Umuahia the heart of Abia State, with its rich culture and vibrant spirit, certainly holds onto warm memories of festive moments in its “old” days. Here are some glimpses into those celebrations:

New Yam Festival ( Iri Ji Ohuru ) :

This is a widely celebrated festival in many parts of Nigeria, including Umuahia. It is a harvest festival where the first yams of the season are offered to deities and ancestors in thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.

New Yam Festival (Iri Ji): This grand harvest celebration was a spectacle! Communities came together, offering thanks for the year’s bounty. Aromatic yam dishes like Pounded yam (Fufu), Pepper soup, and Okpa filled the air. Masquerades danced, musicians drummed, and the air was electric with revelry.

• Significance: The New Yam Festival, also known as “Iri Ji Ohuru” in Igbo, is a harvest festival that typically takes place between August and October. Yams are a staple crop in many Nigerian communities, and this festival marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the harvest season.
• Activities: During the New Yam Festival, communities come together to offer thanks to deities and ancestors for the successful harvest. Traditional rites, cultural performances, dances, and feasting are common activities. The new yams are often presented to the gods before they are consumed, symbolizing the importance of agriculture in the community.

Christmas and New Year Celebrations:

Like many parts of the world, Christmas and New Year are widely celebrated in Umuahia and throughout Nigeria. These celebrations often include church services, family gatherings  ( Nzuko Umunna and Umu Ada,  )feasts, and cultural events as well as Football and other games .

• Significance: Christmas and New Year celebrations are widely observed in Umuahia and across Nigeria, bringing together families and communities to celebrate the festive season.
• Activities: Activities during this period include attending church services, family gatherings, exchanging gifts, preparing special meals, and participating in various cultural and social events. It’s a time of joy, reflection, and the beginning of a new calendar year.

Christmas Feasts:

Christmas in Umuahia meant an explosion of flavors. Chicken stew, Jollof rice, pounded yam and Egusi soup graced tables, often prepared with firewood smoke adding a unique touch. Family gatherings buzzed with laughter and stories shared under twinkling lights.

Masquerades and Merriment:

Mmanwu Performances: Masquerades like the iconic Agwu and Mkporo held a special place in festive celebrations. Their colorful costumes, rhythmic dances, and cryptic pronouncements added a magical element to the festivities. Children chased them with excited shrieks, while adults watched with awe and respect.

Mmanwu

Umuaka Day: This homecoming event for Umuahia women living elsewhere brought the town alive. Vibrant wrappers, traditional dances, and communal storytelling painted a beautiful picture of cultural pride and solidarity.

Games and Gatherings:

Achi:This traditional Igbo game brought families and friends together under the moonlight. The clicking of stones and bursts of laughter filled the air as players strategized and cheered each other on.

Village Squares: The village square served as a hub for entertainment during festivities. Children squealed with delight as they played hopscotch and chased each other, while elders engaged in animated conversations and shared stories.

These are just a few snapshots of the festive joy that filled Umuahia in its “old” days. The warmth of communal celebration, the vibrancy of traditions, and the simple pleasures of shared experiences all come together to create a nostalgic tapestry of happiness.

Recently, the internet erupted with excitement as beautiful photos of Senegal star, Sadio Mane, and his wife, Aisha Tamba, emerged, offering fans a rare glimpse into the private wedding.

The ceremony which held on Sunday, January 7, in Keur Massar, Dakar, Senegal has been making the headlines on social media ahead of the start of AFCON 2023.

Pulse Sports earlier reported that the 31-year-old Al Nassr winger had been secretly courting the Casamança native for years, before finally finally tying the knot over the weekend.

The emergence of these striking photographs not only captured the attention of football enthusiasts but also fueled curiosity about the couple’s journey.

Sadio Mane and Aisha Tamba have managed to keep their relationship under wraps for years, leaving fans astonished by the revelation of their love story.

The images not only showcased the couple’s glamour but also offered a glimpse into the private life that Mane and Aisha have carefully guarded.

The internet buzzed with praises for the couple’s commitment, with many expressing joy at seeing their favorite football star find happiness off the pitch.

One user wrote: ‘I’ve decided to quit my job to focus on the mané couple… they are beautiful machalah’

A third user wrote: ‘Sadio Mané you only get good things. May Allah bless your marriage mashAllah Amen.

The two-time African Player of the Year decided to settle down less than a week away from the start of AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.

Mane and the Teranga Lions are gearing up to defend their AFCON title, and the former Liverpool star will be hoping to once more lead their attack and quest for continental glory.

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi has reportedly deposed some traditional rulers in the state.
This was announced by Bello during a media parley after the Executive Council Meeting in Lokoja on Sunday.

He said the monarchs were deposed after going through all the required procedures and adhering to our traditional and chieftaincy laws, rules, and regulations.

Bello said: “His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isah Koto, the Ohimege-Igu Koton-Karfe, who is also the chairman, Lokoja/Kogi local government area traditional council is hereby removed and to be deposed to, Rijau Local Government Area of Niger state.”

He further added that “His Royal Highness, Sam Bola Ojoa, the Olu Magongo of Magongo, is removed and to be deposed to Salka, Magama Local Government Area of Niger State.”

His Royal Highness, Samuel Adayi Onimisi, the Obobanyi of Emani, is removed and to be deposed to Doko, Lavun Local Government Area of Niger state.”

On the deposition of Onimisi, Governor Bello said the title “OBOBANYI OF IHIMA” which reads on the promotion letter, upgrading the stool to first-class status, “was done without cognisance to the fact that the title; “OBOBANYI OF IHIMA” is a subject of litigation and the court of law is yet to arrive at the possible final decision, as such, the Government have however received several petitions, calling attention to the need to revert and maintain status quo, until the court of law decides.”

“To this end, the stool is hereby reverted to “OBOBANYI OF EMANI” as the present occupant remains deposed.”

The governor also said His Royal Highness, Boniface Musa, the ONU-IFE in Omala Local Government is to be suspended indefinitely.

Following appropriate government involvement to address the persistent disputes that have plagued the selection process, the government thus announces the appointments of the future occupants on the following seats.

That: Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Anaje, who is the OHI OF OKENWE, is hereby appointed as the OHINOYI OF EBIRALAND as well as Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir is hereby appointed as the MAIGARI OF LOKOJA, and Alhaji Dauda Isah, is hereby appointed as the MAIYAKI OF KUPA

Mallam Saidu Akawo Salihu was also appointed as the OHIMEGE-IGU KOTON- and he is to be turban immediately.

The Igede People of Benue State, Nigeria: Exploring the Annual New Yam Festival and Cultural Heritage