BY Abuchi Onwumelu
The ancient kingdom of Uvume
(Now called Ufuma) in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Saturday 15 August, 2015 thrown into atmosphere of ecstasy, glitz and glamour as the entire Ufuma Community converged at the palace of their traditional ruler, HRH Igwe S. Chika Uchime (Diji 111 of Ufuma) to commemorate the 2015 Egwu Otute (Ofala) Cultural Festival.
(Now called Ufuma) in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Saturday 15 August, 2015 thrown into atmosphere of ecstasy, glitz and glamour as the entire Ufuma Community converged at the palace of their traditional ruler, HRH Igwe S. Chika Uchime (Diji 111 of Ufuma) to commemorate the 2015 Egwu Otute (Ofala) Cultural Festival.
Ufuma, one of the biggest communities in Orumba North Local
Government Area of Anambra State is endowed with rich cultural heritage
handed down to them by their forebears. One of such traditional norms
inherited from their progenitors is the New Yam Festival often used as
an occasion to express profound gratitude to the gods of the land for
bountiful harvest after having toiled in tilling and cultivation of the
crop during the planting season.
Omega Aromatic Schnapps blended and bottled by Eastern
Distilleries & Food Industry Ltd was the official brand of this
year's Egwu Otute (Ofala) celebration. Libations were poured and prayers
were made in honour of the gods of the land usually done by the eldest
members of the family, clan, kindred and what have you inorder to
request for more bountiful harvest in the next planting season while
celebration rent the air as the new yam were cut and shared amongst the
people and they all eat with gusto and relished the joy that came with
the new yam.
That was the situation at the 2015 Egwu Otute (Ofala)
festival spearheaded by the traditional ruler of the community, His
Royal Highness Igwe S. Chika Uchime, who lifted the roasted new yam up
in thanksgiving to the gods and ancestral spirits in Ufuma land for
reaping bountifully for the little they put in the ground amidst cheers
from the crowd that thronged the arena. Masquerade dance and other
cultural performance added glamour to the event.
Speaking on the occasion, traditional ruler of Ufuma HRH
Igwe Chika Uchime said the 2015 Egwu Otute (Ofala) festival began with
the display of new yams in Ufuma noting that he used Friday 14th August,
2015 as a day to perform the ceremonial cutting and eating of the new
yam with local sauce in his palace.
He further stated that Saturday 15th August, 2015 second
day of the festival tagged Egwu Otute (Ofala) all the villages, clans,
and kindred in Ufuma would assembled as he publicly declare the cutting
and eating of the new yam for the people along side music and dancing.
He said Egwu Otute was part of the efforts
towards protecting the customs and traditions of the people of Ufuma
community and that the significance of the Egwu Otute (Ofala) festival
was primarily to give praises to the gods for bountiful harvest and
praying for the forth coming farming season to be better than the
previous years. Igwe Uchime (Diji 111 of Ufuma) therefore stressed the
need for people to embrace agriculture and strive for self-sufficiency
especially as the state government currently placed priority attention
on the agric sector.
His words, 'This year's festival began on July 17
with 'Otute Nkpaku' and ended on 18 August 2015 with 'Ogbugbo manu
Otute.' Historically, the inception of Otute dated back more than two
thousand years ago. Before then. yam was was a wild plant that usually
irritated the palates when chewed raw.
'In a burnt bush one of the early ancestors of Uvume (Now called Ufuma) found a tuber of yam half buried in the soil with the exposed upper half roasted by a bush fire. When he dug out the yam and chewed the burnt part he discovered that roasted yam did not irritate the palates. He quickly rushed home to relate his experience which led to cooking, roasting and other forms of preparation of yam for eating. The people of Ufuma hold yam in very high esteem to the extent that their traditional ruler goes by the name Diji which means 'King of yam.' There are many monuments in Ufuma to show the importance of yam. 'Ohia Ihejioku' is an enduring landmark.
'In a burnt bush one of the early ancestors of Uvume (Now called Ufuma) found a tuber of yam half buried in the soil with the exposed upper half roasted by a bush fire. When he dug out the yam and chewed the burnt part he discovered that roasted yam did not irritate the palates. He quickly rushed home to relate his experience which led to cooking, roasting and other forms of preparation of yam for eating. The people of Ufuma hold yam in very high esteem to the extent that their traditional ruler goes by the name Diji which means 'King of yam.' There are many monuments in Ufuma to show the importance of yam. 'Ohia Ihejioku' is an enduring landmark.
