The Sole Administrator of Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, Hon. Larry Obinna Chikwe, has announced the preparedness of the Area to host the 2024 iriji Mbaise annual Cultural Festival on August 15.
The SOLAD made this known while addressing the Press, shortly after a meeting with Ndi Ezeji Mbaise at the Local Government Headquarters, Oru Ahiara on Tuesday, July, 2, 2024.
According to him, he had already briefed Ezuruezu Mbaise, the apex Socio – Political Body that binds the three Local Government Areas of Mbaise Nation together but expressed surprise that the Chairman resigned afterwards, which put the Yam Custodians of the Land (Ndi Ezeji) in the urgent need to get started with the preparations.
He expressed satisfaction with their choice of EzeJi Dr. Kachi Nwoga, who is the Coordinator of Ndi Ezeji Mbaise, as the Chairman 2024 iriji Mbaise Central Planning Committee.
Hon. Chikwe recalled that every Government in power Graces the occasion each year, and assured Ndi Ezeji Mbaise and the entire Mbaise Nation that he will ensure a perfect hosting of the this year’s Event, better than the previous years.
He pointed out that Iriji brings Development, and as the Committee takes off to make this year’s festival work, there’s no time for trial and error, stressing that Iriji Festival is primarily Ndi Ezeji affair but in order to blow it up, the Landlords, which are Ndi Eze and the Socio Political apex Leaders make the event worthwhile.
However, in his remarks, Ezeji Dr. Onyekachi Nwoga who is the Coordinator of Ndi Ezeji Mbaise and Chairman, Central Planning Committee of Iriji Mbaise 2024, said his appointment as Chairman iriji 2024 Organizing Task Team was based the resolution passed by Ndi Ezeji on Saturday June 29, 2024 in order to salvage iriji for this year.
He noted that Ndi Ezeji are Custodians of Yam, which is the Chief Crop in Mbaise, and every year, the Yam Festival is more than the display and fun fare as a lot of work go in to produce the flamboyant display of the Culture of the Land.
“Mbaise does not eat Yam until the new Yam Festival is conducted. Most Markets in Mbaise used to have their Shrines around the market Area and the people of those days used to visit the Shrine on different market days to offer thanks to their Chi for the New Yam Festival before embarking on eating and selling of New Yams.
“Until around 1955 when some Ndi Ezeji were invited to Owerri and had to agree to the unification of thanking the only one true God on August 15 for the gift of Yam and its bountiful Harvest each Year. Ndi Ezeji have always insisted on the New Yam Festival, even during the COVID Era.”
He stated, pointing out that Iriji Mbaise is the biggest festival of Mbaise Nation with over 94 Communities.
Also speaking, Ezeji Chief Jerald Anyanwu noted that according to the age long arrangements, it falls on Ahiazu to host the 2924 Iriji Mbaise Festival.
He advised that following the situation of things in the Country, he would like it to be done in a low key and carry everyone along but wouldn’t want what happened in the past to reoccur.
Chief Anyanwu who has been a member of the Knight of St Mulumba for over 35 years, described the event as a time to thank God for bountiful harvest and honoring God of Yam (Ahiajoku), pointing out that if the annual festival is in anyway fetish, he wouldn’t be part of it.
On his part, Eziji Agada expressed happiness that Ndi Ezeji took the bull by the horns to make the annual Cultural Festival a success, pointing out that the significance is to promote the Culture of the land.
He explained that Ndi Ezeji and the Church agreed that the festival holds every 15th of August, coinciding with Feast of Assumption in the Catholic Church.
Also Present at the meeting were; Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Imo State, Ezeji Dr. Anamelechi Aguwa, Chief Ezeji Calistus Anochima, Vice President Ezeji Dan Obani, Secretary General Ezeji Christopher Ojilere, EzeJi Calistus Ogu, PRO, among others.
