The Regent of Umuogudu Oshia Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Prince Uche Ali-Ega, has described the Itsukwe (New Yam) Festival as a cultural rebirth and a symbol of unity, prosperity, and food abundance in the land.
Speaking to journalists at his Umuogudu Oshia Ngbo country home during the festival, Ali-Ega said the Itsukwe celebration marks the end of famine and the beginning of a new traditional year in Ngbojeogu land.
“This gathering is not rare, but unique. The Itsukwe Festival comes in the ninth moon of the Mugu calendar. It is highly significant because it ushers in food abundance after the famine period of the eighth moon. Before now, harvesting or eating new yam was forbidden," he said.
Ali-Ega described the occasion as a time for cultural reflection, reunion, and gratitude.
“It’s a season of generosity. Those who have share with those who don’t. Mortars pound everywhere. Food arrives in homes. Families visit one another, and joy returns to our communities,” he noted.
He added that Itsukwe also marks the official beginning of the Ngbojeogu traditional year and remains one of the most respected cultural rituals in the land.
Ali-Ega urged the people to deepen their faith in God, whom he credited for sustaining the land and its people through difficult seasons.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Prince Ikechukwu Odono, described the festival as a rallying point for peace, cultural pride, and communal development.
He called on the people to continue supporting the state government’s efforts in promoting peace and unity across Ebonyi State.
Also present at the event was the Deputy Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly and a son of the soil, Rt. Hon. Chinedu Onah, who hailed the Itsukwe Festival as a powerful tool for peacebuilding.
He encouraged the community to preserve authentic cultural practices that promote harmony and progress, while discouraging fetish acts that undermine societal values.
Onah further emphasized that the New Yam Festival boosts awareness around food security by encouraging people to return to the land and engage in agriculture.
Our correspondent reports that the colourful event featured traditional music, cultural performances, royal homage, and communal feasting marking another milestone in preserving the Ngbojeogu heritage in Ebonyi State and beyond.