HRH EZE DR. SAMUEL EKEZIE, EZEIGBO SEMPE GHANA , CELEBRATES 10TH YEAR ANNUAL THANKSGIVING AND NEW YAM FESTIVAL IN GRAND STYLE

+ Njoku Macdonald Obinna

Accra, Ghana

The new Yam Festival is an important way of marking the beginning and end of the farming season. It is also a celebration of life, accomplishments in a community, culture and well-being . Yam, as the king of all crops , is significant to the planting and harvest season in Igboland and across West African countries; Nigeria, Ghana, etc, as it is considered a miraculous plant that signifies fertility.

It was indeed a hive of activities las weekend; a display of Igbo rich cultural heritage, celebration galore, promotion of African culture, exchange of compliments, dancing and merriment as the entire Sempe region in Ghana was practically shutdown on Sunday, December 26, 2023, during the 10th Year Anniversary/ Thanksgiving/New Yam Festival of His Royal Highness, Eze Dr. Samuel Ekezie, JP (Ugochimereze l /Ezeigbo Sempe Ghana ), as the Igbo community and creme da la creme in the Republic of Ghana turned up in their numbers to celebrate with their traditional ruler in Sempe- Ghana, Eze Ekezie.

Ever since his coronation by Igbo Community Ghana as the first sub-paramount King under Ezeigbo Ghana's traditional leadership, Ezeigbo Sempe Ghana, HRH Eze Dr. Samuel Ekezie, JP, has continued to demonstrate leadership capacity by sustaining the annual celebration of the Igbo new yam festival in Sempe region -Ghana for solid 10 uninterrupted years on the throne, while leading the Igbo community on the path of truth, justice, fairness, honesty and integrity. HRH Eze Dr. Samuel Ekezie, Ezeigbo Sempe Ghana, is an accomplished business man, a build bridger, team player and respected community leader.



The watershed event marking the 10th year annual new yam festival and coronation ceremony of His Royal Highness, Eze Dr. Samuel Ekezie, JP (Ugochimereze l /Ezeigbo Sempe Ghana), was attended by captains of industry, ambassdors, politicians , government appointees, first class traditional rulers from Nigeria, Ghana and neighbouring West African countries of Togo, Guinea, Benin, Mali, graced the occasion.


In his opening remarks, the Chief Celebrant and Ezeigbo Sempe Ghana, HRH Eze Dr. Samuel Ekezie , JP, said: `` The new yam festival affords ndigbo a golden opportunity to come together and celebrate Igbo cultural heritage , industry and entreprenurship. In his words: `` Yam is king of all crops, from time immemorial our fathers celebrated it as it afforded them the opportunity to take good stocks of their harvest and to also thank God for His blessings.``

`` Today, we are celebrating it in the Diaspora to pass a very important legacy to our children. Most of our children were born outside Igboland, and it becomes imperative for us to organise an event like this so that we could come together and celebrate our festival where Igbo culture is upheld and celebrated at its best. ``


Royal Father Of The Day, HRM Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu (Ezeigbo Ghana, Global Peace Ambassador), in commending Eze Samuel Ekezie , maintained that the Igbo community in Sempe -Ghana is very proud of him for promoting the tradition and cultural heritage of ndiIgbo through the anual new yam festival in his region. According to Eze Ohazurume, HRM Dr. Ihenetu, Eze Samuel Ekezie is an illustrious son of Igboland Mbaise precisely who is so passionate about Igbo culture and tradition, as he has been actively involved in Igbo traditional leadership in Ghana as a founding member of the revered Obiukwu, ObiIgbo, Obieziokwu royal palace under his watch.


Speaking after Ezeigbo Ghana, Ihenetu , another father of the day at the watershed event, HRM NII Adotey ll , President of Paramount Chief of the Sempe Traditional Council and the Mankralo of the Ga State, urges everyone in attendance irrespective of tribe or country, so long they are Africans to attend the festival because apparently, we are not just promoting Igbo culture, but we are also promoting African culture. With the presence of kings and queens from all parts of Africa, it is now a full-blown African festival. As they came , they also showcased their own rich culture. Yoruba, Hausa, people from South South and other neighbouring African countries were there to partake in the festival.



The highly inspired theme of the event , titled: '' Promoting Unity, Love And Development Through Culture'' is a demonstration of Eze Dr. Samuel Ekezie s pan- African cultural diversity and intellectualism geared towards using cultural festivity in bringing people together for peace, unity and development through social communication and engagements.



Again and over again, the Obi Ihunaya Palace (Palace of Love) Accra- Ghana, under the dynamic traditional leadership of it's king, HRH Eze Dr. Samuel Ekezie , JP (Ugochimereze l /Ezeigbo Sempe Ghana), alongside his amiable wife Her Royal Highness,Ugoeze Glory Wali Ekezie (Ugodiya ), has continued to be an abode where brotherly love reigns supremely among the Igbo people living in Sempe -Ghana and also a rallying point for business contacts and other social engagements in the spirit of 'Onye Ahala Nwanneya - Be Your Brother's Keeper . '




The colorful event was attended by the entire Igbo community in Sempe-Ghana and across neighbouring towns and countries as the Media Lens of 4th Estate Reporters captured the following dignitaries which included but not limited to:



•HRM Eze & Ugoeze Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu
Paramount Ruler of the entire Igbo Community in the Republic of Ghana.



• HRM NII Adotey ll , President of Paramount Chief of the Sempe Traditional Council and the Mankralo of the Ga State.


• HRH Igwe Dr. Raymond Chuma Okadigbo

(Ezeudo of Adoteiman Accra)

• High Chief Dr. Amb. Okwudiri Divine Nwandu

(Akunaeshiobiike of Mbaise, Afor l of Ihitteaforukwu)


• HRH Eze Victor Anyiam
(Ezeudo of Afflao Kingdom)



• Chief Chris Iyke Agodi
(Akaonyewetara ll & lll)


•Chief Sir Dr. Emeka Ugwunze
(Agu Iyi Odumodu)

• High Chief Emeka Emmanuel Nnokwute

(Ugodinobi I of Umualaoma, Akubueze I of Ghana).

• All Ndieze Ghana .


• All state chairmen.


• Chairman, Igbo community.



Njoku Macdonald Obinna


Media Consultant|Newspaper Columnist|Public Analyst|PR- Expert


Publisher,


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