By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

The ancient Obosi kingdom, which has existed for many centuries, is known for its unique cultural festivals, among which are the Agwu festival, Ito Ogbo festival, Iwaji/Obiora festival, and others. As these cultural festivals are very dear to them, the custodians of the Obosi culture and traditions headed by the traditional ruler of Obosi, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Chidubem Iweka (Eze Iweka III), have been doing their utmost best to protect the Obosi cultural festivals from becoming extinct. And celebrating those revered cultural festivals is a way by which they are preserved. So not unexpectedly, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, who is also the head of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers' Council, rolled out the carpets to celebrate his 15th Iwaji/Obiora Obosi festival in a historic way that was unprecedented in the town's cultural annals.

The elaborate beautification of the Obosi township stadium, the venue of the event, and the red rugs laid on the road that leads to it, underlined the importance of that annual cultural festival. The significance and importance of the Iwaji/Obiora festival, which is not lost on the Obosi people, necessitated the humongous amount of money spent in making preparations for the celebration of the cultural event.

Iwaji and Obiora are cultural terms used interchangeably to refer to a festival that is celebrated by Obosi people, annually. While Iwaji is the ceremony, which is performed by the Obosi traditional ruler to herald the eating of new yams by Obosi natives, Obiora is a period of peace during which the people of Obosi are expected and enjoined to live peaceably with one another. Those who desecrate the sacred peacefulness of the period will be sanctioned in accordance with the tenets and dictates of the Obosi culture and traditions. But Iwaji and Obiora are intertwined and celebrated as one cultural festival.

During the 2026 Iwaji/Obiora festival, which took place at the Obosi township stadium, Igwe Iweka thanked Engr. Eric Anyamene for executing measures designed to check the gully erosion that bifurcated the Union Secondary School, Obosi and Obosi Anti-Cult Police Station Road.

"I thank Engr. Eric Anyamene for the work he had done on the gully erosion at Ugamuma village, Obosi. And I am begging Obosi people to put a stop to their practice and habit of dumping refuse into drainages. We should, also, dig catchment pits in our various compounds to collect water and plant trees in our compounds. Carrying out these measures will help to check erosion menace in our town," Igwe Iweka said.

And the President General of Obosi Development Union (ODU), Chimezie Obi (Esq), said that the harmonious, respectful, and cordial relationship that existed between the palace and the town Union was the surest path to a greater Obosi.

He further said that when both institutions collaborated in unity of purpose, they would create a formidable synergy and an inseparable bond that no challenge could break.

More so, as the event wore on, and the stadium was filled to capacity, Igwe Iweka performed a significant part of the festival (ikpo onunu), which is feeding children with slices of roast(ed) yams dipped in vegetable sauces. The act is symbolic of the fact that children, who are our priceless gifts, are our hope for a better future. And that gesture of feeding children with slices of yams dipped in vegetable sauce was a symbolic way of telling the Igwe Chidubem Iweka's subjects that a leave had been given to them to start eating new yams.

Besides the performance of the age-old cultural aspects of the Iwaji/Obiora festival, the arena of the event was electrified and turned to an electioneering ground by political candidates, who belong to many different political parties. The NDC presidential candidate, the charismatic Mr. Peter Obi, with his supporters, attended the event. His arrival caused a stir as people broke into singing, chanting his praise- name. And they surged towards himself to catch sight of him at close quarters. Other NDC political candidates who attended the event were Senator Victor Umeh, NDC candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial Zone election; Dr. Tony Nwoye; Engr. Eric Anyamene, the NDC candidate for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency election; and Obinna Igboebisi, the NDC Candidate for Idemili North, Anambra Assembly election.

Political candidates, who belong to other political parties, paraded round the stadium with their supporters, too. They were Dozie Nwankwo of APGA; Ikenna Iyiegbu of APGA; and Mr. Nnamdi Ifebi of ADC. The political candidates walked round the stands, making brief political talks and acknowledging cheers from the people.

More so, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, bestowed chieftaincy titles on three prominent sons of the town, who have made significant and tremendous contributions for the development of Obosi in diverse areas. While the traditional title of Igiligi Ogu was bestowed on Chief Darlington Okenwa, Augustine Chuks Mgbemena was given the title, Nze Ikuku Oma Obosi. And Prof. Nnamdi Onyire, a professor of medicine, was the recipient of the traditional chieftaincy title, Akadire Obosi.

Earlier, Chief Osita Chidoka (Ike Obosi), who was Nigeria's former aviation minister, led other members of the Igwe Iweka's ruling cabinet to perform the traditional dance called egwu Igba Uta. Dressed in traditional white regalia, they gyrated sinuously to the drum-beatings of the traditional drummers. Some of the titled chiefs, who attended the event and took part in the dance, were Dr. Kandudi Muonagor, Igweoba Obosi; Chief Oguegbu, Ojiudo Obosi; Chief Emenike Mgbemena, Oboli Obosi; Chief Linus Mgbakogu, Attah Obosi; Chief Mike Onugha, Owulu Obosi; and others.

Other important dignitaries that graced the event were Prof. Epiphany Azinge, the Asagba of Asaba; Lady Justina Anyadiegwu, chairperson of ASUBEB; Prof. Ngozi Chinwe-Ude, former commissioner for education in Anambra State; Prof. I. O Ndirika, Provost, Anambra State College of Education, Nsugbe; Robinson Mgbakogu, APGA chieftain; and others.

•Chiedu Uche Okoye, a poet and public affairs commentator, writes from Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State, and ca be reached via 08062220654.