“Iri ji Mbaise”
” The origin and evolution was handed to us by oral tradition”.
1946 was the exact date when this festival started. Though, the celebration now is fixed on the 15th of August of every year . The cradle of creation took place in Ezinihitte Mbaise at “Orie-ukwu” a boundary between Oboama na Umunama with the birth of five clans-EZINIHITTE, OKE-OVORO, AGBAJA, AHIARA AND EKWEREAZU.
In those ancient days, the celebration of annual Iriji took place in every village and town in Mbaise on an important market day of the week. Then, you have something like –Iri ji ORIE-UKWU, EKE-UKWU, AFO-UKWU, OR NKWO-UKWU. Just as we now celebrate the Christmas on market days between many towns in Mbaise, which we fondly called “ERIGWARA” The cultivation and planting of farm crops between January to end of May resulted in shortage of food. Families would feed on little available food. This famine period would continue through the end of July when the first species of yam called “Ji-Igwe” would be harvested. This particular specie of yam is nicknamed “cut and come again” because when you dig and cut off the early tuber leaving the head underground (ike-ji), it will grow and produce another tuber which will be planted in the next cropping season. The fathers of the Households in the villages and towns would be very happy and thankful to God for having survived the famine. To them, this wonder of nature calls for celebration hence a day was set aside for the celebration named “Iriji-Ohuo”-New yam Festival. Celebrate the harvest Festival. Therefore, the festival of the new yam is a thanksgiving celebration. If it is a true then that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of cultures as there are beliefs. Culture is people’s total way of life. “IRI JI MBAISE” is our cultural heritage handed down from generation to generation. Celebrate & enjoy it..
To all my MBAISE brothers and sisters all over the world
I wish you all HAPPY IRI JI FESTIVAL…
Written by Hon Agwamba Eric .
