The New Yam Festival is a significant cultural celebration in West Africa, particularly among the Igbo people of South Eastern part of Nigeria and other neighboring communities.
It marks the beginning of the harvest season and is a time to express gratitude for the bounty of the land. The festival typically takes place between August and October, coinciding with the ripening of the yam crop.
During the festival, communities come together to honor the gods of agriculture, fertility, and abundance. The celebration features traditional music, dance, feasting, and merriment, as well as, ceremonies and other rituals to ensure a continued supply of food and prosperity.
The New Yam Festival is also an opportunity for communities to showcase their rich cultural heritage, including traditional attire, cuisine, and artistry. It’s a time for reunions, strengthening social bonds, and reinforcing communal values.
In many ways, the New Yam Festival embodies the spirit of thanksgiving, community, and hope for a bountiful future.
The New yam festival called Iriji in Igbo dialect, had a different swing in Ohokobe,Mbaocha community recently, as community leaders, culture custodians,Age grades,youths,women and the elderly,converged at the Ohokobe market square to mark this year’s celebration.
In his speech,the Mbaocha Community chairman, Nduka Alaukwu, expressed gratitude to God for a bountiful harvest, which afforded them the opportunity to gather together to mark the Iriji festival.
He said unlike previous celebrations, the community decided to celebrate the 2024 festival in unity, making merry together.
The chairman of Opuruiche Age grade, Mr John Ogbuehi, said the new yam festival is a welcome development in the Mbaocha community because it is used to enhance the culture and traditions of the people and as well,promote unity.
Mr John Ogbuehi
Stressing the significance of the age long culture, Mr Ogbuehi noted that the display of cutlasses and other harmful implements during the festivity is barbaric, pointing that the best way to celebrate the festival is to come together and thank God who made their harvest bountiful and also contribute resources to the development of the community.
He said the Opuruiche Age grade which covers those born from 1976-1978, has been supporting the growth of the community and added that the age grade donated some funds to the community,as part of the celebration marking the 2024 Iriji festival.
Hon Chijioke Loveday, who is also of the Opuruiche Age grade, admired the Iriji festival, describing it as a time to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Ndigbo.
According to him, the festival which is also known as the feast of yam, was bequeathed to them by their fore fathers, adding that the Iriji is one of the traditions of the Igbo people that still receive fanfare because of its unique backgrounds.
Hon Chijioke Loveday
Hon Loveday stated that there is no fetish inclination associated with the festival, pointing that this year’s celebration would go peacefully because the people have been instructed to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner, jettisoning crime and other ill behaviors during the festivity.
In an interview with journalists, the Chairman of Ndume Development Union, Portharcourt branch, Engr Tony Emeruwa, disclosed how important the culture of the new yam is and added that the culture cannot be forfeited or go on extinction no matter the level of modernization, but stated that there would only be new dynamics introduced to have a better experience during the celebration.
Engr Tony Emeruwa
One of such changes he said, is the coming together of all the villages to celebrate the festival.
Stating the significance of the culture, he said, it enhances joy and unity among the people.
Engr Emeruwa, however, urged the government to support agriculture by providing farm inputs for farmers,so as to encourage them to go back to agriculture, thereby, boosting food sufficiency.
Similarly, the chairman,Omeka Age grade, Chief Obioma David, said the culture promotes togetherness, peace and development,adding that his age grade has contributed to the development of the community with the recent donation of a set of furniture to the community hall.
Contributing, the South East Board of Trustees chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Amb Chidiebere Harmony, praised the community leaders for reforming the Iriji festival. He noted that the festival was previously marred by deaths and other casualties, but added that the new approach of celebrating together, has significantly reduced the criminal activities that once plagued the event.
He emphasized the importance of Ndigbo continuing to celebrate and pass down their traditions to future generations, to ensure their cultural identity endures,while bemoaning the deteriorating dress sense among young people.
