Ugboba Kingdom in Aniocha North Local Government Area is in a celebration mood as the monarch of the Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Obi Agbogidi Ezedinbu Emmanuel Nkebakwu III will be marking the New Yam traditional festival also known as ‘Iwaji-Obi’ on September 22, 2024 by 2. pm.
The festival will be held at the Obi’s Palace in Ugboba Kingdom with several traditional activities to make the celebration colourful and memorable.
Activities lined up for the festival include a gathering of ‘Ikpoho-Ogbe’ at the palace for general cleaning of the palace and his Royal Majesty’s House by 7:00 am, followed by entertainment by his Royal Majesty by 9:00 am.
His Royal Majesty celebrates the new yam festival followed by gunshots to invite his kindred (Ndi Ogbe-Obi) for the Iwaji entertainment proper by 10:00 am, and the second gunshots to invite Ndi Ikpala (Red cap chiefs) for entertainment ensues by 12noon.
Other activities include the third gun shots to welcome in-laws, friends and well-wishers of the Ugboba kingdom with the fourth gun shots for traditional dance by Ndi-Ikpelime as well as general entertainment.
The Iwaji is immediately followed by Eke-Obo which is a highly revered Egwugwu dance, often Ugboba’s Esan neighbours from Edo State join them for the event.
Ugboba is an ancient town and one of the oldest towns in the Odiani Clan of Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria. Ugboba is bordered by Ubulubu town in the East, with about six- kilometre road linking them, in the immediate south is Obompka town, while in the West and North are Ukwu-nzu and Ohordua respectively. The latter two towns are approximately four and fourteen kilometres away from Ugboba town. Ugboba is blessed with vast mineral and natural resources.The community is currently governed by its 10th monarch and highly cerebral HRM Obi Ezedimbu Nkebakwu III, who was given a staff of office by the Delta State Government on June 2, 2016.