Iriji Umuna 2025: Eze (Dr.) Douglas Okwara Blends Culture with Tradition

… Describes it as a Festival of Legacy, Peace, and Unity

The ancient kingdom of Umuna in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State once again radiated splendor as it hosted one of the most colourful cultural festivals in recent history — the Emume Iri Ji Ohuru (New Yam Festival).

Held on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at the Ishi-Obi Egedeokpu, Umuna Ancient Palace, the festival unfolded under the revered leadership of His Royal Majesty, Eze (Dr.) Douglas Okwara (Okwarachukwu IV).

This year’s Iriji Umuna transcended cultural spectacle. It was a sacred covenant of gratitude, peace, and communal identity — a celebration where the traditional ruler, his royal cabinet, and illustrious sons and daughters of Umuna poured out thanksgiving to God Almighty for divine protection, bountiful harvest, and the enduring heritage of their land.

The festivities began with a solemn thanksgiving Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Orlu, setting a spiritual tone before the cultural rituals and pageantry commenced. By afternoon, the palace arena burst alive with a vivid display of Igbo heritage — Egwu Mgba (wrestling dances) symbolizing strength, Mmanwu masquerades invoking ancestral spirits in dramatic splendor, and Egwu Ukwu (royal dances) that echoed reverence, majesty, and unity.

Representing Governor Hope Uzodimma, HRM Eze (Dr.) Cletus Ilomuanya, CON, described the festival as “a living testament to the potency of tradition in cementing unity and elevating the human spirit, even as we advance in modern governance.”

Clad in resplendent regalia, and joined by his wife, Ugoeze Grace Okwara, Ph.D, Eze Okwara declared:
“Iri Ji Ohuru is our covenant with the land and our ancestors; a resurgence of identity that nourishes our past as it inspires our future.”

The monarch then blessed the land, his people, and the bountiful yam — a prayer for continuity, prosperity, and unity until the next season.

This year’s edition was extraordinary, attracting sons and daughters of Umuna from across Nigeria and the diaspora, alongside a distinguished gathering of traditional rulers, political leaders, captains of industry, cultural icons, and well-wishers. More than 12 cows and numerous gifts were presented in homage to the monarch, underscoring the festival’s weight and dignity.

Among the eminent attendees were:

• HRM Eze (Dr.) C. I. Ilomuanya, Obi of Obinugwu (Co-Chairman, Southern Council of Traditional Rulers)
• HRM Eze Oliver Ohanwe, Obi Gburugburu, Isiama Mbano
• HRM Eze G. Ejiogu, Kara of Umunakara
• Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West)
• Rt. Hon. Canice Moor Nwachukwu (Orlu Federal)
• Hon. Chief Cosmos Maduba, Imo Commissioner for Agriculture
• Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Obiatuegwu of Orlu Diocese
• And a host of royal fathers, cultural troupes, and diaspora leaders.

The 2025 Iriji Umuna was more than a festival. It was a royal carnival of colours, sacred rites, and cultural pride — a proclamation of Umuna’s enduring status as a beacon of unity, peace, and legacy in Imo State and beyond.

Indeed, the festival stood as a glorious symphony of heritage and royalty, a thanksgiving rooted in tradition yet alive with modern relevance, affirming that Umuna’s cultural spirit will never fade.