Magnus Aluma
The annual new yam celebration of the Izzi speaking people of Ebonyi State has become a binding force for the entire clan, both at home and in the diaspora.
The celebration popularly called ‘Ojiji Izhi’ in the people’s local parlance has remained symbolic in the life and tradition of the people, as it has continued to be the pivot on which the cultural values of the Izzi clan rotate.
It is significant in the lives of the people of the clan that is pre dominantly farmers, as it offers yam producers an ample opportunity reverence yam, as the king of all crops.
Like in any Igbo traditional society, no reasonable Izzi farmer, especially a yam producer, is supposed to eat, or even to harvest his yam, before Ojiji festival.
The new yam festival, ‘Ojiji Izhi,’ marks the beginning of a new year in the Izzi cultural calendar. It is also an event to officially flag off the harvest of new yams by farmers.
This annual celebration is also a veritable instrument of reconciliation, unification, and peace building in the Izzi speaking areas of Ebonyi State.
The State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Uchenna Igwe, told journalists at Idembia Ishieke, venue for this year’s celebration, that the event marks a new era of unity, reconciliation and collective purpose among the people of the area.
The commissioner described Ojiji Izhi as a significant cultural institution that transcends celebration, saying the annual festival provides the Izzi people with an opportunity to reconcile differences, reconnect with their ancestral roots and mobilise for collective development.
His words: “the festival marks the beginning of a new year in the traditional calendar of the Izzi people and offers an avenue for members of the community to review the past, strengthen existing bonds and chart a common course for the future.
“Ojiji Izzi is one of the symbolic activities that Izzi people do not play with. It is a moment of reconciliation; it is a moment of coming together to form a formidable force for achieving our purpose and aspirations in the new year.”
The Commissioner explained that the choice of Idembia Ishieke Central Playground for the community’s August Meeting and celebration of this year’s new yam celebration was
deliberate, as the venue is the ancestral home of the Ishieke people.
“This is where Ishieke people started before migrating to Benue axis. This is their central playground, and in our local dialect, it is called ‘Eze-Eduphu’ Idembia Ishieke. It is the biggest playground as far as Ishieke Mgbomeze Dynasty is concerned,” he explained.
Igwe, an indigene of Izzi, said the decision to return to the ancestral playground was to preserve the community’s history and transmit its cultural heritage to younger generations.
Continuing, he said, “the festival and associated cultural activities had continued to bring our people together across various sections of the community.
“Sporting events, traditional gatherings and other activities that formed part of this year’s celebration, actually created platforms for interaction and reconciliation.”
The commissioner recalled that in the past, the people of Idembia Ishieke had experienced periods of division, but said that the renewed spirit of togetherness would usher in a new chapter in the history of the community.
Igwe further said, “Idembia Ishieke is known for unity and one purpose. At a time, we were divided, but God helped us through our prayers, and today being our new yam festival, we are united again. We have come together.
“This is new Idembia Ishieke. We have summoned ourselves, talked to ourselves and understood ourselves. God answered our prayers and we have come together again. That is why we named ourselves New Idembia.”
The commissioner urged the people to guard the renewed unity jealously and resist attempts by individuals or groups to exploit differences for selfish interests.
Another prominent son of Izzi clan and Deputy Senate Chief, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, described the celebration as a remarkable cultural experience that further strengthened his appreciation of the customs of Izzi people.
Nwebonyi who represents Ebonyi North Senatorial District in the Senate, stressed the importance of preserving indigenous traditions despite the changing socio-political environment.
He observed that the new yam festival had promoted unity and development among the people, and said the traditional institutions and the various components of Izzi land had demonstrated a shared understanding of their responsibilities to one another.
“In summary, I can tell you we are united. We are firm. We are indivisible. Nobody will distract us because distracting us means going back to Egypt. We can’t go back to Egypt, he emphasised.
The senator further reaffirmed his confidence in the collective direction of the people, saying the Izzi people were moving forward as brothers under their leadership.
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