Donald Anokwute hosts Igbo community in South Africa.
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The Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and the Supreme Ezes in Council, South African chapter last week marked and celebrated their Iwa Ji and New Yam Festival 2021 edition. The festival took place at the palace of the Onowu and the Traditional Prime Minister of the Igbo in South Africa, Chief Ezeali Udeji Ndubueze Jonas. The event took place at number 22 Pauline Crescent Elandspark Johannesburg South Africa, which is the royal residence of Chief Ezeali Udeji Ndubueze Jonas.
An Umuaka Times reporter who monitored the event reports that the celebration went as planned with no contradictions of any sort. In a brief interview with Chief Ezeali Udeji Ndubueze a.k.a. Jonas, who is the founder of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and Ezeigbo South Africa as well as the Ovia Inyinya Igurube Okodo of Nenwa Enugu, the event was sponsored by the Umuaka born South African based businessman and a highly reputed United Nations Ambassador, Chief Donald Anokwute. The date of the event was on Eke day being Saturday 9 October 2021.
Chief Jonas confirmed to Umuaka Times that the event was the 8th edition of the festival which he, the Onowu, had the privilege to perform the “iwa ji” ritual. In the past years according to Chief Jonas, anytime the event was held, it was done alongside with Igbo Heritage Lecture. But after the last year’s edition in 2020, the general assembly of Ohaneze South Africa decided that the Igbo Heritage Lecture would be separated from the day of the new yam festival and it was carried out so during this year’s edition.
A special guest at the event during the Heritage Lecture who added colour and the endorsement of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the festival, was the representative of the Nigerian Consulate General in South Africa, Mazi Ezenwa Nwobialu. The diplomat, used the opportunity and thanked the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo in South Africa and appealed to them to continue to promote the Igbo culture and tradition in South Africa for the younger ones to learn and emulate.
The Igbo Heritage Lecture which held on Sunday 10 October, 2021 was sponsored by Dr Ben Okoli. Speakers at the event included Mazi Larry Obi, a South African based professor. Chief TJ Ehirim, a South African based pharmacist, politician and businessman. Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. The event was held at Sheraton Hotel South Africa. Present at the event were presidents of all the 5 Igbo states’ organizations in South Africa and the president of Ohaneze South Africa, Mazi Sunny Douglas Nwenike. Umuaka Times reports that top Igbo businessmen and corporate Igbo sons and daughters based in South Africa attended the event.
