The Chairman of Mbarama Agbama Community in Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area in Abia State, Ezinwa Innocent Nwachukwu has described new yam festival (Iri ji) as a way of appreciating God for life and a bountiful harvest.
Speaking at the Village Square, during the celebration, Ezinwa Nwachukwu urged the youth to shun any form of violence but embrace peace while the festival lasted.
Nwachukwu, who gave a brief history of the new yaw festival in their community, also thanked God for preserving the people of Mbara Agbama to witness the new yam festival.
A Community leader, Mazi Ikechukwu Onyemachi, who described culture as people’s way of life, said he was happy that the festival attracted personalities from all walks of life.
He advised his people not to see the period as a time of conflict, illicit drugs ingestions or going on crime spree but as a time to observe, preserve, maintain and practice their cultural heritage.
Our Reporter observed that the people of Mbarama Agbama Community commenced the new yam festival with funfair.
