Avu Ancient Kingdom Celebrates Okwu  Cultural New Yam Festival

‎Avu ancient kingdom in Owerri West local government area of Imo State came alive on Friday 28 August 2026 as dignitaries of note from far And near gathered to join the community to celebrate its renewed Okwu Avu Cultural New Yam Festival.

‎The occasion, held at the Central School field, Avu,  attracted the following personalities including His Royal Majesty Eze Micheal N. Okere JP, Duruihekaibeya VIII of Avu ancient kingdom and his wife Ugoeze Gloria Okere, the chairman of the occasion High chief Gordon Onuoha PhD (Ugochinyere 1 of Avu), Chairman Avu traditional council Chief Sab Ngerecham, members Avu traditional Council, the majority Leader of Imo State house of assembly Hon Chief Kanayo Onyemaechi, the Owerri West local government chairman Hon Victor Osigwe, Rtd Comodore Ogechi and his amiable wife, Palace secretary Hon Tony Okoro, youth president of Avu Prince Azoro Okere, The secretary of owerri West LGA Chief Dr. Fidel Onyeleke, Chief Victor Muruakor, former Tc Chairman Owerri West LGA Hon Anod Ogaram, the vice chairman of Niger Delta bishop Association Bishop Chinedu Ohanu, Ndom Avu led by Lolo Chidinma Asonye, High Chief Anukem and his wife, the planning committee Led by Hon Humphrey Umunnakwe among others.

‎Speaking while breaking the new Yam, His Royal Majesty Eze Micheal Okere thanked God for sustaining the people of Avu to witness the 2026 Okwu Avu Cultural Festival adding that the significance of the celebration was to thank God for a bountiful yield.

‎”Avu is culturally conscious, this is manifested vividly in her traditional new Yam festival and Okwu Avu. The New Yam festival was inherited  from our fore fathers and a feast conducted during the farming mid season, precisely during the first harvest of yam tubers prior to the end of harvest and it is celebrated annually”.

“Before, Okwu Arushi is obsessed, the Ohas will wear tender fronds (Omu) to signify the approach of the festival. During the period, they undergo some purificatory rites and abstain from any form of desecrating habits. They avoided war or quarrels of any sort until the end of Okwu”, the Eze said

He Pointed out that four days to the festival, elaborate preparations herald the festival, which is usually celebrated on Eke Ukwu, big Eke market day. Eze Okere stated that one of the preparations marking the coming of the festival was the undertaking of works of charity by the children and young people of the community.

‎His Majesty sued for peace, unity of the community, maintaining that no development will thrive in an atmosphere of Chaos and disunity.

‎He advised his subjects to embrace tradition and culture of the land, stressing strongly that Okwu Avu festival was not fetish.

Eze Okere said the annual festival was not a ceremony rather an avenue to promote productivity, unity, peace and progress.

‎He applauded Governor Hope Uzodimma for what he described as his developmental strides in the 27 LGA’s of Imo State especially the restoration of Peace across the the state

‎Adding his voice, the Owerri  West council Chairman Hon Victor Osigwe described culture as very important and should not go into extinction. “Always take customs and tradition serious”.

‎He congratulated the traditional ruler and the people of Avu for a renewed Okwu Avu Festival and urged them to keep it up.

‎Speaking also the majority Leader of Imo State house of assembly Hon Chief Kanayo Onyemaechi congratulated Eze Mike Okere, the Avu council of elders and Oha Avu for reviving Okwu Avu and urged the people of Avu to work in synergy with the traditional ruler to move the Community forward.

‎In their separate speeches, Dr Fidel Onyeleke, Bishop Chinedu Ohanu, Hon Umunnakwe Humphrey, Elder Okenze Sab. Ngerecham and others hail His Majesty Eze Mike Okere for having the will to revive the culture  that has suffered setback and pra