Nollywood has celebrated its 2021 new yam festival and honoured a Nigerians businessman, Obinna Iyiegbu, known as Obi Cubana and veteran actor and comedian John Okafor also known as Mr Ibu, with traditional titles.
Nollywood’s New Yam festival is held every year and it showcases Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. While Obi Cubana got the title of Ifeomaolibo, because now he has trained, sponsored and supported a lot of youths to become self-independent, Okafor got Aki Ogbocioma, because of his positive impact in the industry.
The event was organised by the former Chairman of Actors Guild of Nigeria, Abuja, Mr. Onwurah Ifeanyi, also known as ‘Agility’.
“This is a festival that Nollywood stakeholders put in place to always remind them of their roots and culture.
“In the time past, we were forgetting our roots, but now we are trying to see what we can do every year to bring people back.
“I used the festival to be a pointer to other African cultures. You can see people dress in Edo, Calabar, Yoruba, Hausa and other attire to attend. So that is the pointer.
“Aside from the celebration, we are awarding a lot of people. The award became necessary because so many people have helped Nollywood and humanity.
“So, from time to time, we award these people, because, when you praise somebody that did something well, it would encourage the person to do more, and that is why today we are awarding these people,” Ifeanyi said.
Also, Mr. Emeka Rollas, the National President of Actors Guild of Nigeria said the New Yam Festival to an Igbo man was a celebration of a good harvest of yam annually.
“It is believed that when you do not celebrate the harvest of yam in a year, the next year’s harvest may not be fruitful.’
“That is why it is very imperative as Nollywood has become the most important export of Nigeria as far as culture is concerned.
“That is why every year, we gather here in the celebration of the yam as a symbol of unity for Nigeria and the Igbo man.
