Umunnachi, in Dunukofia local government area of Anambra State, from Thursday, 19 February, 2026 marked Elimede festival with magnificent cultural displays. The 2026 Elimede, which extended to Sunday, February 22nd, was well-attended by sons and daughters of Umunnachi from far and near, as well as by friends and associates of Umunnachi sons and daughters. The annual Elimede festivity is Umunnachi’s traditional celebration of a cultural new year, marked with various displays of the community’s rich cultural heritage. Elimede, which translates to “Eating Cocoyam,” is a symbolic festival in parts of Dunukofia LGA, where productivity and newness are celebrated with all cultural epitaphs one can imagine.
As is with the people’s customs, the Elimede festival commences with some traditional rituals the night before the main day. Powerful masquerades go round with different groups in the night to perform atonements, initiate young boys of age into manhood and give thank offerings to the gods of the land. This part of the festival can last from midnight Friday to early in the morning of the Saturday of the festival.
Cultural enthusiast and a proud son of Umunnachi, from Mgbuke village of the town, Chief Uzu Okagbue, just like in the previous years, graced this year’s Elimede with colourful glam, which added a lot of fun to the festivity. With his gates open, Chief Okagbue received visitors from all villages of the town with their team of masquerades. Each village contingent was well-received and entertained to the fullest. They also took their time to showcase sensational African martial art of sorts in the form of flogging. Many sons of Umunnachi are reputed for their flogging skills, including Chief Uzu Okagbue, who is also known to have a special flogging ability. People volunteer and take turns to flog each other the hardest they can till they are tired or separated when it gets heated to avoid a fight. Many friends and associates of Uzu, within and beyond Anambra State, came calling on Saturday at his home to join in celebrating this remarkable cultural event of the people of Umunnachi.
During this important festival, the roads and different town centers are filled to the brim as people feast and jolly, while entertained by different traditional dance troupes, traditional and cultural music by various band groups, and other displays by masquerades. Elimede Umunnachi is one of those festivals that commands the respect of the people of Umunnachi as they journey back home to savor the full taste of the celebration every year.
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