Culture, Glamour as Anambra Transport Commissioner Ibuzo Celebrates Iwa Ji in Onitsha

Anambra State commissioner for transport Hon Edward Ibuzo praying for guests with traditional kola nut and white chalk

It was a colourful celebration of culture, tradition and heritage on Saturday as the Anambra State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Edward Ibuzo, celebrated his 2026 Iwa Ji (New Yam) Festival amidst pomp, pageantry, fun and glamour at his country home in Inland Town, Onitsha.

The cultural celebration attracted an array of dignitaries, traditional titleholders, community leaders, friends, associates and well-wishers from different walks of life, who gathered to celebrate with the commissioner and share in the joy of the annual traditional festival.

The event provided another opportunity to showcase and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the people of Onitsha, whose customs, traditions and ancestral values have continued to distinguish the community as one of the foremost custodians of Igbo cultural identity.

The Iwa Ji Festival, which symbolises gratitude for a successful farming season, abundance, renewal and the beginning of a new cycle of life, occupies a significant place in Igbo tradition.

Beyond its agricultural significance, the festival reinforces communal bonds, promotes unity and provides an avenue for the transmission of cherished cultural values from one generation to another.

Hon. Ibuzo, who personally received and attended to his numerous guests, demonstrated the traditional spirit of hospitality for which the people of Onitsha are renowned.

He offered prayers for good health, long life, prosperity and continued blessings for all who came to celebrate with him.

In keeping with Igbo customs, the commissioner also shared the traditional kola nut with his guests, underscoring the importance of the sacred nut as a symbol of peace, welcome, unity, friendship and mutual respect in Igbo society.

The ceremony, which assumed the atmosphere of a carnival, was a clear demonstration of the importance of preserving and promoting indigenous culture in a rapidly changing world.

It reflected the enduring commitment of the people of Onitsha to upholding their ancestral traditions and passing them on to future generations.

Ibuzo deserves commendation for observing and celebrating the Iwa Ji Festival in accordance with the cultural heritage of his people.

His participation in the age-long tradition underscores the importance of cultural consciousness among public officeholders and demonstrates that occupying a position of public responsibility should not diminish one’s attachment to one’s roots, identity and community values.

His celebration also sends a positive message to younger generations about the need to embrace, respect and sustain indigenous traditions.

By keeping faith with the customs of his people, the commissioner has contributed to the preservation of Onitsha’s cultural identity and reinforced the message that development and modernity can coexist harmoniously with traditional values.

In Onitsha, the observance of the Iwa Ji Festival by individuals and communities traditionally follows the celebration of the Ofala Festival by the revered Obi of Onitsha.

This sequence reflects the significance attached to traditional authority and the established cultural order through which the community’s customs and festivals are observed.

Dressed in a pristine white traditional attire that reflected the elegance and dignity of Onitsha’s cultural identity, Ibuzo radiated smiles and happiness as he warmly welcomed friends, associates and well-wishers to his country home.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement, goodwill and a strong sense of belonging, as guests exchanged pleasantries and celebrated the occasion with the commissioner.

The festival once again highlighted the richness of Onitsha’s cultural heritage and the need for individuals, community leaders and public officeholders to support initiatives that preserve indigenous customs, promote cultural tourism and strengthen communal harmony.
The celebration was not merely a social gathering but also a reaffirmation of the enduring value of tradition, the importance of cultural continuity and the pride the people of Onitsha take in their identity.

By celebrating his 2026 Iwa Ji Festival, Hon. Edward Ibuzo has demonstrated that the preservation of culture begins with individual commitment and that the continued survival of a people’s heritage depends on the willingness of each generation to uphold and celebrate the traditions inherited from its forebears.