From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
The traditional ruler of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State and Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Igwe Samuel Asadu, has celebrated the 2026 New Yam Festival with his subjects, friends and well-wishers, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people.
The festival, held on Saturday, October 17, at Grace Land, Edem-Ani, featured traditional rites, colourful cultural displays and the gathering of prominent personalities from within and outside the community.
Declaring the event open, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Silas Ifeanyi, commended Igwe Asadu for his commitment to community development, noting that his leadership had brought greater prominence to Edem-Ani Ancient Kingdom.
He described the monarch’s determination to sustain the annual festival as a welcome development, adding that such cultural celebrations were essential for preserving the community’s traditions and passing them on to future generations.
The President-General of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom, Chief Comrade Obute Chinelo, said the festival provided an opportunity to celebrate the community’s cultural heritage and appreciate the monarch’s contributions to its development.
He listed some of the monarch’s achievements to include the construction of a 3.3-kilometre road, the establishment of a hospital providing free medical services, the provision of boreholes, the establishment of a food bank, and human capacity development initiatives for youths and other residents.
Obute urged the youths to uphold peace, unity, discipline and mutual respect, stressing that a peaceful environment was essential for sustainable development.
In his remarks, Igwe Asadu, popularly known as Igwe Ogadagidi, who is a former chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Council of Traditional Leaders of Africa, Nigeria chapter, described the Iwa Ji festival as an occasion to honour the ancestors, celebrate the harvest and thank God for preserving the lives of the people.
“We planted, we tended, and God has blessed us with a bountiful harvest,” the monarch said.
He noted that the New Yam Festival went beyond feasting and merrymaking, explaining that it offered an opportunity to reflect on the kingdom’s progress, assess his leadership and renew his commitment to the welfare of his subjects.
Igwe Asadu identified economic empowerment, agricultural development through a back-to-farm policy, improved healthcare, enhanced education, and peace and security as key priorities for the kingdom.
“As we celebrate this year’s New Yam Festival, let us remember that it is more than a festival; it is a celebration of life, labour, harvest, thanksgiving and hope for the future,” he said.
The monarch urged his subjects to work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, more peaceful, and more united kingdom, emphasising the importance of collective responsibility in achieving sustainable development.
The festival attracted members of the Igwe-in-Council, traditional rulers from Enugu State and neighbouring communities, members of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Traditional Council, academics and politicians.
Highlights of the celebration included a ceremonial 21-gun salute, the performance of the traditional Iwa Ji rite by the monarch, and the presentation of yams and fowls to visiting traditional rulers.
Other activities included homage-paying and presentation of gifts by villages within the community and friends of the monarch, displays by hunters and masquerades, and colourful cultural dance performances, all underscoring the rich traditions and communal spirit of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom.
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