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Ibusa: Umuafene Clan Celebrates New Yam Festival in Grand Style as Prof. Emeritus Esogbue Sends Goodwill Message

 Ibusa: Umuafene Clan Celebrates New Yam Festival in Grand Style as Prof. Emeritus Esogbue Sends Goodwill Message



By Emeka Esogbue


Members of the Umuafene Clan in Umueakea Quarters, Ibusa, Delta State, gathered in the community on Thursday to celebrate the New Yam Festival, known locally as Iwa Ji. Joined by friends and well-wishers of the clan, the elated sons and daughters of Umuafene performed the traditional Iwa Ji rites in grand style.


Members of the clan, including youths, were seen rejoicing, singing, dancing and exchanging felicitations as they celebrated the annual festival.



The impressive turnout was commended by the Diokpa of the clan, Prof. Emeritus Augustine Onwuyali Esogbue, NNOM, who told Pen Master in a telephone conversation that he was deeply impressed by the celebration.


Prof. Emeritus Esogbue, a retired long-serving NASA scientist and Safety Advisory Board Medal recipient, is also the first Black person to be promoted to full professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and the first Black person to earn a Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering.


Commenting on the celebration, the renowned scholar said:


“I just saw the video accounts of the celebration of the 2026 Umuafene Iwa Ji Festival. It was highly successful. I have never seen anything like this before, at least, in our Umuafene Village.”


He added:


“My joy and gratitude go to all those who played a central role in making this day happen, and making it happen so successfully,”


the Ozorkilolo of Ibusa said.


“I am delighted that our people joined other communities to participate in this annual festival of our forefathers. I am grateful to everyone who made it happen,” he added.


The New Yam Festival is a communal expression of gratitude for life and harvest, as well as a celebration of unity and togetherness. It marks the end of one agricultural cycle and the beginning of another, while expressing hope for continued prosperity and a bountiful harvest in the coming season.


The people of Ibusa have, since time immemorial, celebrated the festival as an important part of their cultural heritage and communal life.


The Diokpa of Umuafene Clan, Prof Emeritus Esogbue also used the occasion to reiterate his plans to reconstruct the Umuafene Ogwa and conduct the Ikpota rites before the end of 2026.

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