"You Can't Conduct Iriji Without Us" — Ndi Ezeji Challenge Ezuruezu, Claim 2024 Festival Violated Ancient Mbaise Tradition

"You Can't Conduct Iriji Without Us" — Ndi Ezeji Challenge Ezuruezu, Claim 2024 Festival Violated Ancient Mbaise Tradition

By Vivian Iwu 

***

Ezeji Mbaise Executive


A fresh battle over the soul of the famous Iriji Mbaise Cultural Festival has erupted, with Ndi Ezeji Mbaise accusing Ezuruezu Mbaise of usurping sacred ancestral duties and warning that the continued violation of centuries-old customs could have serious traditional consequences.


In one of the strongest public declarations since the disagreement surfaced, the President-General of Ndi Ezeji Mbaise, Comrade Linus Nwajere, alleged that the 2024 Iriji Festival departed from established Mbaise tradition, claiming that the yams used during the celebration were bought from the open market instead of being harvested from Mbaise farmlands, as custom demands.


He argued that this, alongside what he described as the continued exclusion of Ndi Ezeji from performing sacred rites, calls into question the authenticity of the festival.


Speaking on behalf of the Ezeji Executive Council during a press briefing in Owerri, Nwajere accused the leadership of Ezuruezu Mbaise, led by Surveyor Joe Anosike, of taking over responsibilities which, according to him, have belonged exclusively to Ndi Ezeji from time immemorial.


Among the disputed rites are the lifting of the yam ban, the official declaration opening the new yam season, the reception of the governor and other dignitaries, and the ceremonial cutting and public sharing of the roasted new yam.


According to him, these are not ceremonial activities that anyone can perform but sacred ancestral obligations handed down through generations.


 "For generations, these rites have been performed solely by Ndi Ezeji. Their performance by any other body violates our cultural heritage," Nwajere declared.


He further maintained that the Ahiajoku rites, traditionally performed after Iriji, remain the strongest proof of legitimate custodianship.


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


The Ezeji leader disclosed that repeated efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue had failed, prompting the group to appeal to the Imo State Government, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to intervene before this year's festival.


Despite the disagreement, he announced that Ndi Ezeji would carry out all customary rites for the 2026 Iriji Mbaise Festival on August 15 at Isi Ovu, Eke Nguru, in line with what he described as authentic Mbaise tradition.


Also speaking, the Coordinator of Ezeji Mbaise, Dr. Onyekachi Nwoga, described Iriji as one of the oldest and most respected New Yam festivals in Igboland, announcing plans to educate young people on its history to prevent what he called the erosion of cultural values.


The controversy has now reignited a long-running debate over who truly owns the spiritual and cultural authority to conduct one of Igboland's most celebrated festivals. With the countdown to the 2026 Iriji Festival already underway, many Mbaise sons and daughters are watching closely to see whether the dispute will be resolved peacefully—or deepen divisions over the community's cultural heritage.


Efforts to obtain the reaction of Ezuruezu Mbaise to the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Inside the High Court Injunction That Halted Ezuruezu Mbaise & Vindicated Ndi Ezeji

Image
Inside the High Court Injunction That Halted Ezuruezu Mbaise & Vindicated Ndi Ezeji By CAVIMAGES Media  *** ​The drums of the New Yam Festival are meant to beat to a rhythm of thanksgiving, unity, and sacred covenant. But in Mbaise, Imo State, the rhythm has fractured into the sharp, uncompromising gavel of the judiciary. ​In a landmark legal showdown that will echo through the annals of Igbo cultural history, a High Court of Imo State sitting at Aboh Mbaise dealt a definitive blow to the leadership of Ezuruezu Mbaise. On July 21, 2026, the court slammed the brakes on the socio-cultural organization's plans for the 2026 Iri-Ji Mbaise, issuing an interim prohibitive injunction restraining them, their committees, and agents from organizing the event or collecting a single kobo from the public. ​To understand the weight of this ruling, one must peel back the layers of administrative overreach, financial extortion, and a silent ideological war over who holds the keys to Mbaise'...
Read more

Yoruba Political Agenda Imo State pays courtesy visit to APC State Working Committee

Image
Yoruba Political Agenda Imo State pays courtesy visit to APC State Working Committee By: Ebere Osuka The Yoruba Political Agenda, Imo State with the motto " Strenghtening the Bonds Of Party Loyalty and Inclusive Leadership" has paid a courtesy call to APC State Working Committee at the state secretariat. Speaking, the Director General Yoruba Political Agenda  Dr Ezekiel Ajayi stated, that they are privileged to pay a courtesy visit to the secretariat and thanked them for the warm reception adding, that the essence of the visit is to revalidate  their total loyalty to the government of APC in Imo  state and Nigeria at large and appreciated members of YPA for deeming it fit to pilot the affairs of the forum  The Director General commended, the state governor Senator Hope Uzodinma for his good work in the state expressing joy, that some of the yoruba community are beneficiaries of the largesse of the state government as well as the appointment of their indigenes in vari...
Read more

Clashes Over Security & Stool: Umuihuocha Eze-Elect Blows Hot Over "Parallel" Vigilante Move

Image
Clashes Over Security & Stool: Umuihuocha Eze-Elect Blows Hot Over "Parallel" Vigilante Move By Cecilia Anyanwu  *** AHIAZU MBAISE, IMO STATE — A major leadership and security row is brewing in Umuihuocha Obohia Autonomous Community, following a scathing public clarification issued by the Community’s Eze-Elect, Nze Greatman Eze-Ndi-Eze Ugwuadi. The royal father-to-be has raised the alarm over what he describes as an attempt by certain factions to create a "parallel security structure" capable of plunging the Community into chaos and division. The controversy stems from a letter dated June 2, 2026, titled "Need to Harmonize the Umuihuocha Security Vigilante Network for Effective Operations and Supervision," which was circulated to select stakeholders by members of the Umuihuocha Security Committee. Breaking his silence on the matter, Nze Ugwuadi expressed deep concern that a letter preaching "harmonization" could deliberately omit his official...
Read more