YENAGOA, Bayelsa State — Governor Douye Diri has issued a passionate call for peace and cultural revival at the Ekpetiama Okolede New Yam Festival in Bayelsa State, emphasizing the urgent need to preserve Ijaw language and traditions for future generations.
Speaking as the special guest of honour at the annual festival held in the Ekpetiama kingdom, Governor Diri urged community leaders, youths, and traditional rulers to embrace peaceful coexistence as the foundation for sustainable development. He noted that without peace, cultural celebrations and economic progress would remain elusive dreams for the people of the region.
The governor commended the Ekpetiama people for sustaining the New Yam Festival, which he described as a vital link to the rich heritage of the Ijaw nation. He expressed concern, however, that many indigenous languages in Bayelsa State, including Ijaw, are gradually fading away as younger generations increasingly adopt English and Pidgin as their primary means of communication.
According to Diri, language is the soul of any culture, and its loss would spell the end of a people’s identity. He called on parents, teachers, and community elders to take deliberate steps to teach Ijaw language to children both at home and in schools. He also suggested that traditional rulers incorporate language lessons into community events and festivals as a way of normalizing its use among the youth.
The governor further used the occasion to address the security situation in Bayelsa State, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ensuring that communities remain safe for farming, fishing, and other economic activities. He warned that criminal elements hiding under the guise of cultism, kidnapping, and communal clashes would face the full weight of the law.
Diri also announced that his government would continue to support agricultural initiatives, including yam farming, which remains a major source of livelihood for many families in Ekpetiama and surrounding communities. He encouraged farmers to take advantage of state-backed agricultural loan programs and extension services to boost their yields and incomes.
Traditional rulers and community elders present at the festival praised the governor for his attendance and his message of cultural revival. The paramount ruler of Ekpetiama kingdom appealed to the state government to assist in developing rural roads, healthcare facilities, and schools in the area, noting that infrastructure deficits continue to hinder progress despite the rich cultural heritage of the people.
The Okolede New Yam Festival is an annual event that marks the beginning of the harvest season among the Ijaw people. It features cultural dances, masquerade displays, traditional music, and the ceremonial eating of the first yams. The festival also serves as a platform for community bonding, dispute resolution, and the reaffirmation of social ties among families and clans.
As part of the celebration, the governor was presented with specially harvested yams and other farm produce by the women’s wing of the community. He in turn made a personal donation to support the hosting of next year’s festival, promising that the state government would explore ways to package the event as a tourist attraction for Bayelsa State.
For now, Governor Diri has set a clear agenda: peace must reign, and the Ijaw language must not die. Whether the community will rise to the challenge remains to be seen, but the message delivered at the Yam Festival has planted a seed that many hope will grow into a lasting cultural renaissance.
