The beat of drums echoed as the men and women including children sang and danced. The occasion was the celebration of the annual 2014 festival.
The Chief celebrant Dr. Chukwuka Animeke Ifechukwude of Ekuku –Agbor in Ika South Local Governmen Area of Delta State, beamed with smiles as he acknowledged greetings from family members guests and well wishers who had come to felicitate with him on the auspicious occasion.
In a speech, Dr. Animeke remarked that the new yam festival offers beautiful opportunity for the people to give thanks to God for all he has done right from the planting season to the harvest time.
Dr. Animeke also noted that the event provides the rare opportunity for families to unite and fraternize in an atmosphere of joy, celebration and merriment. Animeke said the new yam festival is one of those cultures of the people that is not fetish but celebrated as a common traditional feature of the people.
Animeke stressed the importance of mother tongue and the need to re-invigorate traditional folk tales both at home and in schools.
Dr. Animeke appealed to well meaning Ekuku-Agbor sons and daughters both at home and Diaspora to create job opportunities for the youths in the community as step towards eradicating social ills in the society. Animkeke paid glowing tribute to the Dein of Agbor Kingdom H.R.M. (Dr.) Benjamin Keagborekwuzi Ikechukwu I the Dein of Agbor of Agbor Kingdom and advised him to know those he conferres chieftaincy title in his kingdom not those that will bring ridicule to his name and the community.
He also charged the political class not to use the youths for thuggery during the elections. And they should not influence the electorates to enable vote for a candidate of their choice that will lead them well.
