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Tag: yam

  • Community rallies at yam feast

    Community rallies at yam feast

    Mbaise, a community in Imo State, relishes unity at a memorable New Yam festival, OKODILI NDIDI reports

    It is not just a tuber to be dug up, roasted or boiled and eaten. There is quite a feast when the first yam is eaten, signalling the onset of the harvest season. Residents gather, sporting their best clothing. Cultural troupes showcase their skills. Tourists pour in to witness the feast. The traditional ruler, surrounded by dignitaries, reaches  for a knife and slices it through the roasted tuber, and the crowd roars in applause. That was the atmosphere at Mbaise in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State during this year’s edition of Iri ji, the new yam festival.

    The festival, reputed to be one of the foremost tourist attractions in the state, invoked fond memories of greatness through hard work. A man is considered to be wealthy only when he can feed his family all year round and still has a barn full of yams, the king of crops.

    At this year’s edition in Mbaise, hospitality, friendship and industry were on display as visitors were treated to uncommon scenes, including the royal dances and the traditional cutting of the roasted yam.

    The traditional rulers equally added colour and glamour to the event with their unique dresses and sundry dance steps. It was indeed a time to relish.

    At the event, great farmers proudly displayed their prize yams, some of them so big that one could wonder if they were actually dug out from the earth or produced by a craftsman.

    Not just in Mbaise nation but in the entire Igboland, new yam festival or ‘Iri Ji’ as it is called, is one of the most significant and popular traditions. It is celebrated at the beginning of every harvest season to thank the gods of the land for blessing the people with a bountiful harvest and to mark the beginning of another farming season.

    In Igbo land, new yams are not eaten especially by titled men until the new yam festival has been celebrated as a mark of respect for the crop that is regarded as the king of all crops in Igboland, which can only be cultivated by men.

    Celebrated in the time of plenty, as the harvest season is known,  the New Yam Festival is associated with heavy eating and drinking. Friends and visitors are lavishly entertained with various yam delicacies like pounded yam, yam porridge and roasted yam eaten with vegetable soup and red palm oil and smoked fish.

    In the past, it was a time great farmers with large barns of yam were recognised and rewarded with traditional titles.  Nowadays, New Yam Festivals are no more the exclusive reserve of great yam farmers. It has become socio-cultural event where the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people is showcased.

    One of the greatest yam farmers, Ezeji Felix Onwere, attributed this year’s rich harvest to the benevolence of God who ensured that the elements were in farmers’ favour. He noted that yam farming is one of the most intricate aspects of farming.

    He said that Imo State has the potential of producing yam for the consumption of the entire country and for export.

    “Imo State,” he said, “has been known for farming and we have the capacity to produce enough yams for the entire country and for export purposes. You can see the sizes of the yams on display today that tells you what we can do. But we need the support of the state government to enable us go into large scale farming.”

    The Iri Ji Mbaise has continued to gain national and international recognition and sponsorship, an indication that when properly harnessed, the festival could boost the state’s tourism sector.

    Receiving the sponsors of this year’s edition Grand Oak Ltd, makers of Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps, in his palace at Obohia, the chairman of the Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers Eze Chidume Okoro thanked God for a successful and bountiful farming season.

    The monarch noted that the iri ji Mbaise festival is a cultural heritage of the people, which has been faithfully observed from generation to generation, adding that it was a time set aside to appreciate God for blessing the people with bountiful harvest.

    He seized the opportunity to commend the state government for encouraging farming through its numerous agricultural policies, especially the grants given to farmers for palm cultivation, adding that if the agricultural policies of the present administration are sustained, it would guarantee food security and prosperity for the state.

    The traditional ruler further thanked the state governor for the massive infrastructure development in the state, especially the flag-off of the Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Campus of Imo State University and the free education programme, which he noted benefitted the people of the state.

    Commenting on the contributions of the sponsors to the development of the annual festival, Eze Okoro, noted that the Seaman’s brand has stood out among the lot and has been consistent with its support in the last ten years.

    He said, “The Seaman’s brand has added immense value to the iri ji Mbaise festival through sponsorship and we are most grateful to the brand. In Mbaise, we don’t just see the Seaman as just a drink, it has a history with our people and it is part of our culture. For

    example there is this belief among our people that when we pray with the Seaman’s schnapps our ancestors will answer, so it is the drink of the spirit and we use it in all our traditional activities”.

    The state government while commending the good people of Mbaise for preserving the cultural heritage of Ndi Igbo, assured of government’s decision to improve on infrastructure in the area.

    Governor, Rochas Okorocha, represented at the festival by his deputy, Eze Madumere, Governor of Imo shortly after performing the traditional cutting of yam,  “Iwa Ji”, urged the people to continue to use the iri iji festival as a tool to unite the people and revive farming in the state.

    He described the iri ji festival as the height of the celebration of Igbo culture, which he said is universal in every Igbo community, adding that “yam remains the chief crop of Igbo land and mainstay of agriculture in the traditional Igbo society and it is worthy of celebration”.

    Madumere noted that the Iri Ji festival is a symbol of the enterprise spirit of the Igbo man.

    He also asserted that development of agriculture is one of the measures taken by the state government towards the diversification of economy.

    Speaking further, he revealed Governor Okorocha has directed that construction work will begin on some of the roads as soon as the rains are over. He also asserted that academic activities will soon begin in Mbaise-Ngor-Okpala Campus of Imo State University.

    It will be recalled that Governor Okorocha had promised to build Campus of Imo State University in Mbaise-Ngor-Okpala axis as proposed under the administration of late Dr. Sam Mbakwe, which became a mere political tool but was begun and 80 percent near completion by the Rochas Okorocha led Rescue Mission Government.

