Iriji Ihodimeze 2026: My Mission Is to Revive Igbo Cultural Heritage — Eze Amaku
By Everest Ezihe, Ikeduru
The ancient community of Ihodimeze in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State came alive last Friday with cultural pomp and pageantry as the community, under the traditional leadership of HRH Eze Dr. Martin Chieze Amaku, Dimeze II of Iho-Dimeze Ancient Kingdom and Nwammirienweiro I of Ikeduru, celebrated its historic 2026 Iriji cultural festival.
The annual cultural fiesta, chaired by High Chief Chyma Anthony, popularly known as ‘Odiuko Na Mba’, attracted prominent personalities from Imo State and the wider South-East political and governance circles, transforming the event into a carnival-like celebration marked by impressive motorcades, convoys and security presence.
The festival featured an unprecedented display of masquerades and cultural dance troupes, which moved around the community in solidarity, accompanied by traditional songs, indigenous flutists, drummers and wooden gongs.
The performances electrified the community and its environs, drawing enthusiastic participation from youths, men, women and visitors.
The cultural displays climaxed at the community’s popular Eke Iho Market Square, also known as Ekeijedibia, where the various villages that make up the autonomous community assembled with their traditional masquerades. Adorned in colourful indigenous costumes, the masquerades thrilled spectators with spectacular acrobatic performances and esoteric songs.
After all the villages had assembled with their renowned masquerades, the head of the community’s masquerade cults signalled their procession to the traditional ruler’s golden palace with seven cannon shots. The procession attracted a massive crowd in what observers described as overwhelming in the community’s history.
The expansive compound of Eze Amaku’s ancestral home, venue of the 2nd anniversary celebration, was beautifully decorated for the occasion.
The royal father sat majestically on his golden throne, flanked by eminent traditional rulers from Ikeduru and the chairman of the occasion, as he issued traditional directives during the festivities.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion, High Chief Chyma Anthony, commended Eze Amaku for his commitment towards the preservation and promotion of Igbo cultural heritages.
Anthony urged Ndigbo to take pride in their cultural identity, while commending the people of Ihodimeze for demonstrating unity of purpose, solidarity and brotherly love.
Speaking from his royal throne, Eze Amaku, the custodian of Ihodimeze’s cultural and traditional heritages, expressed gratitude to the distinguished personalities who honoured his invitation.
He particularly acknowledged High Chief Chyma Anthony, traditional rulers across Imo State, members of the Ikeduru Council of Traditional Rulers & Community Policing, Prince Charles Amadi, High Chief Osmond Ukanacho and High Chief Everest Ezihe,( Akaekpuchionwa 1 Na Umueze Abazu Ogwa Autonomous Community).
He also acknowledged the presence of Mazi Mathew Chima Amadi, the Owerri Senatorial Zone candidate of the Action Peoples Party (APP) for the 2027 general elections, who was represented by Chief Henry Onwukwe, popularly known as Apiti, among other dignitaries.
The monarch expressed strong support for Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing them as patriotic and visionary leaders deserving the commendation, support and cooperation of Nigerians.
The youthful traditional ruler, who is also a prophet of the Most High God, described yam as a special food created by God and bestowed on the Igbo people as a unique and blessed agricultural food.
He pointed out that the significance of yam in Igbo culture was worthy of greater recognition, noting that its absence from the biblical accounts of Genesis to Revelation, in his interpretation, further distinguished it as a crop whose cultural importance was particularly understood and celebrated by the Igbo people.
Eze Amaku said the importance of yam in Igbo land made its cultivation a cultural responsibility for every Igbo man, irrespective of social status.
”The yam we are eating today was cultivated by me on my farm. I do not use yam bought from the market to celebrate my community’s Iriji festival.
”It is a traditional and cultural sacrilege for a community to celebrate its rich cultural heritage with yam purchased from the market. Any traditional ruler, individual or group that does so is making a mockery of, and bastardising, this divinely cherished ancestral heritage.
”Yam is the king of all crops, and tradition demands that every Igbo man should cultivate yam and own a yam barn,” the monarch insisted.
Eze Amaku, who reaffirmed his commitment to reviving and restoring Igbo cultural heritage, also cautioned against the practice of making monetary donations or giving cash appreciations during the ceremonial cutting and eating of yam.
He maintained that such practices were inconsistent with the traditions handed down to the Igbo people by their ancestors and called for their rejection.
The royal father appealed to the public not to misconstrue his position, stressing that his views were informed by his commitment to preserving Igbo traditions and cultural values.
He further disclosed that there were seven species of yam in Igbo land, including ji agwu, which, according to him, Igbo ancestors used during traditional rites. He also described yam and cocoyam as nutritious foods with medicinal value, created by God for human consumption.
Demonstrating his commitment to agricultural development, Eze Amaku revealed that during the last planting season, he freely distributed more than 5,000 yam seedlings and 400 bags of fertiliser to interested members of his community and visitors. He also distributed hybrid cassava stems.
Adding his voice, Prince Charles Amadi, Operational Leader of the Owerri Senatorial Zone United Leaders, who represented his son, Hon. Akarachi Amadi, commended the people of Ihodimeze for their commitments in the promotion and sustenance of one of the Igbo’s cultural heritages.
Describing Eze Amaku as a digital traditional ruler, Amadi pledged his total support for the monarch as both a father and political leader. He also called on the people to embrace unity of purpose and brotherly love.
The political leader urged political stakeholders in Imo State to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure a smooth transition of power in 2027 by being supportive to Governor Hope Uzodimma’s Shared Prosperity administration.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Uzodimma for his reported promise to support the emergence of a successor of Owerri Senatorial Zone extraction and re-appealed to the people of the zone to continue supporting the governor’s Shared Prosperity administration.
In his speech, the President-General of Ihodimeze Autonomous Community, Chief Austine Njoku Esq, described the festival as a unique occasion that reinforced the community’s commitment to brotherly love, peace and unity.
According to him, the celebration was an opportunity to thank God for a bountiful harvest, which he attributed partly to the agricultural empowerment initiatives of Eze Amaku that had encouraged residents to embrace farming.
”We are equally appreciating God for giving us such a Monarch. It is painful that Ihodimeze spent over 16 years without a structured President-General and traditional ruler because of unhealthy and unnecessary rivalry.
”Our traditional ruler was given the staff of office two years ago, while in March 2026, I emerged as the elected President-General of the autonomous community, you can imagine what the community lost due to division, wranglings and blackmailing.
”The truth is that during those 16 years of stagnation, there were opposing camps. We are appealing to those who are still on the other side to return and become part of the developmental and transformational efforts of the present community leadership.
”From what happened today, it appears that our clarion call has received a positive response,” Njoku stated.
He expressed optimism that the festival would strengthen reconciliation and encourage greater participation in the community’s development.
Onyekwuruha Emerges Ezeji Ihodimeze 2026
The celebration also featured a competition to recognise the community’s best farmer, with five contestants participating.
At the end of the competition, Mr. Mazi Augustine Onyekwuruha emerged overall winner. In recognition of his achievement, the traditional ruler awarded him ₦200,000 and conferred on him the title of Ezeji Ihodimeze Autonomous Community 2026.
The highlight of the festival was the traditional cutting and eating of yam by Eze Amaku and members of his cabinet, symbolising gratitude to God for the harvest.
The event also featured fundraising for the construction of the traditional ruler’s proposed magnificent golden palace, further underscoring the community’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage and advancing development.
