4th September 2025, NewsOrient, Opinion, Column, Culture, News, Lifestyle
By John Chukwu Anyim

Among the Igbo tribes, festivals are not mere gatherings; they are living traditions, timeless reminders of identity, and celebrations of communal survival.

The Iri Ndi Item Festival, proudly celebrated by the people of Item in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, is one of such festivals.

It is both thanksgiving and heritage, homecoming and cultural compass, reminding the Item people of their roots while teaching enduring lessons for the future.

A Historical Root

The history of Iri Ndi Item is closely tied to the cycles of agriculture and thanksgiving. In the past, when yam harvests marked the peak of plenty, families gathered to honor God and the ancestors, share the fruits of their labor, and reconcile differences. Elders offered libations, disputes were settled, and unity was reaffirmed before a new farming season began.

Over time, what began as a harvest thanksgiving grew into a full cultural festival, one that now combines spiritual reflection, community development, and cultural pride.

The transformation shows how traditions adapt to changing times without losing their essence.

Notable Past Celebrations

The festival has, over the years, drawn dignitaries, scholars, and leaders from across Nigeria, turning Item into a cultural crossroads.

In the 1980s, the festival was largely local but very communal, marked by masquerade displays and extended family feasts.

Many recall how elders narrated tales of Item’s founding clans to young ones gathered under moonlight.

By the 1990s and early 2000s, with Item sons and daughters excelling in politics, business, and academia, the festival gained wider visibility.

Diaspora contributions increased, and celebrations featured larger gatherings that attracted visitors from across Abia State and beyond.

A notable moment came in the mid-2000s, when prominent leaders such as senators, traditional rulers, and religious leaders attended, signaling the importance of the festival as both a cultural and social event. Speeches delivered then emphasized unity, education for the youth, and community development.

In recent years, the Iri Ndi Item has evolved into a major homecoming. Sons and daughters return from Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and even overseas to partake.

The 2010s witnessed musical performances, cultural troupes from across Igboland, and economic exhibitions where local products like palm wine, crafts, and textiles were displayed.

Each of these celebrations has added new layers of meaning.

For example, during one edition, scholarships were awarded to Item youths, linking culture with education.

In another, a fundraising initiative was launched to improve community infrastructure. These moments show that Iri Ndi Item is not just about dance and feast, it is about investing in the people and their future.

Preserving Identity

Through every celebration, one message stands tall, identity matters. The masquerades, the dances, the traditional attire, and the storytelling all preserve Igbo culture in general and Item heritage in particular.

The festival ensures that younger generations learn that they are heirs to courage, dignity, and resilience.

In a fast-changing world, this preservation of identity is vital. When the youth watch elders dramatize old customs or recount ancestral wisdom during the festival, they gain both pride and direction.

Unity in Practice

Iri Ndi Item has always been a unifier. Whether before the 1980s when families gathered under palm trees, or in the modern day when the festival attracts people from across Nigeria, the principle remains the same, the festival dissolves barriers. Wealthy and humble, Christian and traditionalist, urban and rural, all come together under one spirit.

This unity is strengthened by the contributions of the Item diaspora, many of whom fund community projects or sponsor aspects of the festival. Their involvement, even from afar, underscores the lesson that true unity is not only about physical presence but about shared responsibility.

Economic and Social Importance

With its evolution, Iri Ndi Item has also become a hub of activity. Visitors patronize local traders, hotels thrive, transport services are in high demand, and artisans showcase their skills.

Beyond these, the festival has become a stage for promoting education and development. Scholarships, community projects, and empowerment programs are now often announced during the celebrations.

A striking example is when a group of successful Item professionals used the festival as a platform to donate educational materials to schools. In another instance, women cooperatives showcased their agricultural produce and gained new markets. These acts prove that tradition can drive modern progress.

Thanksgiving and Reflection

At its heart, Iri Ndi Item remains a season of gratitude and reflection. Families thank God for life and peace, elders remind the youth of integrity and discipline, and leaders are challenged to govern with fairness.

One powerful ritual is the sharing of the first communal meal, symbolizing generosity and teaching that abundance gains true meaning only when shared.

Lessons for Today

The Iri Ndi Item offers timeless lessons:

Unity is survival: Communities prosper when people set aside differences.

Culture is wealth: Heritage, when preserved, is both pride and economic strength.

Generosity sustains peace: Giving builds bonds stronger than possessions.

Respect for elders ensures continuity: Without honoring the past, the future loses direction.

Conclusion

From its humble agrarian beginnings to its present grandeur, the Iri Ndi Item Festival remains a beacon of identity, unity, and progress.

Its notable past celebrations show that it is not static but dynamic, adapting to modern realities while staying rooted in tradition.

For the people of Item, the festival is a reminder of their collective strength.

For Nigeria, it is a lesson that in culture lies both direction and healing.

At a time when our nation struggles with disunity and loss of values, festivals like Iri Ndi Item remind us that our roots are not burdens, they are treasures, guiding us to a brighter, more united future.

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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