Otolokpo Kingdom Set to Celebrate Iwa Ji Festival in Grand Style

The ancient Otolokpo Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State is set to come alive on Saturday, October 4, 2025, as the people gather to celebrate this year’s Iwa Ji (New Yam Festival) with pomp, pageantry, and cultural splendor.

In a statement issued from the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Obi Collins Alioma Ezenweali, Ozorji Igwe I, the revered monarch of Otolokpo Kingdom, the event will feature a lineup of rich traditional activities, including the symbolic paying of homage by the seven quarters of the kingdom, vibrant cultural displays, and the traditional cutting of roasted yam by the monarch himself.

Obi Alioma, while announcing the festival, extended a warm invitation to sons and daughters of Otolokpo at home and in the diaspora, as well as friends and well-wishers from across Delta State and beyond, to join in what he described as a “sacred and unifying celebration of life, sustenance, and heritage.”

Significance of the Festival

The Iwa Ji festival holds profound cultural and spiritual importance for the people of Otolokpo. Beyond its outward spectacle, it is a thanksgiving to the gods and ancestors for bountiful harvests and the gift of life. It also marks the official permission for members of the community to eat the newly harvested yam, which is widely regarded as the king of crops among the Igbo and their kith in Delta.

Traditionally, the cutting and sharing of yam by the Obi symbolizes abundance, unity, and communal prosperity. It is also a reaffirmation of the deep bond between the throne and the people, reminding indigenes of their collective identity and shared responsibility toward preserving the customs of their forebears.

A Festival of Unity and Cultural Pride

The Otolokpo Iwa Ji is more than a ritual; it is a rallying point for indigenes to reconnect with their roots. The seven quarters of the kingdom—each represented during the homage-paying procession—use the festival to renew loyalty to the throne and foster communal solidarity.

Beyond the traditional rites, the occasion is also a showcase of the kingdom’s rich cultural heritage, featuring music, dance, masquerades, and other indigenous art forms. It has, over the years, become a major tourism attraction, drawing visitors eager to witness the colorful spectacle and partake in the spirit of hospitality for which the kingdom is known.

The Monarch’s Call

Obi Alioma emphasized that the annual festival is not only about cultural expression but also about community development and unity. According to him, the celebration provides an opportunity for indigenes to return home, strengthen family ties, and contribute to the progress of Otolokpo.

“This festival reminds us of who we are as a people,” the monarch said. “It is a moment of gratitude, a time for unity, and a season to reflect on the values that bind us together as one family under God.”

As preparations peak, the palace and the people are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that this year’s Iwa Ji festival becomes one of the most memorable in recent times. From the symbolic roasted yam to the rich cultural displays, Otolokpo Kingdom is set to once again affirm its place as a custodian of tradition and heritage in Delta State.