BY CHINEDU AMEDE
Indigenes of Obetim Uno community in Afor Clan, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, have kick-started their annual New Yam festival, known as Ifijiokwu, with the traditional appeasement of their gods of yams, which represent their “king of crops”.
The Odugwu-Ebi (traditional prime minister) of the community, High Chief Johnson Okwese, who also serves as the Odugwu-Ebi of the Afor Clan, explained in an interview with our reporter that the Ifijiokwu festival marks the end of their farming season and the harvest of new yams.
According to him, the deity is usually served by one Chief Monday Onyegu with old yams and corn, signifying the ushering in of the new yams. The Odogwu-Ebi revealed that the appeasement of the Ifijiokwu deity was to terminate the period of hunger, which begins in the month of June and ends in September each year. He added that the deity, which represents their goddess of farming, guides and protects farmers from all forms of danger and ensures a bountiful harvest.
Our reporter, who witnessed this year’s celebration, observed that the shrine of the Ifijiokwu deity was beautifully decorated with fresh palm leaves by the Ogbenta Age Grade of the community. Members of the group engaged in traditional wrestling practice ahead of September 30th, when the grand finale featured wrestling contests between indigenes and wrestlers from neighbouring Ogbedigbo and Utagba-Ogbe communities.
Speaking to our reporter shortly after the wrestling contest, the Okpala-Uku of the community, Igwe Oduegwu Okwese, thanked God and their ancestors for a peaceful and successful celebration. He commended the indigenes, particularly the organisers and youths, for their peaceful disposition. The Okpala-Uku also prayed for a safe upcoming farming season and expressed gratitude to representatives from neighbouring communities who attended the wrestling contest.
The President-General of the community, Chief Sunny Neme, who expressed satisfaction with the large turnout of indigenes, described the 2025 edition of the celebration as encouraging, noting that it signified the people’s interest and commitment to the promotion and development of their culture. He pointed out that incorporating the Ifijiokwu festival and wrestling contests into their arts and cultural programmes would boost both Delta State and the Federal Government’s economy through tourism potential.
A prominent youth of the community, Comrade Emeke Ishiaka, who also spoke to our reporter, noted that there was an improvement in the 2025 celebration compared to previous years.
He pointed out that awareness among the indigenes about the benefits and importance of culture and tradition had increased. Comrade Ishiaka advised the people to redouble their commitment to the development of their culture and tradition to ensure better celebrations in the future.
The grand finale of the celebration featured wrestling contests between the community’s wrestlers and representatives from Ogbedigbo and Utagba-Ogbe, neighbouring communities.
The celebration continues with appeasement of their ancestors for the next nine days, using roasted yams, dried fish, and bush meat blended with palm oil soup, traditionally called Otite by the indigenes.