'With 9 villages and a huge population Ufuma junction is a
beehive of activities. The events planned to showcase our cultural
heritage will featured: Local wrestling, Dance groups, Agriculture
shows, palm wine competition, Cooking competition, Masquerades etc.
Courtesy calls and conferment of chieftaincy title,' Igwe Uchime explained.
Courtesy calls and conferment of chieftaincy title,' Igwe Uchime explained.
In his welcome address, the newly elected president-general
of Ufuma , Sir Basil Onwunze described the as historic noting that Egwu
Otute was most effective and efficient channels to showcase who they
were as a people.
Addressing journalists, Director, Fidelity Bank, Esv.
Ezechukwu Michael Okeke, declared his intention to singlehandedly
sponsor the maiden edition of Ufuma football competition to be contested
amongst the 9 villages that make up Ufuma town.
The philanthropist, further announced that the overall
winner of the competition would smile home with 500,000 Naira cash prize
at the competition. He noted that similar competition is on now in his
base at Abuja even as he said the footballing event would start
immediately after Ufuma Abuja-based Football competition is played and
won.
The consummate banker while reeling out his programmes for
the good people of Ufuma kingdom, described football as veritable tool
for conflict resolution and development.
Speaking on the essence of the celebration, the Fidelity
Bank supremo said New yam festival was one out of the numerous cultural
values that is peculiar to the Igbos and the occasion afforded a
veritable platform for socialization and other forms of inter-personal
relationship as people used the occasion to re-unite with families and
friends, establish relationships, watch masquerade dance, wrestling
competition, cultural dance displays to mention a few while others feast
their eyes on other side attractions.
In an interview, the chieftain of the Peoples Democratic
Party, Lady (Mrs) Uchenna, Ifeoma Obi, daughter of Late Chief FGN Okoye
MON, Chinyelugo 1 of Enugwu Ukwu Njikoka Council Area of Anambra,
described new yam festival as cultural identity of the Igbo-speaking
people. According to her, culture itself derived its definition from the
food, language, marriage, clothing, values, morals, beliefs, taboos of a
particular people which distinguished them from others.
Lady Obi said the ceremony portrayed the fact that yam was
indeed the king of crops and highly revered by the Igbo race and all
those who acknowledged its significance.
Speaking on her political ambition, Lady Obi noted that
she was into politics to serve her people. I will use my contacts to
better the lots of Orumba people. I have contributed enormously to the
development of Ufuma.
My scholarship scheme is still on. I have empowered over 3000 widows and widowers in Ufuma and even beyond. With their prayers and support I will continue to contribute my quota to the development of Orumba North and South and by extension Anambra State,' she said.
My scholarship scheme is still on. I have empowered over 3000 widows and widowers in Ufuma and even beyond. With their prayers and support I will continue to contribute my quota to the development of Orumba North and South and by extension Anambra State,' she said.
The action-parked event had virtually all the illustrious
sons and daughters of Ufuma community in attendance including the son of
Chief & Mrs Eric Frank Chukwuenyem, first indigenous Executive
Director of Nigeria Breweries Limited (NBL), Managing Director of Golden
Guinea Breweries Ltd and Diamond Breweries (Brewery Executive Par
excellence), Engr. Ike Obi whom the traditional ruler bestowed a
Chieftaincy title as the Utuagbaigwe 111 of Ufuma ; Media and Publicity
Chairman, Nze Chukwuma Henry Nnebe (Agunaechemba); Chief Ify Obinabo
(Adaugo Ufuma) a legendary Master of Ceremonies, Broadcaster and
presenter with Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) among others.
The Anambra State Government was not left out in the
celebration as the State Governor Chief Willie Obiano “Akpokuedike
Global” was represented on the occasion by the State Deputy-Governor Dr.
Nkem Okeke while Hon. Okay Enekwe Chairman Orumba North L.G.A of
Anambra State and Honourable Commissioner for Women's Affairs and Social
Development, Dr. Mrs. Victoria Chikwelu represented other members of
the State and local executive Council.
There were also visitors from other neighbouring towns ,
South-east States and the entire country who graced the occasion to
savour the rich cultural heritage of Ufuma people.
The 9 villages included: Umuogem, Umuonyiuka, Enugwu Abo,
Umuenenwanyi, Umuonyiba, Umueji, Umuaguosibe, Umunebo and Umuagu
Ozegu-Umuelibu