My hometown is Nnewi (Anaedo). It is one of the most populated cities in Anambra state. Nnewi is said to have four children/quarters: Otolo, Urugu,Umudim, Nnewichi.
Nnewi/Anaedo as a mornarchy is ruled by His Royal Highness Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu 111 (Igwe ne eje Uka) meaning a king that goes to church.
Afiaolu Nnewi is a festival in Nnewi, it is a time they all gather to thank their god (Edo) for a bountious harvest of yams. It is usually held towards the ending of August and it starts on an Eke market day where the Igwe and his cabinet officiates the ceremony at the Nkwo Nnewi Triangle.
The Chief Priest of Edo offers a fowl to Edo for bountious harvest. Yams also will be roasted at the venue and the Igwe is usually the first to eat the yam after which others can join in eating. The sound of the gun signifies that Igwe have eaten the yam and the new yam is declared fit for villagers to eat.
Most Families don't eat yam until the festival, while some families might have swallowed more than 5 tubers of yam before the festival but the Chief Priest of Edo must not eat until the Afiaolu.
Immediately masquerades appears in Nkwo Triangle that signifies the festival is officially opened.
Masquerades finds their way to Enem hall or St Mary's Square where they tease one another with cane .Young men,women and children gather at the squares for different kinds of displays.
The festival goes through the Eke, Orie, Afor to Nkwor market day and on Nkwo market day the Igwe goes to church to thank God for Successful festival ceremony and declare Afiaolu closed.
Afiaolu festival is one of the most colourful and most anticipated festival in Nnewi because many people travel from far and wide to attend this festival.