By Mike Nnamah
The Amawbia Community in Awka South Local Government Area, Saturday September, 28, the New Yam. The event commenced at the palace of the Regent, Chief (Arch) Nnaemeka Maduka, after cutting the roast new yam into four pieces and eating a small portion of it to the admiration of the people.
Earlier on, the Regent had made the ceremonial breaking of the kola nut; in the presence of some Nze-na-Ozo and Isi-Isiakpu elders.
The event later shifted to the new civic centre where the people gathered for the ceremony.
The chairman of the occasion, Chief Francis Anyinwa, in his opening remarks, sued for the unity, peace and progress of the community, hoping that God would always give the people a bountiful harvest of crops every year.
The Regent Chief Nnaemeka Maduka, while breaking the kola-nut, thanked God for the year’s new yam festival and called upon the people to always find a way to make the community progress. He later gave seed yams for cultivation to all the village representatives as a means of enhancing the progress of their various villages, and hoping that next year’s feast would be better.
In his address at the occasion, the President-General of Amawbia Town Union (ATU), Mr. Joseph Nwufo, thanked and expressed his unalloyed appreciation to all age grades, villages and other invitees that came to grace the occasion.
In the same vein, the President of Njikoka Age Grade, Amawbia, Prophet Charles Menuba, noted that the festival went well, even as he prayed for God’s blessings upon his people.
Speaking, the President of Obunwanne Age Grade, Amawbia, Hon. Joseph Igwebuike, remarked that the ceremony went well but urged the organizing committee to be more proactive and embrace all age grades.
Others who spoke to Fides at the event included, the chairman of Ezimezi Village Development Association, Mr. Ejike Chiedozie, and the Deputy Chairlady, Ngene Village Women’s Association, Mrs Ifeoma Nweke, described the event as a success, while praying for the unity, love and progress of the community.
In another development, the eldest man in Amawbia; Nze Nweke Igwedibia, expressed his joy over the new yam festival and implored the people to come together for the unity, peace and progress of the community.
A spectacular moment during the ceremony was that all the five aspirants to the traditional stool of the community were ushered into the venue in a colourful manner, with dignifying dancing troupes.
In attendance at the ceremony were eminent sons and daughters of Amawbia; both at home and in diaspora, age grades of all villages and their associations.
Others who attended the ceremony were captains of industries and political office holders, among whom were the Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Obi Nwankwo, and his Transport counterpart, Christian Madubuko, among others.
Highlights of the event were the traditional royal homage to the Regent by various age grades, villages, individuals and associations, cultural dances and masquerades.
In a chat with Fides, the chairman of the organizing committee, Nze Peter Onwugbolu, expressed gratitude to God for having made the ceremony successful, thanking all who contributed positively to the overall success of the event.
