Why Omor People are Celebrating 2025 New Yam Festival in Grand Style – Igwe Chidume

By Praise Chinecherem

People of Omor community in Àyamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State have concluded plans to celebrate the 2025 New Yam festival in grandstyle.

Traditional Ruler of the community, Igwe Dr Chris Oranu Chidume disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in his palace also announced activities lined up for the event slated to hold at his palace on Saturday, August 23, 2025.

He said the festival which was last held few years ago due to flood challenges would also herald the harvest and subsequent consumption of the crop by his peopled.

According to him, the 2025 edition would be special as other years’ harvests were affected by flood.

He said, “The festival this year will be special because other years flood affected our harvest, but this year we recorded bountiful harvest.

“The festival had existed for ages to foster conviviality among the people and serves as a moment of thanksgiving to God.

“We accord more attention to yam cultivation as the king of all crops as done by their forefathers. Rice production recently added to our main crops.

“We were known for cultivation of food crops, age long known for yam production and later known for rice production.”

Describing the community as hospitable, accommodating and peace loving, the royal father expressed optimism that the festival would hold at the community’s “King’s Square” with about 20,000 capacity space by his 10th anniversary on the throne.

Some of the Cabinet Members including Chief Dom Machi, Chief Chiuba Emeka, Ikenga Omor, Ozo Udemezue, Head of Ozo Title Holders, and Chief Cletus Obiora noted that the festival would involve traditional rites/ observances preceding the event such as “Echemmili” and “Igu Aro”

They noted that the traditional ruler would set the tune for consumption of the crop by cutting the new yam after the “Egwu Ikoro”

Acknowledging the uniqueness of the historical event, they noted that this year’s festival has been specially packaged to bring to the fore known cultural narratives of Omor.

According to Obiora, “the event will be colorful and showcase our rich cultural values with cultural dance and masquerade displays”

On his part, Organising Committee Chairman, Engr Godwin Mgbechi explained that dignitaries, friends and well wishers of the community in different parts of the country and beyond were expected to grace the festival.

Omor has some neighbouring communities, namely Igbariam, Umumbo, Umuerum, Ifite Ogwari, Anaku, Igbakwu amongst others.