Anambra indegenes in UNN celebrate new yam festival

By Agency Report

Anambra state indegenes in University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have celebrated new yam festival as way of promoting Igbo cultures and traditions.

Speaking during the festival in UNN,
Prof Ifeanyichukwu Abada, Head of Department Political Science UNN, from Anambra State urged other Anambra indigenes in various higher institutions in the country to emulate Anambra People's Assembly (APA) in promoting Igbo cultural heritage.

""I commend Prof Florence Orabueze led executive for their wisdom in organising this maiden new yam festival as well as being good ambassadors of Anambra State in UNN and urged the assembly to make the festival a yearly event.

"I am happy on the large attendance of Anambra indigenes as well their friends from other states which shows that APA in UNN is doing wonderfully well,"he said.

Abada said that, new yam festival is an important event in Igboland because of respect and honour Ndigbo have for yam.

"Yam is an important crop, cultivated in every part of Igboland, it serves as food that can be eaten in different ways.

"During the time of our forefathers, wealth of a man was calculated and measured by the length of his yam barn and not today money has become everything.

"It's believed that a man's yam barn shows his strength, wisdom, ability and wealth to feed his family members and kinsmen," he said.

Speaking, Prof Florence Orabueze, Department of English and Literary Studies UNN,  the Founding President of APA said that the maiden new Yam festival was organised by members.

"APA membership  is open to staff and students working in UNN from thirteen local government areas of Anambra State, that constituted the old Onitsha Area Provience.

"As we celebrate the new yam with our brothers, sisters, relations friends and members of the university community, it is a good occasion to call to mind the Igbo moral ethics and values of communalism, truthfulness, justice peace and  unity.

"Today's event will give us another  opportunity to promote Igbo culture, language,  traditions and our identity as Anambra people working in UNN.

"It's good to join men and women of goodwill to ensure that the university founded by our fathers continues to enjoy its enviable position in academics as well as in promoting our various rich cultural heritage," she said.

Orabueze who was the former Director, Institute of African Studies UNN, urged members of the assembly to always remember the motto of Anambra State (The Light of the Nation) wherever they found themselves.

"In whatever we do and say, we shall remember that we are noble and princely people from Anambra State.

"Therefore, we should ensure that we shall never allow the light in us to go out, or for darkness to assail and overwhelm us, but we must strive to be the light for other people to see ," she said.

The president, expressed  special appreciation His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha who is the Grand Patron of the assembly for his fatherly advise and support.

The president also expressed gratitude to Chief Andrew Oru, a philanthropist and former Global President, University of Nigeria Alumni Association for his financial support for the event as well as all who come from far and near to grace the occasion.

Earlier,  Prof Chuu Ikwuemesi, from Department of Fine and Applied Arts UNN, who chaired the occasion said that, APA in organising the new yam festival had reaffirmed its believe, respect and love for Igbo  cultures and traditions.

"What happened here today, is an eloquent testimony that Anambra people love and cherish Igbo cultures and traditions.

"New yam festival is an important celebration in Igboland because it showcases the rich cultural heritage of Igbos.,"he said.

Igwesi commended Orabueze led executive for being the first to organise new yam festival for Anambra indigenes in UNN and urged other Anambra groups in higher institutions across the country to emulate the good example.

Our correspondent reports that, Comr. David Okeke, President , Anambra State Students Union and Comr. Uchenna Ifeanyi, Chairman,  Anambra Postgraduates Association in UNN respectively led hundreds of undergraduates and postgraduates students from the state to the festival

Their entry into the venue of the new yam festival, with Anambra traditional music and dance added colour and excitement to the event.