Obi Cubana, Mr Ibu honoured at 2021 Nollywood New Yam Festival

Obi Cubana and Mr Ibu were among the prominent persons honoured with traditional titles at the 2021 Nollywood New Yam Festival.

According to NAN, the pair were honoured alongside Fahad Al Taffaq, United Arab Emirate (UAE) ambassador to Nigeria.

Obi Cubana got the title of Ifeomaolibo for his youth-oriented empowerment initiatives while Mr Ibu was given the Ogbocioma title for his positive impact in the movie industry.

Taffaq also got the award of Ugocinba title — which means an eagle from a foreign land which is well-cherished.

The annual event, which showcases Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, was organised by Onwurah Ifeanyi, former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abuja chapter.

“This is a festival that Nollywood stakeholders put in place to always remind them of their roots and culture,” Ifeanyi said.

“In the time past, we were forgetting our roots, but now we are trying to see what we can do every year to bring people back.

“I used the festival to be a pointer to other African cultures. You can see people dress in Edo, Calabar, Yoruba, Hausa and other attire to attend. So that is the pointer.

“Aside the celebration, we are awarding a lot of people. The award became necessary because, so many people has helped Nollywood and humanity.”

On his part, Emeka Rollas, AGN’s president, said the event is to celebrate the heroics of Nollywood in promoting the country’s cultural heritage.

“It is believed that when you do not celebrate the harvest of yam in a year, that the next year’s harvest may not be fruitful,” he said.

“That is why it is very imperative as Nollywood has become the most important export of Nigeria as far as culture is concern.

“That is why every year, we gather here in the celebration of the yam as a symbol of unity for Nigeria and for the Igbo man.”