The Anambra State Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Comrade Don Onyenji, has described New Yam Festival as the number one festival in Igboland, with a rich history spanning many centuries.
He remarked that the annual celebration is held at the end of the rainy season and symbolizes the conclusion of a harvest and the beginning of the next work cycle .
Onyenji said the 2024 Anambra New Yam Festival woukd combine the New Yam and Mmanwu Festivals, with ‘Di Ji’ prizes for the biggest yam tubers produced in Anambra.
All local government areas are expected to participate with at least one masquerade.
Comrade Onyenji praised Governor Soludo for promoting Igbo culture by wearing Akwaete and made-in-Anambra shoes .
He also commended Information Commissioner Dr. Mefor for promoting culture through the use of the Igbo red cap and Governor’s wife, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, for encouraging people to patronize homemade foods.
Onyenji urged mothers to teach their children traditional Igbo cooking and charged children to embrace the tradition of greeting elders .
The New Yam Festival is a significant cultural event in Igboland, typically celebrated between August and October, marking the yam harvest season and serving as a time of thanksgiving to the gods for a bountiful harvest
Yam tubers, beautifully displayed during the festival, serve as a testament to the success and wealth of individuals and their communities.
In Anambra State, the festival provides an opportunity for people to come together, celebrate their heritage, and showcase their rich cultural traditions.
