Nnewi Afiaolu Festival
afiaolu new yam festival traditional festival held annually nnewi anambra state nigeria around august afiaolu festival commences “eke” day traditionally described “iwaji” scaling yam ikpa nku wood gathering herald availability new yam well thanksgiving god festival includes variety entertainment including performance ceremonial rite igwe king cultural dance girl masquerade dance yam main agricultural crop igbo also staple food people new yam festival known ‘iwaji ohuu’ ‘iriji ohuu’ celebration depicting prominence yam socialcultural life people festival people thank god arrival new harvest yam perform traditional rite declare new yam fit general consumption aneado nnewi community common ancestral belief traditional value system many cultural event notable amongst new yam afiaolu also known ifejioku festival revolve around drama ritual especially religious one observed honour ufiojiokwu deity land fertility take place usually month august every year last four native day actual celebration begin eke day orie afor end nkwo day preparation festival take place five month ahead girl learn dance also dye body dress gaily young men oto kolo group initiate young men age masquerade cult able participate masquerade dance evening prior day festival old yam previous year crop consumed discarded followed onuakuku mark dropping hoe machete farming season even though many family started eating new yam supreme ancestral deity town edo ele eze ana ezemewi chief priest must taste new yam afiaolu festival first day festival eke igwe nnewi officiates harvest thanksgiving ceremony village square currently known roundabout due infrastructure venue shifted agboedo nnewi yam offered god ancestor chief priest edo thanksgiving ceremony presented fowl palace elder different community made anaedo nnewi community order seniority otolo uruagu umudim nnewichi parading fowl chief priest fowl taken farm slaughtered honour ufiojiokwu deity land fertility ritual breaking kola nut iwa oji follows also offer igwe believed position bestows privilege intermediary community god land iwaoji meant express gratitude community god making harvest possible following iwaoji ikpa nku wood gathering nku used roasting newly sliced yam belief roasting new yam make every yam harvested strong edible nourishing igwe roasting yam usually first eat yam people invited join immediately igwe eats yam masquerade mikpala ikehudo randomly parade village square market place teasing entertaining child woman first outing masquerade signifies igwe eaten new yam following day olie day dance performance young girl boy igba ijele dance dance performed group devoted edo nominally public deity land iwaji people free famine hunger merriment begin igbaijele appears first time year perform stage dancer first perform edo shrine touring nkwo market square eventually enters igwes palace main dance performed dance people virtually thrown uncontrollable ecstasy rhythmic body jerk twisting waist breast highly trained chorous leader lead igba ijele time competition excellence best dancerartiste year honoured among day afiaolu festival evening afor entertaining memorable usually evening reserved masquerade drama igwe counselor usually invite ijele masquerade umueri anambra state ijele king masquerade anambra state family four mother father police palm wine tapper nne ijele meaning mother ijele always first come beautiful lady masquerade hold big ox tail carved enamel plate performs dance flute soft music ijele onuku ijele father big face dressed chieftaincy regalia follows wife arena next step arena ijele police usually six number duty ensure people encroach ijele father mother complete group ijele palm wine tapper accompanies ijele sole purpose picking rear performs another significant personality ijele fan carrier akupe carrier really masquerade play crucial role leading ijele symbolic powerful fan called akupe one ijele loses sight fan carrier get lost signifies danger ijele move fan carrier move also stop stop ijele start performing musical instrument must set musical instrument includes drum ogene ubom uyo ekwe flute oja –ufele ijele dance majestically royal igba – eze dance king popularly called akunechenyi anambra state ijele masquerade performs immediately seven cannon gunshot released air alongside sound royal music ijele mostly perform dry season mark fertility annual bountiful harvest nkwo day last day afiaolu festival day chief priest igwe elder make final prayer behalf community sacrifice offered edo protect child home abroad woman commissioned cook prepare pounded yam bitter leaf soup taken palace entertain visitor anedo people present arena equally day devoted adult masquerade displayed designated venue village four community represented one masquerade orinuli tolo ayakozikwonai uruagu ozo–ebunu umudim ebu–ebu nnewichi performs various center round day activity afiaolu traditional festival nnewi end