The Christian Journal Bronx, New York – Nzuko Arochuku i New York, New Jersey and Connecticut an association of Igbos who hail from Arochukwu kingdom in Nigeria.
For the Aro, the Ikeji Festival is not just another cultural fanfare, but a celebration of heritage, culture and their roots. Ikeji festival which dates back over a century remains one of the biggest and oldest cultural celebrations among the Igbos in Nigeria.
The New Yam Festival of the Igbo people is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people held to usher in the new harvest of yams
Yams are the first crop to be harvested, and are the most important crop of Igbo people in Nigeria. The New Yam Festival is a celebration depicting the prominence of yam in the social-cultural life of Igbo people. The day prior to the festival, all old yams from the previous year are consumed or discarded. This is because it is believed that the New Year must begin with tasty, fresh yams instead of the old dried-up of the previous year.
The harvest of yam and the celebration of the God of the land through the New Yam festival is an epitome of the people’s religious belief in the supreme deity.
“Ikeji Festival, is a day when they say thank you to our God for a new harvest.”
The event was held at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in the Bronx, the invited guest for this year’s event was Deputy Major of The City of Newark Ugo Nwaokoro and other notable dignitaries were Former Nigeria Minister of culture & information, 9th president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo ( Chief John Nwodo , Lay Minister ( Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa) OFR, Dr Onyebeke, Dr Okoro Ukpabi, Dr Cyril Orji, Dr Ngozi Ogbutor and many more
Beautifully clad in their traditional dress amidst intensive drumming, singing, and dancing. The atmosphere was beautiful, it was a time of celebration of culture and friendship.
The festival included a variety of entertainments, ceremony and cultural dances by the women. The festival features Igbo cultural activities in the form of contemporary shows, masquerade and traditional dancers.
The Festival is a highly captivating art event exposition the great significance that showcases the diverse and rich Nigerian culture. This Cultural event was a rare celebration of the Arochuku. Their rich and glamorous culture was on full display.
It was a day for the Aros to reaffirming their unity, identity, pride and the spirit of brotherhood.
