ISSELE-AZAGBA INNE FESTIVAL: COLOUR, TRADITION, AND ROYAL TRIBUTES

It was a vibrant display of culture, tradition and royal pageantry in Issele-Azagba as the annual Inne Festival drew a large turnout of indigenes and residents, in the first celebration of the festival by the Obi, HRM Agbogidi Obi Ikechukwu Chukwuemeke Christopher Ugbomah II, since his official presentation of the Staff of Office by the Delta State Government.

The monarch expressed satisfaction with the impressive turnout, saying the festival would usher in goodness, progress, and blessings for the people of Issele-Azagba.

Traditional songs, energetic dances, and colourful cultural displays added excitement to the celebration, as different quarters of the kingdom took turns to showcase their heritage and pay glowing tributes to the Obi.

The Obi said the large turnout demonstrated the people's enduring attachment to their culture and their determination to preserve the traditions handed down by their forebears.

He called for continued unity, peace, and collective commitment to the development of Issele-Azagba, stressing the importance of harmony among the people.

Traditional title holders, including the Iyase of Issele-Azagba, Chief Uwandulu Chiazor, and the Opia Dinko of Issele-Azagba Kingdom, Chief Chukwura Dayan, also spoke at the event, highlighting the significance of the Inne Festival and the need to uphold the customs and values of the kingdom.

The Queen of the Kingdom and Princess Florence Ugbome-Chukwuma, who also spoke at the festival, expressed goodwill and prayers for the continued peace, unity, and progress of the kingdom.

The different quarters of Issele-Azagba then took centre stage, singing, dancing, and paying glowing tributes to the monarch.

Dressed in colourful traditional attire, the groups transformed the celebration into a spectacle of music, dance, and communal pride, with men, women, and youths participating enthusiastically.

Beyond the pageantry, the Inne Festival provided an opportunity for the people to celebrate their heritage and reaffirm their bond with the traditional institution, while encouraging the younger generation to preserve the cultural identity and traditions of Issele-Azagba.