Emeka Esogbue

 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 o...

  An Overview of Festivals in Anioma By Dr. Emeka Esogbue The Anioma area in Delta State enjoys a number of festivals periodically celebrated by the people. This overview of festivals celebrated by the people will enable you to understand the festival as well as the people who celebrate them. Some of the festivals are listed below:   Iwaji (New Yam) Festival New Yam festival also called ‘Iwa-ji’ is an annual festival widely celebrated in Anioma. The festival is one in which gratitude is offered the gods or deities for a fruitful year. The reason for celebrating the festival is understandable since yam provides the people reliable food. Iwaji Festival is mostly celebrated in September to mark the end of fruitful harvest by the people. It is by far the most widely celebrated festival by the Anioma people as it is observed by nearly all the communities that make up the region. In Illah community, the commencement of the festival is signified by ‘Ika nmor’ by the Iyese...