Nnobi Community Celebrates Ikpo Ji Festival

In efforts towards the maintenance of the Igbo culture and tradition, Nnobi community in Idemili South Local Government Area has commemorated the Ikpo Ji festival. Ikpo Ji is the process of cleansing and blessing of the newly harvested yam before it is sold at the native market of the community, or before eaten by any individual. In this report, our Correspondent, Emmanuel Chigbata who was at Nnobi to capture the event and reports that the Ikpo Ji festival of Nnobi is a farming traditional ceremony celebrated on the last Afor market of July every year to mark the beginning of selling of new yam at Afor Nnobi Market.

The ceremony is performed by the festival of Nnobi before any other person including the traditional ruler of the community celebrates the Iri Ji ceremony. During the festival, the Isiana of Nnobi, Chief John Asiana was accompanied by many Chiefs and others, including the traditional drummers who matched to the Afor Market where many gathered in anticipation of bounty harvest to perform the rituals of the new yam.

After the presentation of the symbolic yam in a brown weaved basket by Asiana Nnobi, the yams were divided into four, representing the four market days in Igbo land, Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo which was equally sold and bought by notable members of the community. While thanking God for his support through the farming season,  the Asiana also offered prayers to God for the relative peace, unity, progress and development enjoyed by the community.

The mammoth crowd later converged on the Aho Square, Umuona to pay homage to Asiana by different groups. Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman, Transition Committee of the community, Chief Chris Ezeani, and other stakeholders, Chief John Ngwuagu and Chief Gabriel Ezeonu said the celebration was to alleviate the suffering of the masses who have been waiting to eat new yam. Some of the members of  Ndi Ichie, including Dr Mike Omenugha, Chief Oguejifor Okwudili, Chief Joe Ufudo, who appreciated God for clement weather during the celebration, assured to always sustain their cultural heritage and urged the youths to imbibe their culture and shun youth restiveness. The high point of the event was a masquerade display accompanied by cultural songs with instruments such as gongs and drums.