ACM Shines at 2025 Igbo Iriji Festival

A Celebration of Heritage and Unity

The rhythmic beat of the ogene and the colourful swirl of traditional wrappers filled the air at Platt Fields Park, Manchester, on Saturday, 6 September 2025, as members of the Igbo Community Greater Manchester (ICM) and friends of the Nigerian diaspora gathered for the Igbo Iriji Festival, also known as the New Yam Festival.
The annual event brought together Igbos from all five southeastern states of Nigeria — Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo — in a vibrant showcase of cultural pride, unity, and gratitude.

Honouring Tradition in a Modern City

The Iriji Festival, literally translated as “eating of the new yam,” is one of the most important ceremonies in Igbo culture. Traditionally held to mark the beginning of the harvest season, it symbolizes renewal, thanksgiving to God and the ancestors, and hope for prosperity in the coming year.

For Igbo people in the diaspora, the festival is more than a seasonal rite; it’s a link to their roots. In the heart of Manchester, the 2025 edition transformed Platt Fields Park into a lively cultural village — complete with dance, music, fashion, and food that transported guests thousands of miles away to southeastern Nigeria.

Unity in Diversity

This year’s celebration, organized by the Igbo Community Greater Manchester (ICM), was a collaboration of multiple Igbo state associations including Abia Community Manchester, Anambra Welfare Association, Enugu Progressive Union, Imo Kultural Welfare Union, and Ebonyi State Association.

The organizers said the event aims not only to celebrate heritage but also to strengthen unity among the Igbo people living in Manchester and across the United Kingdom. With support from community volunteers and cultural enthusiasts, the festival has grown steadily over the years to become one of the largest Igbo cultural events in northern England.

Abia Community Manchester Takes the Stage

Among the most vibrant contingents at this year’s event was the Abia Community Manchester, whose members stood out in their traditional attire — the men clad in Isi Agu tops and red caps, and the women dazzling in bright George wrappers and coral beads.

The group took part in the cultural parade, where each Igbo state displayed their unique dances, music, and colours. Abia’s performance was a crowd favourite — a coordinated dance featuring both young and older members that showcased the community’s deep pride and commitment to preserving their traditions abroad.

Videos circulating on social media captured the energy of Abia women’s group as they sang and danced to the rhythms of live drummers, earning applause from the cheering crowd. For many, it was a powerful reminder of home and identity.

“We may be far from home, but our culture lives wherever we are,” said one Abia Community member.
“Participating in Iriji helps our children understand where they come from and gives us a chance to celebrate who we are together as one people.”

A Feast for the Senses

No Igbo festival would be complete without food, and Iriji 2025 did not disappoint. Stalls offered a mouthwatering spread of Nigerian delicacies — from pounded yam and egusi soup to jollof rice, suya, and roasted yam with palm oil*. The ceremonial cutting and tasting of the first yam, a symbolic act led by community elders, was the highlight of the day.

As tradition demands, the first yam was offered to God and the ancestors before being shared among the people — a gesture symbolizing gratitude and communal sharing.

Cultural Performances and Masquerades

Throughout the afternoon, the park echoed with performances by Igbo dance troupes, drummers, and masquerades (mmanwu) who thrilled both adults and children. Young people also had their moment on stage, performing choreographed dances that blended modern moves with traditional beats — a testament to how the younger generation continues to reinterpret and keep the culture alive.

Visitors from outside the community — including Mancunians curious about African culture — mingled freely, enjoying the music and learning about the meanings behind each ritual and performance.

Celebrating Identity and Belonging

For members of the Abia Community Manchester, the Iriji festival is more than a yearly event; it’s a living classroom for cultural education and an anchor for identity in the diaspora. The group’s chairman emphasized that their participation reinforces the importance of unity among Nigerians in the UK and strengthens intergenerational ties.

“Our children were born here, but through festivals like Iriji, they grow up proud of their roots,” he said.
“Abia Community Manchester is proud to stand with other Igbo associations in keeping our culture vibrant.”

Challenges and Aspirations

The 2025 edition also came with its challenges. Organizers launched a £50,000 fundraising appeal to support logistics, costumes, and production costs, showing how community-driven efforts sustain such cultural events. Despite these hurdles, attendance was impressive, and the sense of pride and joy among attendees was unmistakable.

Looking ahead, the Igbo Community Greater Manchester hopes to expand the festival into a full weekend celebration — incorporating workshops, exhibitions, and collaborations with schools and local authorities to share Igbo heritage more widely across the city.

A Lasting Legacy

As the sun set over Platt Fields Park, the sound of the ogene slowly faded, and families posed for photos dressed in colourful regalia. The smiles, laughter, and sense of belonging lingered — proof that culture, when celebrated together, bridges generations and continents.

The 2025 Igbo Iriji Festival in Manchester was not just a reminder of where the Igbo people come from, but a statement of where they are going — proudly united, culturally grounded, and full of hope for the future.

And for the Abia Community Manchester, their spirited participation ensured that their name — and heritage — shone brightly in the heart of the celebration.