By Ngwuoke Ngwuoke
The Okpudo Ikeji Annual Lecture was initiated by Hon. Iduma Igariwey, member representing Afikpo North/Afikpo South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Popularly called “Okpudo”, Idu launched the lecture series shortly after his second tenure to address a concern he has carried since childhood: the gradual erosion of Igbo cultural values in the face of civilization and modernity.
For the Afikpo and Edda people of Ebonyi State, “Ikeji” or “Iri-Ji”, is more than a harvest celebration. It is the cultural heartbeat of the community.
The legislator designed the festival around three pillars: First, for cultural preservation. This necessarily entails documenting, educating and deepening the knowledge of Afikpo and Edda people about their culture and heritage. Second, the festival serves as a unifying factor. It highlights the common bond, identity, and heritage between the people of Afikpo and Edda. Though sponsored by a politician, the event is non-political and non-partisan. It is a cultural celebration that signifies the age long unity of the people. Third, the festival promotes development. Apart from the social and entertainment components, the event explores avenues for economic empowerment, youth engagement, and cultural tourism that can generate revenue for the state.
Hon. Igariwey’s intervention was intentional, coming as a deliberate effort to preserve that heartbeat and document it for future generations.
Iri-Ji is a veritable unifying factor in Igbo land. For the people of Afikpo and surrounding communities, it carries unique rites. The date must be announced by the Yam Deity Priest and no one eats new yam until rituals are performed by the Priest.Festival highlights usually include a feast of pounded yam paired with traditional soups, the popular being “ohe sarara” garnished with assorted meat, fish and specially-cooked melon, ahu.
Hon. Igariwey’s version adds intellectual weight. By pairing celebration with lectures, book presentations, and discourse, he is repositioning culture not as a relic, but as a tool for development. Scholars at one of the events urged Igbo elites to show more interest in their cultural heritage to save them from extinction.
The events are usually held at the Cultural Centre in Idu’s country home in Ehugbo. The lecture in one of the past events focused on documentation. A book titled, “The Bond: A Study of Intergroup Relations Between the People of Ehugbo and Edda”, which Hon. Igariwey contributed to, was presented. Another edition was a rendezvous for intellectual, cultural and economic empowerment of the constituents. Common features have included yam distribution, lectures, and calls for the Ebonyi State Government to adopt the model for tourism.
It must be noted that the festivals always have themes to give them a distinct and clear direction. Past themes include, “Iri-Ji Festival: Rethinking Our Ceremonies and Refocusing Our Development”and, “The Ikeji (New yam) Festival in Afikpo and Edda: Food, Culture, Lifestyle and Health”.
What are the Prospects of this annual festival?
The vision is to transform Ikeji or Iri-Ji into
Cultural tourism, an attraction that can boost state revenue. It has the prospect of boosting economic empowerment, using the festival to engage youths and reduce criminality. With the annual festival, the legacy of the people is documented. Continued production of books and materials ensures that present and future generations are adequately informed leading to preservation of history.
This annual festival reveals 3 three things about the man, Idu.
One, he is a stickler to cultural stewardship. He sees leadership as protecting identity. “To be educated is not to put a full stop to your culture”.
Two, Idu is a developmental thinker. He’s not just celebrating yams. He’s trying to convert tradition into jobs, tourism, and youth opportunity.
Three, Idu is a unifier. By making it non-partisan and focused on Afikpo-Edda unity, he uses culture to bridge divides.
The 2026 edition of the Okpudo Ikeji Annual Lecture and New Yam Festival is taking place on the 23rd or this month. As all roads lead to Ehugbo, Idu’s country home, it promises to be another wonderful experience where culture, entertainment, vision and academics blend in a rare convergence.
At a time when many chase politics, Hon. Idu Igariwey is chasing memory, meaning, and development. That’s legacy.
