The Onwa Asaa Festival is a significant cultural event celebrated in Ugwuoba, Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria.
Cultural Significance:
Onwa Asaa Festival is a fundamental part of Igbo Culture. It is celebrated as the new yam festival called “Iri Ji” .
This festival marks the beginning of the harvest season, particularly for yams, which are central to Igbo Culture. They symbolize life, prosperity, and the revival of farming.
Timing:
The festival usually takes place during August, which is the seventh month (Onwa Asaa) in the Igbo calendar, when new yams are ready for consumption after giving thanks to their ancestors.
Activities:
During this festival, the masquerades take center stage, with the men chosen to represent different spirits through fancy costumes. They dance and parade around the village, wearing colorful attire made of things like raffia or cloth stripes. This performance isn’t just for entertainment; it carries spiritual and cultural meaning, too.
Community involvement:
This festival brings people from the village together, including those who have moved away and returned for the celebration. It’s a time for community bonding, where families come together and share gifts, food, and blessings for the new year.
Economic and Social Aspects:
Onwa Asaa festival has an economic impact. It boosts local markets with activities like selling yams and other goods, which can be seen in places like Afo Ugwuoba, one of the popular markets around.
Recent Events:
There have been reports of violence during similar traditional festivals in nearby areas, but it’s not like Onwa Asaa’s festival. This shows the importance of security during big community gatherings like this.
This festival showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people, emphasizing community, tradition, and gratitude for nature’s bounty.
Reference
Master Catalogue: Literary Africa. Eliot Elisofon. 1959.
David Ugbabe : The History of African Civilizations