The Oparaukwu Ibeku in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo says the 2021 new yam festival of the entire Ibeku holds on Monday 30th August 2021.
Oparaukwu Ibeku who announced this while interacting with newsmen in his resident in Umuahia, disclosed that the celebration will be low key because of coronavirus.
Apugo who warned Ibeku people both home and those coming from abroad including friends as well as well wishers to observe government restricted covid 19 protocols including wearing of face mask, social distancing among others, added that the annual festival cannot be postponed.
According to him, the festival should be observed peacefully throughout the period without any rancour or brandishing of weapons of any kind. The elder statesman maintained that the tradition was inheritance from the ancestors, making case for it to be sustained.
Apugo added that the traditional rites starts today (Saturday 21st) August b2021.
He used the opportunity to encourage Igbos to embrace farming to enable them celebrate with yams harvested from their farms and preserve all Igbo cultures and traditions which he affirmed unites Igbos.
