Iriji Mbaise 2026: Ezeji Leadership Cautions Ezuruezu Against Alleged Breach of Ancient Festival Traditions

By Mary Ugorji

As preparations intensify for the 2026 Iriji Mbaise Cultural Festival, the leadership of Ndi Ezeji Mbaise has called on Ezuruezu Mbaise to refrain from performing traditional rites it says are exclusively reserved for the Ezeji institution, warning that any continued violation of long-established customs could have serious traditional implications.

Addressing journalists in Owerri on behalf of the Ezeji Executive Council, the President-General of Ndi Ezeji Mbaise, Comrade Linus Nwajere, alleged that the current leadership of Ezuruezu Mbaise, led by Surveyor Joe Anosike, has continued to assume responsibilities which, according to him, have from time immemorial been the exclusive preserve of Ndi Ezeji.

Nwajere identified the traditional responsibilities to include the lifting of the yam ban to signal the beginning of the new yam season, the formal declaration of the commencement of the Iriji Festival, the reception of the Governor and other distinguished guests, and the ceremonial cutting and distribution of the roasted new yam to the public.

According to him, these rites are sacred and deeply rooted in the customs and traditions of the Mbaise people.

"For generations, these rites have been performed solely by Ndi Ezeji. Their performance by any other body is inconsistent with our ancestral tradition and amounts to a violation of our cultural heritage," he stated.»

The Ezeji President-General also expressed concern over what he described as the continued marginalisation of Ndi Ezeji since 2024. He further alleged that the yams used during the 2024 Iriji Festival were purchased from the open market rather than harvested from Mbaise farmlands, contrary to established tradition.

He maintained that, according to custom, yams presented during the festival must originate from Mbaise farms, adding that any deviation from this practice requires the appropriate traditional rites of atonement.

Nwajere noted that the Iriji Mbaise Festival has remained one of the most enduring cultural celebrations in Igboland, pointing out that its observance continued uninterrupted even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

He disclosed that several efforts had been made to resolve the disagreement through dialogue with the leadership of Ezuruezu Mbaise but said the attempts had not yielded the desired outcome.

He therefore appealed to the Imo State Government, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to ensure that Ndi Ezeji is allowed to carry out its ancestral responsibilities without interference.

Speaking further, Nwajere stressed that the sacred Ahiajoku rites, which traditionally follow the Iriji Festival, can only be performed by Ndi Ezeji.

"Any group that cannot perform the Ahiajoku rites lacks the traditional authority to conduct the Iriji Festival," he asserted.

He announced that all customary rites for the 2026 Iriji Mbaise Cultural Festival would take place on August 15, 2026, at Isi Ovu, Eke Nguru, Mbaise, in accordance with established tradition.

Also speaking, Ezeji Dr. Onyekachi Nwoga, Coordinator of Ezeji Mbaitoli, described Iriji Mbaise as one of the foremost New Yam festivals in Igboland and a significant symbol of the cultural identity and heritage of the Mbaise people.

He disclosed that the Ezeji body plans to organise public lectures and educational programmes aimed at enlightening younger generations on the history, values and significance of the festival.

"Our objective is to preserve this rich cultural heritage for future generations and ensure that the authentic custodians of our traditions are recognised and respected," Nwoga said.

As preparations for the 2026 festival gather momentum, the dispute over the custodianship of certain traditional rites is expected to remain a subject of public interest, with stakeholders hoping for a peaceful resolution that will preserve both the unity of the Mbaise people and the sanctity of their cultural heritage.