ABS New Yam Festival wraps up in style

By NkechiIkenwoke, Charity Uzoagba, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and IzunnaOkafor

NEW Yam Festival is one of the famous festivals mostly performed in Igbo land during the period of winter season as well as harvesting period. It's often done every year especially when the famers have started harvesting their crops from August to September. Both men and women including children love to witness this festival. A lot of cultural group of dancers and masquerades of different kinds makes it absolutely great.

Anambra Broadcasting Service led by a great Chief Executive Officer and Press Chairman, Board of Directors, Chief UcheNworah has performed a New yam festival that attracted men and women with children and many prominent personnels.

The arena was replete with an atmosphere of joy at the ABS New Yam Festival held at the ABS premises at the Awka state capital.  The event was a joint organization of the staff members and management of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, with sponsorship from other sister organization like banking firms, health insurance firms etc maximum service delivery both on air and screen.

The Chairman ABS fan club, Mr Chris Ezeife said that Anambra Broadcasting Service had celebrated New Yam Festival for the first time and was optimistic that forthcoming celebrations will be greater than the present time. He said that the festival is to encourage the culture of Igbo land. In his words, “Today Anambra Broadcasting Service in other words known as Heart beat of the East has celebrated a New Yam Festival. That is to encourage our culture, pray together for more fruitful years ahead and also eat together as one family. Festivals is another avenue of knowing people like today we have in our midst Royal Highnesses of different towns, prestigious ladies and gentlemen, commissioner and so many others. New Yam Festival is one of the famous festivals in Igbo land. We also hope to map out a day to celebrate New Yam Festival in the entire Igbo Land. This is to say that every Igbo indigene both home and abroad will recognize the date as for New Yam Festival just as we celebrate Christmas every year. As ABS Fan Club, we are working harder and hope to see that this remarkable feast will continue as it has started. I'm also encouraging the MD/CEO of Anambra Broadcasting Service, NzeUcheNworah to keep the flag flying".

Also speaking at the event, the commissioner for information and public enlightenment, C Don Adinuba who expressed gratitude over the event and stakeholders to hold fast the ethics of culture and traditions. He appraised the level of success of the ABS as the heartbeat of South East Niger. According to him, the broadcasting corporation boosts of the latest modern technology and standard equipment and is regarded as the one of the best in West Africa.  He recounted the story of the visit by the President of National Broadcasting Commission and his team to the state and how they eulogise the level of success of the ABS. he went further to encourage the MD/CEO, ABS to continue the good work and ensure maximum service delivery both on air and screen.

One of the guests who to our reporter, Ogbuefi Comrade Harris showered praises to the organizers for the success of the programme. His words:  ‘ I had to travel all the way from Lagos to this place to be part of this epoch making event and I feel very happy to be here .‘’

He eulogise the character of the staff members and especially the MD/CEO, ABS, “….NzeUcheNworah is God-sent. He is visionary. God bless His Excellency, Gov Willie Obiano for giving such opportunity to a man of value. He has been able to take the ABS to a land of success. He has been able to rejuvenate, reshape and rebuild the structure to enviable heights. He is a square peg in a square hole.”

Harris highlighted points that would help foster brotherly kindness and unity amongst fellow Igbo persons; “The New Yam Festival (IrijiNdigbo )is a major festival. We need to synergise by working with each other to export and transport our culture to the globe. Remember our culture is our belief, our core values and must be protected via partnership with other brother organisations to spread in event such as this.

He explained that language plays n important role in propagating the cultural norms of the people citing reference to the Yoruba culture and Chinua Achebe method of spreading his culture and traditions though his literary works.

“Language is the vehicle to drive our culture forward. We must learn to appreciate, promote and preserve our language. Ndigbo should be very proud of their language.” 

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