The ancient kingdom of Ebem Ohafia in Ohafia LGA of Abia State today 20th September commenced the full traditional rites for its 2025 New Yam Festival (Iri Ji) with the symbolic Ikere Ji (Yam Harvest), marking the beginning of one of the community’s most cherished cultural celebrations.
The day’s activities were steeped in rich tradition, attracting indigenes, residents, and visitors eager to witness the customs of Ebem Ohafia.
In line with custom, community men harvested yams from their various farms early in the day. The highlight was the celebration of those who recorded the largest yam harvests, a symbolic recognition of hard work and agricultural success.
After harvesting, the celebrants proceeded to the village stream to wash their yams, a ritual act symbolizing purity and thanksgiving. With their harvests placed in basins, they staged a colourful procession through the three major sections of Ebem Ohafia — Ezukwu, Ekeluogo, and Ngbaga — receiving cheers and praise from jubilant onlookers.
The Ikere Ji rite is not just a celebration of food but a spiritual thanksgiving to God and the ancestors for a fruitful farming season. It also serves as a unifying event for Ebem Ohafia people, drawing together age grades, families, and cultural groups in a show of solidarity and shared identity.
According to traditional leaders, the event sets the tone for the rest of the festival, which will feature more cultural displays, thanksgiving assemblies, and communal feasts over the coming weeks.
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Emmanuel Onwuka