Ikwuano-Obodoukwu New Yam festival

Name: Ikwuano-Obodoukwu New Yam festival
Start: 2026-08-09
End: 2026-08-09
Location: Ikwuano-Obodoukwu, Ideato North Local Government Area

The Ikwuano-Obodoukwu New Yam festival is a traditional harvest celebration in the Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. It marks the conclusion of the farming season with a blend of Christian thanksgiving and indigenous Igbo customs, including the formal ritual consumption of the first yams of the year.

Date: Aug 9, 2026
Location: Ikwuano-Obodoukwu, Ideato North Local Government Area

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Event summary

Highlights

Thanksgiving Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church
Formal Iwaji and Iriji (yam eating) ceremonies at the palace
Performances by the Njima Ikwuano cultural troupe
Homage paid by local age grades including Oganihu and Ofuobi

The Ikwuano-Obodoukwu New Yam festival is an annual cultural celebration hosted by the Ikwuano-Obodoukwu autonomous community. Rooted in Igbo tradition, the event serves as a platform to honor the harvest and promote communal development, peace, and togetherness among the members of the Obodoukwu clan.

The 2026 celebration began with a thanksgiving Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church in Eke Obodoukwu before moving to the palace of the paramount ruler, Eze Jude Obidiegwu. The core of the festival involves the Iwaji and Iriji ceremonies, which represent the ritual cutting and eating of the new yams to signify a successful agricultural cycle.

Public festivities include performances by the Njima Ikwuano cultural troupe and the Igbo Enwezu Cultural Dance. Various local age grades, such as Oganihu and Ezinwanne, along with social clubs like Idinotu, participate by paying homage to the traditional ruler. The event typically attracts traditional rulers from across the Obodoukwu clan and various political dignitaries from the Ideato region.

Practical details

Location described by the source: Palace of His Royal Highness, Eze Jude Obidiegwu; thesun.ng
Area for browsing nearby events: Ikwuano-Obodoukwu, Ideato North Local Government Area

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.