New Yam Festivals in Nigeria
yam staple food west africa region classified tuber crop annual perennial crop new yam festival celebrated almost every ethnic group nigeria observed annually end june fully understand new yam festival must first understand reason festival celebrated almost every state town city nigeria historically yam considered one major important crop nigeria grown mostly state whoever community barn yam listed among wealthy set people community yam counted food well respected nigeria one major food accepted bride price man seeking woman hand marriage festival mostly celebrated among igbo people due different spiritual ideology surrounding yam told ancestor story passed current day yam annual crop although sometimes regarded perennial crop due life cycle therefore new yam festival celebrated annually new yam harvested festival hold yearly celebrate beginning end new season also said taboo eat new yam celebration mean pleasing appealing god spirit harvest god earth thanking bountiful harvest god happy bring better harvest new season benin nigeria fortunate brief report new yam festival held benin century ago survived quoted roth writing shortly destruction benin empire first state ceremony held beginning yam harvest king presented earthenware pot containing soil old yam ie one previous season plant pot dancing merrymaking follow pot surreptitiously replaced similar one containing well developed new yam later presented people presumably sign king’s magical power crop increase size two tuber held indicate magnitude harvest may anticipated igbo okpe kingdom according opke tradition early inhabitant land indegines non indigene gather palace olopke okpe pay homage wish family well wish begin day notice entire town deliberation king chief notice elapses thirteenth day festival called wasigbeenile ‘thank taking care stranger woman suffered still birth around period banned attending ceremony ritual kick officially king emerges inner chamber palace clad white attire joined chief also dressed white attire king lead procession chief amids drumming dancing palace village square procession take minute arrive village square lengthy prayer said wellbeign child land home abroad procession return palace pounded yam eating ceremony festival age old tradition way thanking god taking care people nollywood new yam festival abuja ife new yam festival harvesting new yam normally occurs july august every year oni ife oba adeye enitan ogunwusi ekinrinadde community ogidi community yoruba people especially ekiti people including ado ekiti ikere ekiti ilaramokin emure okpe town located akokoedo local council edo state town known vast celebration new yam festival hold every july town thirteen day festival olokpethe king chief committee member festival notify community new improvement deduction festival king sends greeting whole kingdom gunshot heard far near people sound carry message ‘wasigbeenile’ mean ‘thank taking good care outgoing year” people greet word throughout day first day ceremony people visit palace gift assorted bush meat goat yam tuber etc mark respect king throne main day king chief come palace dressed white attire visit four shrine called ancestral spot offer prayer blessing better harvest productive year ceremony continues later town square speech address town issue given olokpe well guest reputable individual town abuja capital nigeria lie central part nigeria federal capital territoryfct new yam festival celebration celebrated igbo festival said yam one way measuring man wealth festival different type yam served people different sauce celebrate popular amongst celebration federal capital annual nollywood new yam festival award rebranded nollywood cultural heritage festival currently th edition set november ekinrinadde town located north eastern nigeria kogi state specifically ikere town located ekiti state south western nigeria yam festival celebrated yearly festival called odun ijesu yoruba language festival eating yam done thank orisha fertility land crowning effort previous planting season festival colorful one drum rolled singer dancer prayer ogoga king town known harbinger good fortune ikere enjoy long reign town witness greater development many activity held including hunting gun firing display crown worn oba oba always dress traditional clothing known aso oke white crown oloris king wife adorned various bead dance king ogidi community located ijumu local government area kogi state town known presence formation indigenous rock town popularly known agricultural produce especially yam ogidi yam considered miraculous plant show fertility thus period plenty yam harvest signifies plant flourish culminates annual celebration ogidi new yam festival according people ogidi new yam festival celebrated offer thanksgiving god give increase yield celebrated conjunction ogidiela day land cultural day start day festival week different dance group parade community hunter demonstrate gun firing create awareness festivity community festival celebrated one week several activity cultural performance presentation new yam chieftaincy investiture award activity free medical checkup novelty match jumat service excursion oroke oda mountain bonfire colorful festival always attracts tourist neighboring community state edo ekiti osun lagos etc festival begin member community marching ogidi community ground ceremony take place people adorned beautiful attire brighten environment festival fully start king rabiu oladimeji sule ologidi ogidi land arrives venue presence creates special atmosphere crowd raise voice cheer ologidi arrives different group allowed pay respect olokorooluotun group first orotas others follow group everyone present follow pay respect also masquerade performance occur igbabolelimin masquerade masquerade spirit world egungun oniye masquerade feather igunnuko masquerade agbo olode masquerade well performance geledes human wearing mask various dish shared festival people remain active lively igbo people also known ibos southeastern part nigeria one major people nigeria celebrates new yam festival hold festival beginning harvest new yam iri ji onwa asaa seventh month purpose festival thank god bountiful harvest especially yam one expected taste new yam festival considered taboo festival important ibos celebrated year festival serve season indigines town return home reunite loved one enjoy together