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By Sunny A. David, Awka
The traditional ruler of Umueri Kingdom in Anambra East Local Government Area, Igwe Sir Ben Emeka (Oke Ebo II), has announced that preparations are in top gear for the community’s 2025 New Yam Festival, popularly known as Ilonmuo Festival.
The celebration, scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 2025, promises to be the most colourful in recent history, with several sponsors already on board and a variety of cultural and entertainment activities lined up.
Speaking to journalists at his palace, Igwe Emeka said the festival will be hosted at the palace grounds and extended invitations to dignitaries across the State. He also recounted the origin of the Ilonmuo Festival and how it has evolved over the years to embrace people of all faiths.
According to him, past fetish practices traditionally associated with the festival have been replaced with more inclusive and Christian-oriented activities.
“What we are celebrating is an age-old practice called Ilonmuo, which takes place in August or September, guided by our traditional calendar,” the Monarch explained.
“In the past, the deity Okposi featured prominently, but with societal changes, we transformed it into Iri Ji (New Yam Festival) so that everyone, including Christians, can participate. Today, all churches in the community join together for a joint service before the prayers and blessings at the palace.”
Highlighting the rituals of the day, the Igwe said he would bless kola nuts for the community, pray for bountiful harvests, and perform the symbolic cutting of roasted yam into portions representing the different quarters of Umueri. Leaders of the quarters will then share the yam with well-prepared sauce, signifying that the entire community has formally “eaten the new yam.”
The Monarch noted that the tradition has endured for over a century, while under his reign, this year marks the ninth edition of the festival. Next year will mark a full decade of his stewardship.
He further revealed that this year’s celebration will feature wrestling contests in three categories, colourful masquerade displays, and the famous Ijele masquerade which Umueri proudly claims as its origin and which won international recognition during FESTAC ’77.
Igwe Emeka assured that the event will attract top personalities from across Anambra State, adding that major sponsors, including Seaman, are already supporting the festival.
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