By Patrick Ochei
Issele-Uku, the headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State and home of culture has since commenced her annual new yam festival otherwise called Ine Ahor Festival.
From the timetable, some of the activities heralding the main Ine festival has taken place already. Such feasts that have taken place are: *Ilo Ife Di Unyagbe* on 12th August, *Izu Afia Chi* on 16th August, *Ilo Chi Ezi Ogwa* on 19th August, *Iwaji Umuaka* on 20th August and *Ilo Chi Ikpala* on 21st August, 2024.
As the festive events continue to take place in their unique ways, *Ilo Chi Ikolo* takes turn on 25th August, *Ite Umatu* on 26th August and *Iwaji Ikolo* on 27th August, 2024.
Igbu Awai
This is a very unique aspect of the new yam festival; in fact, the very first time titled men would eat the new yam in the season of harvest. It takes a unique process to prepare for the eating and the eating itself is very special; an occasion people eagerly await the day to experience it. It’s happening on the 28th of August, 2024.
There is the Awai aspect of it that is done by preparing the yam as porridge with just salt and red oil while the Otite aspect of it is done with the roasted yam mixed with the scraped dark dust of the roasted yam and the Otite leave for a sauce.
Mgba Ututu
This is purely entertainment through local wrestling. Over the years, the community through the Abuja Branch of Issele-Uku Progressive Youth Association (IPYA) has continued to transform and sponsor this unique cultural activity in order to continue to capture the fancy of indigenes and visitors alike. The local wrestling affords young people, males and females the platform to compete and win prizes ranging from electronic devices and foodstuffs for themselves.
Mgba Ututu is held first at Idumuinei Quarters where it originated from, before a grand finale of it is held at the Issele-Uku Royal Palace with the king and the royal family seated to be entertained. At the end of the highly entertaining wrestling, the Obi through the Isekwute declares the *Ine Uchichi* which becomes groovy from night to the next morning.
The next day, 31st August, 2024, becomes the “Ibu Odu Ukwu” before the king goes into solitude from the 2nd day of September which is called the “Iba Nzu”. He remains in this solemn state for five days, performing necessary rites with the native chalk (Nzu), which he also uses as a symbol of blessing to offer favour to those who come to pay him homage.
Igba Ine
On the fifth day from the *Ino Nzu* which is on the 7th of September, the Obi would shoot gun in the morning to signify the end of the period of solitude which has been characterized by fasting and praying for his people’s progress and the peace and unity of the community. It’s a period that requires almost absolute quietness in the community to enable the king hear from the supreme being, otherwise offenders (noise makers) are disciplined.
Later that day, he would bathe and change into his royal regalia to receive the chiefs, especially the Onotu chiefs who would come with their dance groups to pay their homage and receive royal handshake otherwise called “Inaka”. The Ine festival continues into the next day, which usually is characterized by dancing, partying and hosting of visitors in special ways.
On the 11th day of September, the king would perform his own new yam eating called “Iwaji Obi”. It’s a day that His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Nduka JP (MNSE) would eat the new yam for the first time after harvest, and he would use the medium to offer appreciation to God for a bountiful harvest while also praying for better seasons ahead.
Ishu Onicha
This segment signifies the end of the festive season. It’s a mini replica of the Ine Festival which is the highest event of the Ine Ahor Festival. It would be holding on the 13th of September, 2024.
The Ishu Onicha is marked to draw the curtains of the festive year, which is comprehensively thanking God for a productive season and offering supplications for God to sustain the community people in grace and strength for another farming season. On this day, the Idime Chiefs are mostly favoured; as they are the ones that enjoy the privilege of a royal handshake (Inaka) at the Ishu Onicha festival. The dancing and singing in satirical tones then continues, through leveraging on the final opportunity offered the indigenes to make mockery of any unsavoury situation that tradition does not permit after that day.
The final two events which are *Eke Obo* on 15th September and *Eke Nmo* on 19th September are private and silent rites, performed to finally bid the 2024 Ine Ahor season a goodbye, until another.
