Chinazaekpere Chinwendu, Reporter
Umuahia, Abia State |September 5, 2025 —
The Ohuhu community in Umuahia North Local Government Area was aglow on Thursday, September 4, 2025 with color, music, and tradition as sons and daughters gathered to celebrate the annual Iwa Ji, the New Yam Festival.
The ceremony, which remains one of the most cherished cultural events in the community, attracted prominent personalities, traditional rulers, community leaders, and political representatives, including the Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha.
In a statement to newsmen, Hon. Aguocha described the festival as more than a cultural ritual.
He said it is a reminder of the values that define the people and bind communities together.
“Festivals like Iwa Ji strengthen our identity and heritage. They remind us of who we are as a people, our shared values, and the importance of agriculture in sustaining our lives and traditions,” Aguocha remarked.
The lawmaker commended the Ohuhu people for upholding their cultural heritage despite modernization and globalization, stressing that cultural preservation must go hand in hand with development.
“Our traditions must not be lost in the face of modern challenges. Instead, they should serve as a foundation upon which we build progress. Culture gives us pride, unity, and direction, and it is my commitment to support initiatives that preserve and promote it,” he stated.
Hon. Aguocha also used the opportunity to acknowledge the role of farmers and rural communities in sustaining food security, noting that yam, the centerpiece of the festival, remains a symbol of hard work, prosperity, and continuity.
“This celebration is not only about yam as food but about yam as a cultural emblem. It represents resilience, productivity, and the dignity of labor. As representatives of the people, we will continue to seek ways of empowering farmers and promoting agriculture,” he added.
The lawmaker reaffirmed his commitment to cultural promotion and community development across his constituency, assuring the people that their heritage will always have a voice at the national stage.
“I want to assure you that in Abuja, I will continue to speak for our people, not just on issues of infrastructure and governance, but also on matters of cultural relevance. Our culture is our strength, and our unity is our shield,” Aguocha declared.
The Ohuhu Iwa Ji featured traditional dances, masquerade displays, prayers of thanksgiving, and the symbolic breaking and sharing of the new yam. The event served as both a celebration of harvest and a reaffirmation of the community’s unity and identity.
Hon. Aguocha concluded by urging younger generations to embrace and take pride in their cultural heritage.
“To our youths, I say: never be ashamed of where you come from. Culture is not backwardness, it is strength. Let us continue to promote Iwa Ji and all our traditions, for in doing so, we keep our society alive and thriving,” he said.
0 Comments