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Ndi Igbo: Living chiefly in eastern Nigeria are the Igbos. The Igbos are an ethnic group native to the present-day south-central and southeastern Nigeria. Geographically, the Igbo homeland is divided into two unequal sections by the Niger River– an eastern (which is the larger of the two) and a western section.The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. In the Igbo culture, the Igbo people celebrate lots and different type of festivals. below are list of 10 most popular festivals celebrated by the Igbos.
The New Yam Festival of the Igbo people know as Iwa ji, Iri ji Ohuu or Ike ji, depending on dialect) is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people held at the end of the rainy season in early August
The celebration is a very culturally based occasion, tying individual Igbo communities together as essentially agrarian and dependent on yam.
Yams are the first crop to be harvested, and are the most important crop of the region. The New Yam Festival is therefore a celebration depicting the prominence of yam in the social-cultural life of Igbo people
Also Read: 10 Most Popular Festival In Nigeria
August, September and October are three special months in the Igbo cultural calendar. Each year, thousands of Igbo sons and daughters troop out en masse to celebrate the annual New Yam Festival. This age long festival, which is as old as the Igbo culture itself, is usually held between August and October with the date determined by each community.The aim of the New Yam Festival is to officially present the newly harvested yams to God and the ancestors of the land. The festival is also an avenue to thank God for sustaining the life of the farmers, the indigenes of the land and the farm product (yam) through a successful planting season. The New Yam Festival is indeed a colourful event which is fast becoming a major tourist attraction.. The New yam festival is celebrated throughout Igbo land and its usually accompanied with cultural music and dance, wrestling, masquerade display etc.
Also Read: Seven Most Popular Traditional Festival Celebrated In Yoruba land
This is the official cultural outing of the king and members of the cabinet in the year. The Ofala Festival is an annual ceremony practiced mostly by the Igbos of anambra state especially Onitsha, Nnewi, Agulueri and Ukpo etc. The festival serves as a rites of renewal of the king or Obi. The festival is celebrated within two days mostly in October by the Obi. The festival marks the end of a period of retreat sometimes called Inye Ukwu na Nlo when the Obi remains incommunicado and undergoes spiritual purification for the good of the community. At the end of the week long retreat the Obi emerges during the Ofala to bless his subjects and say prayers for the community. Ofala is celebrated annually beginning from the coronation of the Obi to his death, the latter of which is called “the last Ofala.
Also Read: 25 Most Popular Igbo Masquerades
In the past, masquerades were regarded as the means for maintaining peace and order and were primarily used as law enforcement agents. The whole village would come out for the ceremony of the colourful masquerades. While entertaining through dances and exhibiting extra-human feats, the masquerades would walk up to certain individuals and loudly expose any bad habits, crimes or misbehavior of that person. As people would always take corrections from these exposures, the masquerades were effective in keeping up with traditional norms and values in the communities. There are annual masquerade festival in most Igbo communities called ogbako Mmanwu (gathering of masquerades) where masquerades gather in village squares or open filed to entertain people. notable among the masquerade festival is the annual Masquerade Festivals in November organised by Enugu State which involves masquerade groups from various parts of the state.
4. Iwa Akwa Festival
The Iwa-akwa festival is one of the most beautiful Igbo festival which is been celebrated every 3 years interval.
The Iwa-akwa festival is a cultural heritage of the people of Okigwe senatorial district of Imo State and Enugu west senatorial district of Enugu state, mainly celebrated by the people of Ugbo in enugu state, Mbanos’, Obowos’ Etiti in imo state. Although other communities does it such as Mbaise, Orlu, Abia state and some other communities of Enugu though with a different name. This is one of the beautiful cultures that has refused to die despite the claims of Christianity which has wiped other beautiful cultures. It also attracts so many tourists both from within and outside Nigeria.
The Iwa-akwa festival is a ceremony where young men who has come of age are been initiated into manhood and given the opportunities to make their contributions in social cultural and political affairs of the community. In this stage of life they can now sit with elders, wine, dine, discuss issues as it affects the community and suggests solutions.
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| Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Ugwuanyi, Hon Toby Okechukwu and others during Iwa Akwa (Aju Festival) In Ugbo. |
5. Igu Aro Festival
Igu Aro festivals are celebrated in some of Anambra’s communities to flag off the annual planting season.The Aro festival also called the “Igu aro” is one of the most colorful and celebrated festival in igbo land especially in Umueri . The Festival has a prime position in the life of the people due to economical importance attached to it . Because the Oracular and Prophetic utterance of the Priest depicts what would happened in a given year.
This include the oracular utterances of the priest in regards on what to expect during the harvest season: Whether there will be “Ugani” (famine), Nsogbu (problem), Agha (war), Onwu (death) etc. it was a sort of annual prophecy or prediction on what would happen in the coming season. If the prophecy turns out to have positive effect, the people tend to work tirelessly so as to reap the fruit of hard labour. But on contrary, they tend to be cautious during the planting season starting with the first moon of the new season.
Also See: Igbo Food: 25 Most Commonly Consumed Igbo Food
6. Ekpe Festival
Ekpe festival is a masquerade festival celebrated mainly by the igbos of Abia state, Rivers state and Nkanu people of Enugu state. unlike the Mmanwu festival which is the gathering of tens and thousands of different masquerades, this masquerade festival particularly celebrates the Ekpe masquerades. Ekpe festival is a lively cultural festival that attracts people from in and outside the state.
Here, male and female (old and young) dress in their cultural attire, the male must tie a piece of George (wrapper) to make up for the cultural attire.
Male children who have been initiated into Ekpe masquerade, and are skilled in playing the cultural music, show their expertise in their culture while the masquerade performs the dancing. People appreciate the performances of the masquerade, players and other individual dancers by donating money to them while the music is on.
7. Inne Festival
This festival which is more popular among the Igbos of delta state is celebrate in most western igbo communities. In Asaba, the capital city of Delta State which is one of the communities that celebrates the festival, It is a 5-day event holding in the five villages of Asaba. It is a celebration of war and of peace, and it features war dances, military-like parades, reenactment of old battles, and other related events that spice up the annual event. although with different name, the festival is also celebrated among the eastern Igbo especially in Abia state.
Also Read: List of Traditional Festivals celebrated in Igbo Land
Odo is a term used to describe the returning of the dead who spend up to six months with the living during the festival. the odo festival is celebrated among the northern Igbos of Enugu state especially among the Nsukka and the Udi people. The odo appear as male and female masked figures played by men who are members of the death cult society, and whose identity it is required to keep secret. The Odo are first welcomed back with celebrations, and then make visits to their former homes, which result in more entertainment and gift giving. Their departure is a sad one, and engages the community in an emotional leave taking event before the Odo`s journey back.
10. Ede Festival
