Royal father-designate, James Ibenyenwa Diala, will according to traditional norms declare the Iri-ji in his Obiangwu community in Ngor Okpala LGA, open. The ceremony is expected to take place in his country home of the Diala Royal Dynasty in Umuwaoma Egbelu Obiangwu in Ngor-Okpala LGA on Thursday the 18th day of October.
The event will be declared open with an opening speech by the palace secretary High Chief Fidelis Okere, ushering the royal father-designate in esoteric language for him to make the declaration.
The royal father-designate Diala will make traditional sacrifices to create windows that will notify the ancestors of the commencement of the Iri-ji festival, to seek their leave to celebrate it, and to invite them to join their descendants in the celebration.
This ritual signifying the permission to celebrate the festival, has been obtained from Ala the earth deity, and Joku the yam goddess, and the ancestors. The conclusion of the rituals is expected to be heralded by the booming of canons. It is also expected that when Eze-designate Diala has eaten his yam, the generality of Obiangwu will then be free to celebrate and eat their new yams as they so wish.
As is customary, the royal father-designate will make intercessory prayers by way of atonement to appease the gods in case any of his subjects had sinned against Almighty God and the land.
Finally, Eze the Eze-designate will propitiate Ala the earth deity, reconcile his subjects to it and ask the yam goddess Njoku never to withdraw his benevolence.
