancestral roots,  showcase the Igbo rich cultural heritage, language naunces, cuisine and touch of  hospitality.

It’s an annual cultural festival by the Igbo nation held at the end of the rainy season; which symbolizes the conclusion of a harvest and the beginning of the next cycle. Of all the Igbo cherished foods, yam has remained the king of all foods, thus, it is given a  global status as the most widely celebrated crop among the Igbos around the world.

Barely one week after the epoch-making  event of the Igbo New Yam Festival in Ghana, the sounds and bites of that  colourful ceremony have continued to dominate discuss in the cyberspace, especially among the Igbos living in Ghana, including the invited special  guests from far and near.

No doubt, this year’s edition, which is the 9th edition of the Igbo New Yam festival in Ghana, was a huge success by all standards;  independent critical opinion and dispassionate analysis. There was a very friendly weather, massive turn-out in attendance despite COVID-19 protocols,  warm and accommodating host nation, Ghana, tourists from the Caribbean, the USA, Indonesia, Guinea Conakry, South Africa, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives of the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana, the business and political class of Ghana-Nigeria, a galaxy of traditional rulers from the Ijaw nation, the Yoruba nationality, traditional rulers from the ruling Ashante Kingdom; National House of Chiefs, Regional House of Chiefs and Traditional Councils, this news outfit gathered.

The Chief Host, Eze-igbo Ghana Eze-Ohazurume, His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, alongside his Amazon of a wife, Her Royal Majesty, Ugoeze Liberty Ihenetu, seized the opportunity the medium had created to thank God for the favour of nature, rich Igbo culture and a bountiful harvest.

 He also appreciated in no small measures, the creme of elders in Council of Obi Ndigbo Ghana – Obi Eziokwu, whose show of love, tireless efforts, unflinching commitment, avowed  support and strong solidarty played strategic role in ensuring a hitch-free and successful historical 2021 Igbo New Yam Festival in Ghana on Sunday , September 19th, 2021. Indeed, it was one watershed event, which would last almost forever in the memories of a number of the  people in attendance.

During his opening address, HRM Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Ihenetu said:”Today is a remarkable day for Ndigbo in Ghana as we celebrate our New Yam. It is a day of thanksgiving for all Igbos  around the world, a day of remembrance of the legacy that our ancestors bestowed on us. We have come again to celebrate, we are here again to ask God to let us see the year 2022. We have come again to thank the gods of the land in Ghana as well as people from all walks of life, who came to celebrate with us.
As we eat the yam, so we pray that God Almighty will bless all of you”.

“We are using this opportunity, the throne of Ndigbo Ghana, to make sure that our people in Ghana and those coming in today, tomorrow and eternity will respect the traditions of Ndigbo and also the laws of our host country, Ghana.”

“We did all we could to limit the crowd because of COVID-19 protocols. You know that in the time past, we hosted  the event in such a way that we could  accomodate up to 6,000 people. But as a mark of respect to our President and the laws  of the land, we maintained modest crowd, next year God willing, we shall do it in a larger way.”

“I also thank the Eze Udos and elders in Council, who helped to take care of our people across the regions. We also thank God Almighty for keeping us alive to harvest the New Yam. “

On why the Igbos celebrate yam over other crops, HRM Eze Ihenetu maintained that it was one lasting  legacy and cultural heritage bestowed  on Ndigbo by their ancestors and it has been handed over from one generation to another.

However, looking forward to hosting the largest black nation in Ghana and the rest of the world during the historical 10th Edition of Igbo New Yam Festival in Ghana; which will also herald his 10 Years Anniversary on the royal throne of Obi Ndigbo in Ghana, a rather visionary,  pragmatic and proactive traditional ruler, Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Ihenetu and Palace elders of Obi Eziokwu have rolled out a broader people-based  developmental agenda for inclusive leadership, which aims at bringing back home Black Americans, who lost their ancestral roots and traced same to  African continent. In the same vein, build an Igbo Community, which serves as a catalyst for uniting Ndigbo and bringing them much closer home, while putting up economic empowerment schemes for a number of them, who have no source of livelihood in a foreign land.

The highpoint of the event was the cutting of the New Yam by the Monarchy of Ezeigbo Ghana and conferment of  chieftaince titles on deserved Igbo sons and daughters as well as other patriotic Nigerians in recognition of their immense contributions towards the promotion of Igbo culture and their service to God and humanity through philanthropy.

On the spotlight also was a presentation of an award of dedicated service to the Chief of Staff to His Royal Majesty Eze, Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Ihenetu , Chief Harrison Kalu, as Star of Igbo Culture with a 9 carrat gold award plague.

The event witnessed dignatries from all walks of life who thronged to ‘The UnderBridge’ venue of the New Yam festival, as traditional Igbo dancers, Igba Ndieze, masquerades of different sizes, Bongo Live Band and other cultural dancers from Yoruba, Itsekiri, Ijaw, etc, took turns to pay home to His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Ihenetu – Eze Ohazurume of Ghana, who is working assiduously hard to put the image and culture of the Igbo race in the centerstage of global attention through the annual celebration of Igbo New Yam festival in Ghana.

– Njoku MacDonald Obinna, an eye witness reporter from Nigeria, writes in from East Legon, Accra, Ghana.He is a Media Consultant|PR-Expert, 
Publisher, 4th Estate Reporters,.