By Patrick Ochei
The Ogbelani of Issele-Uku Kingdom, the highest ranking titled Issele-Uku indigene, Diokpa Isimchei Okonkwo has narrated the story behind the historic *Igbu Awai* festival, saying that it marks the end of the suffering undergone by farmers during the farming season and as well a celebration of benefit from the proceeds of the farm.
He made the narration whilst performing the eating of the porridge (Ili Awai) before newsmen inside his palace at Ishiekpe kindred of the Umueze Issei Quarters of Issele-Uku.
The Ogbelani who indicated that as a titled native of Issele-Uku (Okpala-Ani Issei), there is no way he could eat the new yam without somebody, an untitled indigene (Ikolo) feeding him with the porridge.
Diokpa Okonkwo however, used the medium to pray for the king, HRM Agbogidi Obi Nduka JP (MNSE), the community and her inhabitants, asking God to preserve everybody in good health ahead of the next farming season.
Meanwhile, the Ine Ahor Media crew also visited the Ashi-Obi of Issele-Uku Kingdom, Chief Uche Ngbanwa and the Chairman of Aniocha North Branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Lucky Ochei to observe them perform the act of eating the new yam.
The Igbu Awai festival is usually characterized by merrymaking, which involves the eating of the *Awai* and *Otite,* and additionally, food with so much to drink.
It was indeed a very unique event as these titled and capable men did prepare the Otite which is a combination of roasted yam and Otite leave mixed with the charcoal of the roasted yam before eating. Same goes for the porridge (Awai) which is boiled after peeling the yam with an addition of oil and salt before it is set for eating.
The yam, which is the chief of all the numerous crops planted in the farming season, represents all other crops (cassava, maize, etc) as far as feasting is concerned.