Delta community upholds traditional wrestling at new yam festival

Indigenes of Obetim Uno community in Afor clan, Ndokwa East local Government Area of DeltaState, held their annual Ifijioku New Yam festival, which climaxed on Tuesday, September 30, with wrestling bouts in different categories.

The competitive event had nearby communities competing in a convivial atmosphere to the joy of spectators at the jam-packed arena along Obetim-Kwale old road.

According to the Odugwu- Abi (traditional prime minister) of the community, High chief Johnson Okwese who also is the Odogwu Ebi of Afor clan, “It is a festival of their goddess of yams, and it the festival marks the end of hunger and harvest of new yams.

“The diety is usually served by one Chief Monday Onyegu with old yam and corn, signifying the ushering in of new yam season”, he added.

The Odogwu- Abi while speaking with journalists hours before the colourful ceremony alao explained that the appeasement of the diety was to formally signal an end to season hunger which commences in June through September annually.

He further said, “The diety which represents our goddess of farming guides and protects the farmers from all forms of danger all-round the farming season and boosts our bumper harvest.

“This is one festival that has given us so much pride of place among committee of communities, as our wrestling prowess is known here and beyond, with the event attracting wrestlers from as far Bayelsa and Rivers State dating back to the 50s”, he posited.

Our reporter who witnessed this year celebration observed that the shrine of the Ifijioku diety was beautifully decorated with fresh palm leaves by the Ogbenta age grade of the community, as their members who are in their hundreds engaged in traditional wrestling practice every nightbfor five days until the September 30th, being the grand final.

It featured traditional wrestling contests between the indigenes and wrestlers from neighbouring Ogbedigbo – Afor also in Ndokwa East local Government Area , and Utagba-Ogbe communities in Ndokwa West local government area of the state.

Speaking to our reporter shortly after the wrestling contest, the Igwe of Afor clan and Okpala-Uku of the community, Igwe Oduegwu Okwese expressed appreciation td God and their ancestors for the peaceful and successful celebration and commended the indigenes.

He also commended the organizers and the youths for their peaceful disposition, as he also prayed for safe up coming farming season and expressed gratitude to their neighboring communities whose wrestlers attended the wrestling contest.

The president General of the community High Chief Sony Neme who expressed satisfaction with the large turnout by the indigenes and friends of the community described the 2025 editions as encouraging.

High Chief Neme pointed out that the successful even signified the peoples interest and commitment to the promotion and development of their rich cuktural activities.

He also promksed that next year will attract government presence asbtgey are working towards intigrating the into thebstates tourism calendar that will ultimately boost the Delta State and Federal Government’s economy through the tourism potentials of the annual event.

A prominent youth of the community, Comrade Emeke Ishiaka ,who also spoke to our reporter noted that there was an improvement on 2025 celebrations of the festival from the previous editions, saying the indigenes’ awareness on the benefits and importance of culture and tradition has increased.

Comrade ishiaka also advised the people to redouble their commitment to the development of their culture and traditions for better celebrations in future.

The grand finale of the celebration featured wrestling contests between the community wrestlers and representatives from Ogbedigbo and Utagba-Ogbe neighboring communities

The celebration continues with appeasement of their ancestors for the next nine days with roasted yams and dried fish blended with oil soup traditionally called “Otite “ by the indigenes, especially on the last day..