Abatete, a town in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State of the Igbo cultural area in Nigeria, like other African traditional communities, engages in various festivals, one of which is the New Yam Festival. Before the commencement of the New Yam Festival, traditional Abatete folks perform Isū isū ọ ́gwụ ̀ ritual. This study sets out to investigate the processes involved in the performance of isū ọ ́gwụ ̀; identify the symbolic elements in it and their meanings; the essence of the ritual vis-à-vis the reason for its extinction. The data for this study was obtained through oral interviews. The Symbolist theory was employed in the analysis of the work. Findings reveal that two of the processes involved in isū ọ ́gwụ ̀ are sacrifices and purification rites, that several symbolic elements abound in isū ọ ́gwụ ̀; and that the major essence of isū ọ ́gwụ ̀ is for maintaining peaceful coexistence in the society. The performance is almost extinct due to foreign or outside influences. The study recommends that isū ọ ́gwụ ̀ should be sustained due to its great essence.