The New Yam festival is celebrated majorly in the Southeastern part of Nigeria and some few places in the Southwest. The festival symbolizes the conclusion of a harvest and the beginning of the next planting cycle. Yam is one of the major food crops in Nigeria and West Africa as a whole. Yam is the first crop to be harvested, and are the most important crops of this region. The size of a man’s yam farm can be used to size up such a man in those days. This is clearly painted in Chinua Achebe’s novel ‘Things Fall Apart’.
The New Yam festival of the Igbo people is known as ‘Iwa Ji, Iri Ji or Ike Ki’ depending on the dialect. It is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo tribe held at the end of the rainy seasons in early August. The celebration is a very culturally based occasion, tying individual Igbo communities together as essentially agrarian and dependent on yam. Iwa ji which literally means ‘new-yam eating’ is one ceremony top on the cultural calendar of the Igbos.
At the beginning of the festival, the yams are offered to the gods and ancestors first before distributing to the villagers. This ritual is performed by the oldest in the community or by the king or eminent title holder. This man also offers the yams to God, deities and ancestors by showing gratitude to God for the harvest. Palm oil is used to eat the first yam. This event is so important in the calendar of the Igbo people worldwide.
The New Yam festival of the Yoruba people is almost same as the one stated earlier. It is called ‘Odun Ijesu or Odun Isu tuntun’ in this part of the country. Newly harvested yams are not eaten or sold in the market before the festival. The leader of the community or household leader makes rituals to thank God for protection through the year, provision and for the bountiful harvest. Prayers are also said concerning the next planting season. Bush meats are killed to celebrate the festival. The first yam is also pounded and served with melon (egusi) soup. Palm wine is used to enjoy this mood of celebration.