By Ibezim Samuel
People of Eziawo 1 Autonomous community, Awo-omamma in Oru East LGA of Imo were full of praise to the Almighty God for keeping them alive to mark this years new yam festival. The festival was kick-started with inter-denomination church service celebrated by Rev Fr Odinkalu of St Basil De Great Catholic Parish, Awo-Omamma at the Eze’s palace. The priest thanked God for the festival and prayed God to continue to bless the people.
The Traditional Ruler of Eziawo1, Eze (Barr.) Emeka Amukamara, on declaring the ceremony open, said that new yam festival was handed over to them from their ancestors and that it is an annual festival. He said that this year festival was the best as the 24 kindred’s participated fully to see to its success. Eze Amukamara advised his subjects to embrace farming and remain peaceful to receive God’s blessing.
The community speaker of Eziawo 1 autonomous community, Chief Linus Amukamara agreed with the Eze that this year’s new yam festival remained the best as it united the whole kindred and thanked God for the good and clement weather while HRH Eze Okafor, the father of Prince Okafor (APGA state chairman), said that new yam festival is biblical and not fetish, that it is a rich inheritance from their ancestors.
There were rich cultural display and Umuada Emenaha donated some gifts to the Eze and prayed God to bless him and his subjects. Dignitaries present include, HRH Eze Okafor Anyanwu, HRH Eze Amanfo, Barr B.O Amukamara and a host of others.
