Arum Ji Ebenebe: Celebrating Harvest, Culture And The Spirit Of Community

Arum Ji Ebenebe: Celebrating Harvest, Culture and the Spirit of Community

The thunder of ogene bells, the rhythm of traditional drums and the aroma of freshly roasted yam filled the air as thousands of people gathered in Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, for the 2026 Arum Ji (Iri Ji) New Yam Festival.

Dressed in colourful traditional attire, titled men, women, youths, clergy, traditional rulers and other guests turned the palace of the Traditional Ruler of Ebenebe into a vibrant celebration of culture, agriculture and community life.

For the people of Ebenebe, Arum Ji is more than the eating of the first yam of the season. It is a thanksgiving to God for a successful harvest, a celebration of farming and an occasion for families and community groups to renew bonds of peace, unity and collective responsibility.

The 2026 celebration also attracted political stakeholders and aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections, reflecting the importance of traditional festivals as spaces where public figures and community members interact at the grassroots.

In keeping with tradition, newly harvested yam is not eaten by members of the community until the traditional ruler performs the first ceremonial tasting on behalf of the people.

The celebration began with a Holy Mass officiated by four Catholic priests, after which traditional rites brought together the Igwe-in-Council, Ichie and Ozo title holders, members of the Ebenebe Town Union, women's groups, age grades and families.

Roasted yam, palm oil, pepper and ọba were shared among hundreds of celebrants as the community expressed gratitude for another harvest.

The Traditional Prime Minister, Onowu Joe Nwaegu, said the festival marked the successful completion of the farming cycle that began with the cultivation ceremony earlier in the year.

“Earlier in March, we marked the farming season, and now we celebrate the successful harvest of our farm produce. After Igwe is done with his own festival today, tomorrow will be the turn of the entire community.”

The Traditional Ruler of Ebenebe, Igwe Christopher Emeka Nnaegbuna, used the occasion to encourage young people to reconnect with agriculture, which he described as an important pathway to prosperity. “Agriculture remains the surest path to prosperity,” the monarch said.

He said the 2026 celebration marked the 29th Arum Ji festival under his reign and described it as an occasion to give thanks for the harvest while promoting peace, unity and development.

Igwe Nnaegbuna recalled that farming had supported the education and advancement of many people from Ebenebe, including himself. “Most educated people from Ebenebe, including myself, were raised by farming families. Our forefathers were renowned farmers, and that legacy must continue,” he said.

“I am a farmer, and my children also farm. Rather than roaming the streets or engaging in crime, our young people should return to the land.”

The traditional ruler said Ebenebe was blessed with fertile land and called for greater youth participation in agriculture. “God has blessed Ebenebe with fertile soil, and agriculture can defeat laziness and poverty,” he said.

He added that productive engagement in farming could help reduce the vulnerability of young people to criminal activities. “Idleness breeds crime. When young people are productively engaged in farming, they are less likely to join cult groups or engage in criminal activities,” he said.

The monarch also advocated mechanised farming to increase food production, create employment and encourage greater investment in rural communities.

Beyond the celebration of harvest, Igwe Nnaegbuna said Arum Ji provided an opportunity to reinforce peace and harmony in the community.

He said the palace had introduced community rules discouraging violence, cultism and the use of weapons in resolving disputes.

According to him, lasting peace must begin within families before extending to the wider community.

The monarch also addressed recurring social media reports linking criminal incidents to Ebenebe, saying some incidents were wrongly attributed to the community because travellers and other people passed through the area.

“We remain committed to ensuring that Ebenebe stays peaceful and secure, and we do not tolerate crime in our community,” he said.

Onowu Nwaegu said Arum Ji had grown from a modest village celebration into a four-day cultural festival that attracts visitors from different parts of Anambra and beyond.

A major attraction is the annual yam competition, in which farmers present some of their biggest harvests during the general community festival held the following day.

The winning yam is determined by weight rather than estimation, with the heaviest entry taking the top prize.

The competition, which was introduced more than 15 years ago, now offers a cash prize of about N3 million to the winner, providing an additional incentive for farmers to improve their production.

The President General of Ebenebe, Mr Raymond Arinze, thanked residents and visitors for participating in the festival.

He described Arum Ji as an opportunity for the community to appreciate God for the gift of yam and another successful farming season.

Arinze also commended Igwe Nnaegbuna for what he described as the peaceful coexistence experienced during the monarch's reign and called for continued commitment to unity. “Igwe Nnaegbuna has bound us together in unity and we have enjoyed great peace under him. We shall continue to work together to keep the peace,” he said.

The President General of the Women's Wing, Mrs Theresa Okonkwo, also stressed the importance of peace to the community's development. “Without peace, there will be no progress and development. As homemakers, we will ensure that we keep our children out of trouble. Growth and development of Ebenebe is our collective responsibility,” she said.

For Femi Ologunwa, a National Youth Service Corps member from Ondo State, the festival offered a first-hand experience of Igbo cultural traditions.

Ologunwa said he was particularly impressed by the procession of Ozo title holders, the royal regalia and the hospitality shown to visitors. “I am impressed a lot. As a Yoruba man, I was thrilled by the way culture has been displayed in this place today. All of us corps members here are happy to be here,” he said.

He said the experience would remain memorable even after his service year. “This memory will stay with me for a long time to come because it is not something I see every time. We are about to pass out but this is a great experience for all of us.”

Ologunwa said cultural celebrations remained an important part of Africa's identity and should be preserved. “Personally, I love culture. It is one thing that attracts people to Africa and Nigeria and we must continue to make the best out of our culture,” he said.

As the drums continued into the evening and families exchanged greetings beneath decorated canopies, the 2026 Arum Ji celebration once again brought together the central elements of Ebenebe's communal life—harvest, faith, culture, hard work and peace.