By Chikezie Ogbonna
The vibrant hues of Igbo culture met the solemnity of Christian faith on a monumental day for the Catholic Diocese of Enugu as it celebrated its first ever diocesan level New Yam Festival. Presided over by the Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, this groundbreaking event marked a great step in the Church’s ongoing drive toward inculturation, a theological concept that seeks to harmonize local cultural practices with Christian values.
Held today at Holy Ghost Cathedral, the festival was a festival of thanksgiving, heritage, and spiritual reflection. Bishop Obodo, in his homily, described the event as a “marriage between culture and Christianity,” highlighting its profound significance in fostering inclusivity and appreciation for indigenous traditions within the Church.
The Harmony
The Bishop underscored the importance of the New Yam Festival as a symbolic gesture of gratitude to God for a bountiful harvest. “We eat new yam in our various communities, families, and kindreds. Today, we have brought this celebration to the diocesan level to demonstrate that the Church does not trivialize culture but instead seeks to dignify and contextualize it through inculturation,” he said.
Inculturation, he explained, is rooted in the Catholic principle of accommodation and integration of cultural elements that align with Christian teachings. Drawing parallels, the Bishop noted, “Just as yam and garri are indispensable to us, so is bread to Europeans. This festival is our way of assimilating what is good in our culture into the Catholic faith.”
The Bishop also took a bold stance against cultural excesses that deviate from moral values. He condemned practices such as prolonged delays in burying the deceased, which he argued were at odds with both cultural and Christian principles.
Restoring Lost Values Through Culture
Rev. Fr. Dr. Joseph Ezechi, the Director of the Inculturation Commission and convener of the event, delivered a powerful keynote address just after the Mass. Reflecting on the erosion of African cultural values, Fr. Ezechi traced the decline to the early missionary era, which, he said, dismissed indigenous traditions without thorough assessment.
“In North Africa, the Church was vibrant until it was overshadowed by foreign influences,” he observed. “However, the Coptic Church of Egypt and the Ethiopian Church preserved their cultures by integrating them with Christianity. We must learn from them and preserve the richness of our heritage.”
He emphasized the historical and spiritual essence of the New Yam Festival, describing it as a celebration deeply rooted in gratitude and productivity. “Our ancestors always related this festival to God, and today, we do the same, devoid of idolatry. By reconnecting with our cultural values, we can reignite the virtues of hard work and communal living,” he said.
Highlights of the Festival
The event featured a procession of young Catholics presenting yams to the Bishop, a symbolic espousing respect and homage to elders. The ceremonial cutting of the new yam by Bishop Obodo, flanked by diocesan dignitaries, was met with thunderous applause, signifying a collective spirit of thanksgiving.
In a gesture of solidarity, gifts were distributed to deserving faithful, and yams were shared with the less privileged, reinforcing the Church’s commitment to inclusivity and charity.
The festival was a vivid showcase of the Church’s ability to bridge cultural and spiritual divides. Bishop Obodo summarized the essence of the day, saying, “The Church enters a place, observes what is good in its culture, and adopts it. Today, we have celebrated not just the abundance of the land but also the richness of our identity as Africans and Christians.”
A Call to Action
As the day wrapped up, the message was clear: the Church is not a foreign entity but a living, breathing part of the people’s way of life. By embracing and purifying cultural practices, the Diocese of Enugu is paving the way for a culturally rooted Catholicism that resonates deeply with its faithful.
This inaugural diocesan New Yam Festival is more than a celebration, it is a clarion call for Africans to reclaim their heritage and align it with their faith. It is a reminder that culture, when guided by the light of Christ, becomes a powerful tool for moral renewal, social development, and spiritual growth.
As Fr. Ezechi aptly put it, “By appropriate inculturation, we shall become culturally Catholic, and our culture shall become universally intelligible. Until inculturation succeeds in Nigeria and Africa, Christianity remains a foreigner. Let today be the beginning of a new chapter in our collective journey.”
The Diocese hopes that this initiative, firmly rooted in tradition and faith, will inspire generations to come, blending the old with the new in a harmonious symphony of cultural pride and Christian devotion.
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