The Iri Ji Ndigbo UK Festival 2025, a deeply significant cultural celebration for the Igbo community, is set to take place on the 9th of August 2025 in London. Organised by the Igbo Council of Elders UK (ICE), the festival has garnered widespread enthusiasm from Igbo families and communities across the United Kingdom. Designed to honour and preserve Igbo traditions, the festival is more than a mere cultural event—it is a platform to promote unity, peace, and understanding among Igbo families.

Igbo Council of Elders UK (ICE).

The Importance of Yam in Igbo Culture

Central to the Iri Ji Festival is the yam, a crop held in high esteem within Igbo society. Chief Ifeanyi Umeh, a respected custodian of Igbo culture and a member of the prestigious Ozo title holders, eloquently described yam as a unique gift from God. He remarked on its dual significance: as both a staple food and a cultural symbol of wealth. In Igbo tradition, a man’s prosperity is often measured by the number of yam barns he owns, making the crop a cornerstone of societal and economic identity.

Chief Umeh explained that the cultivation and consumption of yam are not casual activities, but ones imbued with ritual and gratitude. He emphasised that special ceremonies and prayers are performed to thank God for the protection and success granted during the planting and harvesting seasons. The Iri Ji Festival, therefore, serves as the official commencement of the yam harvest and a time to ask for blessings for a fruitful season.

A Festival of Unity and Gratitude

The Iri Ji Festival transcends its agricultural roots to become a moment of spiritual and cultural significance. According to Chief Umeh, the event fosters peace and understanding within Igbo families, providing an opportunity for communal reflection and celebration. It is a time for Igbo families to gather, reconnect with their heritage, and reaffirm their bonds through shared traditions.

The festival is also a moment to express gratitude—not just for the harvest but for the enduring cultural practices that bind the Igbo people together, no matter where they reside. Chief Umeh expressed his deep satisfaction with the Igbo Council of Elders UK for organising this event, stating that it upholds the tranquillity and values inherent in Igbo culture.

Hon. Ejike Ikezuagu (ICE Coordinator).

The Role of the Igbo Council of Elders UK

Under the guidance of the Igbo Council of Elders UK, the Iri Ji Festival has become a beacon of cultural preservation for the Igbo diaspora. The council’s efforts ensure that younger generations of Igbo people in the UK remain connected to their roots, even while navigating life in a different cultural environment. By bringing the community together to celebrate the yam festival, the council not only sustains traditional practices but also strengthens the collective identity of Igbo families abroad.

Chief Ifeanyi Umeh. (Ozo Akudinabe Na Eke)

Register your community, organisation, or groups by contacting ICE through this email: igbocouncilofelders@gmail.com, or sandybabe329@gmail.com, or call –

Hon. Ejike Ikezuagu
(Ogene Ndigbo)
‪+44 7459 426542‬.
Coordinator.

Nze Edward Obioha
‪+44 7713 668122‬.
Chairman Steering Committee.

Chief, Sir Jude Ibe
‪+44 7946 255463‬.
Chairman Advisory Committee.

Ruffina (RuRu)
‪‬+447791620092
Steering Committee.

OkeNze Oguabadike
‪+44 7957 569006‬.
Steering Committee.

or contact us using the link below.