It was a celebration galore like no other, Saturday 8 February, as the people of Enugwu-Agidi Community in Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra State, marked the 2025 Opoto Cultural Festival.
Opoto is a 4-Day annual festival of general thanksgiving for a successful harvest in Enugwu-Agidi.
According to the Traditional Ruler of Enugwu-Agidi, Umunri Ancient kingdom, who led in the celebration, Igwe Michael Chidozie Okekeuche, the festival also ushers in a new farming season in the community.
The first-class monarch said the festival, which usually brings sons and daughters of Enugwu-Agidi in diaspora home, was fetish-free and observed by both the Christians and the non-Christians of the community.
While performing the kola-nut breaking ritual in his palace, the Enugwu-Agidi Monarch expressed appreciation to God for the success of the past farming season, and further asked him to bless the land of the kingdom.
The Monarch, who noted that a bumper harvest went beyond crops, said by the grace of God, Enugwu-Agidi had grown into a multi-dimensional society in terms of occupation, having successful men and women in different types of trade, including mechanized agriculture.
Igwe Okekeuche prayed for more divine blessings, guidance, protection, favour, success, mercies, among others, upon his subjects working in different fields of human endeavour, both at home and abroad, amid rousing cheers from the massive crowd, comprising the creme de la creme of Enugwu Agidi society, including the youth who converged on the palace with different kinds of masquerades to pay the monarch Opoto Festival homage.
In his remarks, the President General of the community, Hon David Chukwuebuka Onourah, described the 2025 Opoto as the best in the history, and prayed for lasting peace in the community, even as he wished those that came home from their different places for the festival, journey mercies as they returned.
In a chat with the press, a stakeholder in the community, Ozo John Onuorah, described Opoto Festival as a unique celebration and period of homecoming which offered an opportunity to suitors to find brides.
Also speaking with the press, the Secretary to Igwe Okekeuche and Coordinator of the 2025 Opoto Festival at Igwe’s palace, Ichie Ifeanyi Ndulue, added that Opoto Festival was a time Enugwu-Agidi Community acknowledged God for His mercies and kindness.
Ichie Ndulue highlighted the significance of this year’s Enugwu-Agidi Opoto Festival, which he described as very remarkable and historic.
According to him, all along, there were issues that made the entire town not to agree to come together.
‘But today, the entire town came together in an atmosphere of love to celebrate the phenomenal top-notch cultural festival with His Royal Highest, Igwe Michael Chidozie Okekeuche, Okpalariam III of Enugwu-Agidi,’ Ndulue said.
He described the Monarch as a seasoned diplomat, whom, he said, was working out modalities to bring the entire town together, knowing that a culture of a people defined them.
He appealed to the people of Enugwu-Agidi to join hands with the Traditional Ruler to protect and project their cultural heritage, especially Opoto celebration, which he described as an epicentre of all festivals in the community.
Different ogene cultural dances, acrobatic displays by different masquerades in the community, among others, added glamour to the Opoto celebration at Igwe Okekeuche’s Palace.
Present at the event were the President General of Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU), Hon. Chukwuebuka Onuorah; the Chairman of Enugwu-Agidi Stakeholders Forum and Chairman of Ezumezu Umunri Global; Prince Dr. Emeka Egwuekwe; members of the cabinet; Nze na Ozo Enugwu-Agidi; the Elder’s Council; the Ugonabo Age Grade; all village Chairmen; and Umu Ada Enugwu-Agidi.
The event was marked by sumptuous meals, particularly, lumps of yam and the avulu sauce, usually made at the epic event.
A representative of the Anambra State Government, Hon Chinedu Nwoye, who is the Deputy Chief of Staff, was also at the Palace to pay homage to the Traditional Ruler.
