Okoko Item Celebrates Age-long New Yam Festival

On Sunday, August 24, 2026, the LA School field in Okoko Item, a town within the Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, transformed into a vibrant tapestry of colors, sounds, and unity. The 2026 New Yam Festival brought together Okoko Item's sons and daughters, both locally and abroad, to honor their age-old tradition of giving thanks to God and the ancestors for a bountiful harvest.

Boasting a rich cultural heritage, Item people have long thrived through farming, self-help, and strong community bonds. Central to the festival's essence was the age-grade march, in which over 10 age grades, adorned in their traditional uniforms, marched one by one, displaying their cultural prowess through drumming, dances, masquerades, and the symbolic act of cutting the new yam.

It was only after the traditional rulers and esteemed elders blessed the yam that the celebration of food and fellowship commenced. The Okoko New Yam Festival is not only a time for feasting but also a reconnection for the diaspora community, as it is the day when scattered family members come together once again. The Okoko Item Development Association used the event to promote peace, discuss ongoing projects, and raise funds.

The festival's success lay in its ability to unite Okoko Item, and its President General, Chief Ogechi Kamkam, emphasized the day's focus on unity and peace. Among the notable attendees was Dr. Kelechi Anosike, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia State. As a special guest of honor, Anosike, a proud Okoko Item descendant, donated N2.5 million toward community projects and N500,000 for establishing a vigilante group.

His mother, a native of Okoko Item, attended primary and secondary school there. Dr. Anosike, standing in the shoes of his illustrious grandfather, emphasized the importance of Okoko Item's cultural heritage and the spirit of entrepreneurship in Igbo society. In his governorship ambition, Dr. Anosike highlighted his commitment to promoting agriculture, fostering a cooperative economy, and ensuring food security for Abia State's citizens.

The festival not only celebrated Okoko Item's culture and history but also served as a political rally, with Chairman of the occasion, HRM Eze Dr. David Kingston Okey-Dede, encouraging all Okoko Item residents to unite and support Dr. Anosike's campaign. The Okoko Item New Yam Festival 2026 encapsulated the essence of Thanksgiving to God, a celebration of culture, a strategic gathering for development, a family reunion, and a political rallying point—an all-encompassing event that bathed the community in renewal and hope for a prosperous future.