Understanding Igbo Culture Through Festivals

New Yam Festival (Iriji, Iwaji, or Ikeji) 

The New Yam Festival, known as Iriji, Iwaji, or Ikeji in Igbo, is an annual cultural celebration among the Igbo people, typically held in early August after the rainy season. It marks the presentation of newly harvested yams to the ancestors, expressing gratitude for a successful planting season and the yam’s importance in Igbo socio-cultural life.

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Iwa Akwa Festival 

The Iwa Akwa Festival is a cultural heritage of the people in some parts of Enugu West and also among the Okigwe people in Imo State. It celebrates young men transitioning into manhood, enabling them to participate in community affairs after their initiation. The festival includes feasting, discussions with elders, and cultural performances.

Ekpe Festival 

The Ekpe Festival is traditionally celebrated by the Aro and neighbouring communities, as well as the Aro diaspora in regions like Arondizuogu (Imo State), along with Ekpe communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. It features numerous masquerades, showcasing cultural performances by male initiates skilled in Ekpe traditions, which have been passed down through generations.

Inne Festival 

The Inne Festival is celebrated among the Igbos of Delta State. It lasts five days and takes place in the villages in and around Asaba. The festival blends war dances, historical battles, rituals, and other festive activities to honour their cultural heritage and celebrate community unity and resilience.

Odo Festival 

The Odo Festival is celebrated by northern Igbos in Nsukka and Udi. It’s a time to remember ancestors, with masked figures symbolically honouring the deceased by visiting their old homes during the celebrations, making the festival unique and special.

The Ofala Festival

According to oral history sources, the origins of the Ofala Festival date back to the 16th century, when the Onitsha people migrated from Benin to the eastern banks of the River Niger, establishing the city of Onitsha. Some historians also link the festival to the New Yam Festival in Onitsha and the king’s devotion to ensuring the safety and well-being of his people. The festival signifies the conclusion of a period of seclusion, known as Inye Ukwu na Nlo, during which the Obi (king) isolates himself for spiritual purification, aiming for the community’s prosperity. At the end of this week-long retreat, the Igwe emerges during the Ofala to bestow blessings upon his subjects and offer prayers for the community’s welfare.

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Written by Esther Omoye, Edited By Chisom Akuakonam

References

• Ministry of Information Eritrea, October 2, 2019. The Significance of Cultural Heritage. Accessed on 19th February 2023.
• UNESCO. The Intangible Cultural Heritage.
• Chikezie Okoronkwo and Gibson F. Okoroafor. Value of Masquerades in Igbo Land.
• Emmanuel Duke. From Festival to Social Communion: A Nigerian Experience. Social Space Journal. Retrieved on 21st February 2023.

• Encyclopaedia Britannica. African Religions. Retrieved on 21st February 2023.
• “Ofala: A period for monarchs to showcase their cultures in Igbo land.” Vanguard News, 30 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2021.