By Patrick Ochei
ISSELE-UKU, DELTA STATE — The Iyase of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief Innocent Etenmua Ashiedu, has called on residents, indigenes and visitors to uphold peace, decorum and responsible conduct as the kingdom prepares for the 2026 Ine Aho Festival.
The festival, scheduled for Saturday, September 5, is expected to bring together indigenes of Issele-Uku, visitors from neighbouring communities and prominent traditional rulers to celebrate the kingdom’s rich cultural heritage.
Chief Ashiedu made the appeal during a media interaction with members of the Media Subcommittee of the 2026 Ine Aho Festival Committee.
He stressed that the annual celebration, traditionally associated with peace, unity and communal joy, must continue to reflect the values for which Issele-Uku is renowned.
The Iyase also noted that this year’s celebration holds special significance as it marks the 10th anniversary of the Ine Festival under the reign of His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Nduka, JP, MNSE.
According to him, the presence of traditional rulers from other kingdoms at the festival makes it imperative for the people to demonstrate their well-known hospitality and welcoming spirit.
He said the festival provides an opportunity not only to celebrate the new yam harvest but also to project the cultural identity, character and communal values of Issele-Uku to the wider world.
«“Issele-Uku is internationally reputed to have one of the best cultural festivals in the world. We do not only use the platform of Ine to celebrate our annual new yam festival; we also use it to showcase our inherent personality and character when it comes to celebrating love, peace, unity and a friendly spirit,” he said.»
Chief Ashiedu explained that the festival is traditionally known as “Ine Onyimi,” meaning the Festival of Joy, describing it as a period when the community comes together to express gratitude and celebrate its cultural heritage.
He said the celebration was also an occasion for the people to appreciate God and their ancestors for the blessings recorded in agriculture, fertile land, human resources, good health and longevity.
The Iyase urged indigenes in the kingdom, as well as guests from other communities and the diaspora, to respect the laws and established guidelines governing the festival.
“I, as the Iyase, therefore advise all and sundry, including visitors from other kingdoms and the diaspora, to remain law-abiding and adhere strictly to the rules of engagement in order to leave a remarkable memory for the future,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the 2026 Ine Aho Festival would once again showcase the unity, hospitality, cultural richness and peaceful disposition of the Issele-Uku people.
