Chief Sir Basil Maduka Tuesday celebrated New Yam Festival (Iri Ji Mbaise) in his Akpodim Ezinihitte country home. The event attracted many illustrious sons and daughters of Mbaise Nation as well guests from across Imo State.
The occasion which was chaired by the President- General of Amudi Obizi, Engr. Chimezie Onyenekwe, an Oil and Gas Mogul and the CEO of Paily Services Nig Ltd, was graced by some members of Ezuruzu Mbaise, Ndi Ezeji, including Ezeji Professor (Emeritus) T.U. Nwala, Dr. Shaa Okorie, Hon. Chief Dr. Bede Nzenwa, Hon. Hon. Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, Hon. Barr. Anyadike Nwosu (Member IMHA, Ezinihitte State Constituency).
Nze Barr. Robert Ahaneku, the President-General of Ezinihitte Development Association (EDA), Chief Jezreel Eke a chieftain of PDP in Owerri North, Mazi Chris Okoronkwo, Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu, High Chief Mike Nwachukwu, High Chief Athan Ogbonna among others too numerous to list.
Indeed, Sir Basil Maduka added colour to the 2022 Iri Ji Mbaise Festival.
He celebrated the event with pomp and pageantry even as different traditional dance groups, including but not exhaustive of Ekere Avu which played "nkwa ji", Abigbo Mbaise, Igba ndi Eze, the Masquerade group from Amumara as well as Oku Nwa Mama and his group kept the people on the edge of their seats with musical entertainment.
The climax of the ceremony was the cutting of the new yam ( iwa ji) which was performed by the members of Ezeji as well as other dignitaries who took turns to perform the ritual (iwa ji).
It could be recalled that Iri Ji Mbaise (New Yam) is a cultural festival which the good people of Mbaise Nation observe yearly (15th August) to mark the beginning of eating of new yams. It is equally a day earmarked to thank Almighty God for blessing the people with bountiful harvests and keeping them alive and healthy to enjoy the proceeds of their farms. It is also instructive to note that no Mbaise person or groups can celebrate Iri Ji Mbaise Festival before the 15th of August.
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