Igbos In Ghana Celebrate 2021 Yam Festival In Style, Affirm Ghana Friendship
Nigerians in Ghana will continue to be peaceful and law-abiding, king of the Igbo community, Eze (Dr) Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, Eze Ndigbo-Ghana, has assured.
The Igbo community in Ghana is part of the Igbo nation, which is the third largest of Nigeria's over 300 tribes.
And, the Igbo community in Ghana constitutes a large, strategic and influential part of the larger Nigerian community in Ghana.
“Igbos will be law-abiding and obey the rules and regulations of our dear host, Ghana. We don’t come here to Ghana to bring problems. We’ll use the opportunity to make sure our people in Ghana respect the traditions, regulations and legal norms of Ghana,” Eze Ihenetu assured during celebration marking this year’s Igbo Day and New Yam Festival, held on September 19, in Accra.
The celebration, the ninth edition since 2012, was on the theme 'Enhancing and Strengthening Ghana-Nigeria Cultural Unity.'
The essence of the festival is to express gratitude to Almighty God for life, protection, and for a bountiful harvest. It also aimed at deepening the cultural and economic ties between Ghana and Nigeria.
The event attracted Igbos in Ghana, Ghanaian royalty, Ghana government officials, as well as representation from the Igbo Diaspora in other countries.
Major attractions of the colourful event, at the Underbridge Luxe Event Enclave, East Legon, included different genres of Igbo and Nigerian music, as well as display of cultural dances, performances, and masquerades.
Appreciating the gathering for their presence, the Igbo monarch thanked the government and people of Ghana for their hospitality and cooperation that had make the stay of the Igbo successful in Ghana.
Cola nuts and garden eggs were presented to the chiefs for prayers and blessings, and subsequently shared to guests.
The sharing, according to Igbo tradition and culture, was a gesture of welcome to the guests.
The key point of the even was when the Igbo monarch, assisted by officials on the high table, marched to the table on which several tubers of roasted yam were arranged, cut a few into slices, and ate a slice with bites to formally indicate that everyone can now eat the new yams.
He explained: “Yam is king of crops. It represents life; and as such worthy to be celebrated,” stressing that the celebration of yam affords Ndigbo (people of Igbo descent) opportunity to come together to thank God for a fruitful farm season.
Ihenetu urged operators in the hospitality industry to consider featuring more African cuisine and varieties on their respective menus.
Speaking earlier, the Sempe Muslim Akwashongtse who was part of the representatives from the Sempe Mantse's Palace, Nii Adotey Odaawulu I urged Igbos in Ghana to continue to live in peace and harmony and make positive impact on Ghana’s economic development.
The Sempe Muslim Akwashongtse lauded the existing peace between Ghana and Nigeria adding that both countries have had a long standing traditional and cultural relationship for decades.
He called on other tribes to continue to promote their traditions and culture to ensure peace and unity for the development of the country.
The Sempe Mantse's Palace was represented by Nii Anyaa Mantse, Naa Moot so Osa-Manye, Sempe Glefe Manye, New Mamprobi Manye, Odupong Kpehe Manye and Sempe Stool Elder.
Also speaking, Dr Donald Agumenu, former special aide to late President Jerry John Rawlings, former President of Ghana, harped on the need for Ghana and her sister African countries to use their cultures to enhance continental integration.
The occasion also saw the conferment of titles by the Eze on leaders of some Igbo sub communities in Ghana.
The event had in attendance an international audience, including Igbo chiefs from other countries, including Guinea Conakry; traditional chiefs and queen-mothers from Ghana's Greater Accra, Ashanti, Volta, and Oti regions; Ghanaian government officials, as well as members of the clergy, among other dignitaries.