Social | Excitement as 2022 annual Iriji Mbaise festival begins
Excitement as 2022 annual Iriji Mbaise festival begins
The 2022 Iriji Mbaise festival has been officially celebrated by the Ezeji in council at Ezinihite Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
The ceremony hosted at Itu, Ezinihitte marked the beginning of the new yam year by the people of Mbaise nation worldwide.
In his remarks, Ezeji Prof Nwala who chaired the event recalled that the origin of the ceremony predates the colonial era, and said the current generation will not allow the age-long tradition of holding the ceremony every 15th day of August to die.
He said Iriji is not strange as the fore father's of Mbaise decided that yam is the king of all crops in the land, which has made Mbaise people round the world to mark the day of it's celebration as a unique day.
Ezeji Dr Kachi Nwoga, the co-ordinator of Iri-Ji for Ndi Ezeji called on politicians to allow the Ezeji's whose responsibility it is to organize the celebration of the cultural rites be allowed to keep the tradition and the dream of the festival alive.
He urged politicians to know that politics and culture should stay side by side for the growth of our society. Meanwhile, the high point of the ceremony was the official Ezeji cutting of the yam (Iwa-Ji) which was performed by Ezeji Prof Nwala which thus officially declared open the consumption of the new yams for the harvest season of 2022 to the people of Mbaise worldwide. The Iwa-Ji was preceded by the prestigious Nkwa-Ji dance by Ndi Ezeji as they were heralded into the arena. Featuring prominently included Ezeji Fabia Imo Okoronkwo, Ezeji Rock Emeronye, Ezeji Ewelike, and Ezeji Nze Akatobi.
The event was celebrated by Mbaise people worldwide who joined through the zoom live stram and other social media network to celebrate and connect with people at home. Some of those who joined remotely included Ezeji Aozie Aguwa, Ezeji Mathias Ezearu, Ezeji Chidi Nwoga, Dr Sylvester Ugo, Sir Emeka Okoro, Engr Carol Nwosu and Mrs Ugonma Okafor.
