By Obinna F. Nwachukwu
Starting from tomorrow 15 th August, 2024, the South Eastern climate will be charged with various socio-cultural and traditional activities. The zone will witness tremendous human and vehicular movement from urban to rural areas. Even those in the diaspora are not left out. While women
would be engrossed with debates and showcasing of beautifully crafted wrappers and jewelries, their male counterparts will be busy with the cutting and eating of new yams in what has come to be known as the annual Iri ji cultural festival.
This period every year is a familiar scene. It is a movement to commemorate the annual Iri Iji (New Yam) festival, a tradition that has come to unite the people and rekindle the blood that runs through their veins. You can liken it to the American day of Thanksgiving. Women also use the period to do what has come to be known as " August Meeting”. Indeed, New Yam festival is a very important occasion in the culture/tradition of the Igbos. Yam is the king of all crops and the ancient Igbo man values it, especially if cultivated in his farm. The yam barn was used to measure a wealthy or hardworking man. Imagine the yam barns back then. And strong tribute was given to the yam god –
Ajoku (Ahianjoku). The New Yam festival is kick-started by the King (Eze) after which other
groups and individuals go ahead and organize related yam eating events. It is therefore celebrated in the quest to promote Igbo culture and tradition.
The origin of new yam festival can be traced to Mbaise land in Imo State. The people of Mbaise, being a scion, celebrate this tradition to the fullest. Each year on August 15, Ndi Mbaise converge at one of the local government areas to celebrate the new yam festival. Over the years, the festival has attracted shades of people to the hinterland, namely; governors, presidents, political and non-political
actors, et al. However, with its popularisation today, almost every community in the South-East celebrates Iri Iji.
During Iri Iji, various cultural displays are showcased at the events held in each autonomous community led by the Eze or Igwe as the case may be. Then, the Kings collectively host the Iri Iji Mbaise (Mbaise New Yam Festival) at a designated location in one of the three local government
councils. Traditional dances like Ekpe, Nkwonwite, Nkwa ji, Abigbo accompany the events. For many of the communities, dance competitions are synonymous with the ceremony and the winner with the most creative display goes home with a trophy and cash reward. Different professional, cultural and development associations use the period to organise events that enhance community and human
development. Mbaise is a region and a people located in Imo State, South Eastern Nigeria. The name “Mbaise” was derived from five cities: Agbaaja, Ahiara, Ekwereazu, Ezi na hite and Oke Uvuru. Mbaise simply means five clans, although the present Mbaise comprises three local governments in Imo State: Aboh-Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise and Ezinihitte Mbaise.
The coming together of all the people under a common political and administrative unit took place in 1941. British colonial administration in Nigeria did not take firm root until the very beginning of the 20th century. And this was after several British military expeditions and patrols had taken place. The aim of such military expeditions and patrols was to suppress pockets of opposition, be it ideological systems such as those built around oracles like Ibini Ukpabi of Arochukwu, Agbala of Awka, Igwe-ka- Ala of Umunneoha, or those built around cults such as the Nri priestly and ritual cult and hegemony in Anambra State or the Ifanim at Amumara Ezinihitte Mbaise. Some expeditions were specifically aimed at suppressing the revolts of the people such as the memorable but brutal massacre of the Ahiara and Onicha people in 1906 because of the death of one British man, Dr. Stewart (the famous Ogu Douglas). The expedition sent out in 1901 to suppress the oracle Ibini Ukpabi at Arochukwu passed through Owerri in 1902.
Two years following this expedition, British colonial authorities established an administrative system in which several districts or divisions were created and grouped under larger administrative units
called provinces. " Mbaise (which was) the western boundary of the Owerri division" (as existed at that time) became part of that division. In 1909, two native courts were established at Nguru and Okpala. The Okpala Court had jurisdiction over part of what is now Mbaise. Warrant Chiefs were appointed to this courts-all these being part of a colonial attempt to control the people and administer the territory. In a major transformation in 1952, the government replaced the native
administration (both the clan and federal units) by the system of local government councils patterned after those existing in Britain. An Mbaise County Council was inaugurated in 1956, while nine local councils were established at Ahiara, Ekwereazu, Enyiogugu, Ezinihitte East, Ezinihitte Central, Ezinihitte West, Nguru, Oke-Ovoro, and Okwuato.
The heartland theory of the Igbo culture area places Mbaise at the centre of Igboland. Mbaise occupies what anthologists have designated as the core of the Igbo culture area and civilisation.
Consequently, the people occupy a strategic point in the context of Nigerian culture as much as they have occupied a strategic point in its politics. But strategically, they occupy the lowliest point in terms of economy and development.
In terms of size, the world recognises their importance and plight because of the concentration of human beings in the territory. As said elsewhere, the Mbaise population is one of the densest in Africa, comparable only with the population of the areas together with the areas along the fertile valleys of the Nile in Egypt and the rich mineral areas in South Africa gold region. Unfortunately and ironically, they do not have fertile soil nor has any strategic mineral deposit been found in the area. In addition, the oil exploration in neighbouring communities in Abia and Rivers States is badly affecting aquatic and agricultural activities of the people.
In terms of size, Mbaise is bigger than most nation-states that vote, along with America and Russia and Nigeria, in the United Nations. Mbaise occupies an area of 185 square miles and has an estimated
population of over two million people. Politically, the people of Mbasie (up to the pre-war regime) had solid and effective voices in the politics and government of both Eastern Nigeria
and the Nigerian federation. It produced two ministers of cabinet rank in the then Eastern Nigeria
(Dr. A O Ogbonna and Chief P O Nwoga). At one time, it had four seats in the then Eastern House of Assembly and two representatives in the Federal House of Representatives (in fact, it was three, since one of its sons, Mr. DDU Okay represented Port Harcourt Federal Constituency).
Prominent leaders who served in the legislature were late Chief D N Abii, the late Barrister A T Mbegbu, and the late N D Ukah, for the Federal House, while Mr. E O Osuagwu, and Mr. S M Ahamba were elected for the Eastern House of Assembly. The late Chief William W Obasi and Chief H I Akwitti served in the Regional House of Chiefs. These leaders were precursors to present day Mbaise leaders who have continued in the footsteps of their forebears. Who says Mbaise has not come of age?