By Edna Ezinneamaka Onunaku
Every year, Nollywood, the Nigerian Entertainment Industry celebrates its New Yam Yam Festival. This year was not an exception. The event which took place on Saturday at the Exhibition Pavilion in the Central Business District, Abuja, was a celebration of sorts, where notable men as the Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Party (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Iya Oloja of Lagos and the Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof Peter Umeadi were awarded.
The APC candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu received the traditional title of “Oka Ome”, meaning “Talk and Do”, while his APGA counterpart, Justice Peter Umeadi, was awarded “International Ambassador of African Culture”. Other prominent personalities who received traditional titles and special awards are:
Mrs Monalisa Chinda Coker, the Director of Communications, Actors Guide. Mrs Coker received the traditional title of “Udeze Nwanyi”, which means “woman with kingly prestige”, while Chief Dr Smart O Nwokorie, received the title of “Onyinye Chukwu Nyere Dim Na Opara”, meaning “God’s gift to the people.”
Dr Franca Ayena, the former Vice President Actors Guild North Central, received the title of “Ndo Oma” of Nollywood, while the Chairman of Actors Guild Abuja Chapter, Amb Nazareth Bako, was awarded with the “International Ambassador of African Culture.”
The Permanent Secretary of the Police Service Commission, Dr Mrs Ifeoma Adaora Anyanwutaku, ably re-presented, also received the “International Ambassador of African Culture” award, and Barr Uju Kennedy Ohaneye, received the title of “Nwanyi Ka Ibe a 1 Nke Mbu”.
Others included Fati Zainab, Dr Mrs Uche Umenyi Ephraim, Gozie Maduabuchi Vitalis, Osita Offor aka the Ultimate Commander, Chukwudi Uzochukwu aka Don Chuks, president of Umuoji Improvement Union, and a host of others.
While highlighting the main event of the day, the presidential candidate of APGA, Professor Peter Umeadi, whose presence legitimised the traditional celebration stated that the yam is harvested every November to December. He said,
“when those who planted yams are harvesting them, they leave behind some of the yams for those who were not able to plant. In this way, no one is left hungry on that day and no one is said to have stolen a yam.”
Steve Eboh, a Nollywood actor, said “in Igboland and across the world, yam is the king of harvest and a lot of people from other parts of the world and indeed Nigeria celebrate yam.”
One of the awardees, Chief Dr Smart O Nwokorie, says that the New Yam Festival showcases Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. He stated that it is “the Africanisation of our lifestyle. It’s all about who we are, where we are coming from and where we’re going. There’s a place we come from and a way we do our things. This is why we come here to tell the whole world that the thing they know us for is still alive.”
The day’s event attracted the presence of celebrities, traditional rulers and other dignitaries notably among them are the National President of Actors Guild, Emeka Rollas Ejezie, Francis Duru, Andy Chukwu, the former Ambassador of Nigeria to Russia, Prof Steve Ugbah, and Sen Philip Aduda, senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, ably represented.
Others included Igwene Nwoye, Hon Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, former president of the Senate, Sen Ken Nnamani, Etsu of Garki, Hon Ginika Tor, and Ifeanyi Onwurah aka Agility, the former Chairman Abuja Chapter of the Actors Guild, who is also the organiser of the event.
The side attractions have the Gbagyi and TIV traditional dancers, who spiced the occasion.