    He also used the opportunity to call for the support of the good people of Mbaise Nation, saying that Rescue Mission Government’s strength does not lie on force and might but on the love, cooperation and massive support it enjoys from the people including the people of Mbaise Nation.

    The high points of the event were the visit to the barn and “Iwa Ji and Iri Ji” ceremonies, which afforded the people of Mbaise and other guests to appreciate Mbaise Nation by making donations for the execution of some of the community projects.

     

  • FUNAAB hosts yam festival

    By hosting the 2015 Yam Roasting Festival, the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Olusola Oyewole, said the institution was promoting Town/Gown community relations.

    He said hosting the festival, held at the Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS) premises, was in line with the institution’s mandate of going beyond training students to community development.

    He also said using DUFARMS as venue was strategic as it would help the university promote its other crops. The VC also thanked a philanthropist, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, for supporting the resuscitation of the festival in 2012.

    Osunkeye, who is also the Chairman, Board of Directors, Nestle Nigeria Plc, said he was passionate about the university and what it stood for. He charged the university to explore the possibility of using drones and diplomacy to check encroachment on its farmlands. In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, called for better collaboration between FUNAAB and its host communities and industries.

     

  • Cultural splendour at Igbo New Yam Festival

    Cultural splendour at Igbo New Yam Festival

    The rich cultural heritage of the Igbo was on display on October 10 as Igbo community in Lagos celebrated this year’s New Yam Festival. CHINAKA OKORO was there.

     

    For several hours on Saturday, October 10, guests from far and near joined Ndigbo in Lagos to celebrate this year’s New Yam Festival.

    The Nwachukwu Drive, venue of the event, was literally shut as huge crowd made their way to the Lagos State Igbo Community Centre to behold a cultural spectacle and catch some fun usually experienced once in a year.

    There was heavy drumming, singing, trumpeting and breathtaking dance steps by cultural dancers who thrilled guests who had seated before the arrival of the dignitaries.

    It was all glamour and show of opulence, as an estimated crowd of 10,000 that included members of Ndigbo in Lagos, friends, well-wishers and some prominent indigenes of Lagos State, participated in the  celebration of the long-standing cultural carnival for which the Igbo are known. The weather was clement as the sun shone brightly out of the azure sky.

    As early as noon that day, the spacious Igbo Community Centre which was built primarily for the festival and where Eze  Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu hold-sway had begun to witness massive influx of spectators.

    There was a spontaneous jubilation and a loud ovation rent the air as Eze Ndigbo Gburugburu and leader of the Movement for the Actualisation  of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike made his way into the arena with a retinue of his unarmed security men who wore all-black attire.

    The roomy Igbo Centre was largely suffused with beautifully coloured masquerades and traditional dancers who  entertained the people. Gaily dressed Igbo women known for their panache and active social lifestyle were a marvel to behold. The men equally in their beautiful Igbo attire swirled to the suiting rhythm of drums and other musical instruments in that somewhat balmy afternoon. It was a gathering of who is who in Igbo land.

    Commenting on the significance of the day and the place of yam in Igbo culture and tradition, the chairman on the occasion, His Excellency Cliff Nzeruem went down memory lane on how the festival began.

    Chief Nzeruem, who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Hotel Ibis Royale, said: “An old Igbo myth records that during a severe famine, Igbo (from whom the tribe takes its name) was told that he must sacrifice his son, Ahiajoku, and his daughter, Ada, in order to save his other children.  Obeying the instruction, he sacrificed his first son (Opara) and his first daughter (Ada).

    “After they were killed, their flesh was cut into pieces and buried in several  different mounds. A few days later, yams sprouted from the flesh of Ahiajoku, while coco yams sprouted from the flesh of Ada. Igbo and his other children survived the famine by eating them. Since then, the spirit of Ahiajoku became the god of yam.

    The myth of Ahiajoku is re-enacted during the New Yam Festival each year. Each household places four or eight new yams on the ground near a shrine. After saying some prayers, he cuts small portions off from each end of the yams to symbolise the sacrifice of Ahiajoku.

    “The yams are then cooked with palm oil, water, and chicken to make a dish that symbolises the body and blood of Ahiajoku. The Igbo people consider the yam to be so sacred that at one time, anyone caught stealing it would be put to death. Today, such thieves are banished.”

    Continuing, he said: “We are here today to give thanks to God for giving us a bountiful harvest this year. The harvest is not only in terms of farm yields, but also in terms of life, good health and progress. As we gather to celebrate today, peace and celebration of good things will be the portion of Ndigbo in particular and Nigerians in general.

    Congratulating the Igbo community in Lagos on the event of their New Yam Festival, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said she will always identify with the Igbo because of their industry.

    Represented by the Executive Secretary of Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Mrs. Omolola Essien, Senator Tinubu said the celebration of new yam festival by the Igbo in Lagos indicates that they are rooted in the culture and tradition of their society.

    She noted that the Igbo exhibit the spirit of oneness and unity which Nigeria needs by making anywhere they find themselves their homes and contribute immensely to the socio-economic and political development of their host communities. She enjoined every Nigerian to embrace unity for peace and harmony to reign in our country.

    This, she said, will engender the much-needed united Nigeria in which everywhere is home for all despite where one comes from.

    Senator Tinubu, who holds the traditional title of Ezinne Ndigbo, urged all Nigerians to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to succeed in giving Nigerians and Lagosians good governance.

    Speaker after speaker described Senator Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who loves Ndigbo and renders assistance to them when necessary. Chief Nzeruem narrated how Senator Tinubu was of assistance to stranded air travellers at Abuja Airport whose flights were cancelled. “She”, he said, “walked into the Departure Hall and invited those going to Lagos to join her in her private jet; without minding who you are or where you come from. It takes a mother and a humble person to do that.”

    In his speech, Dim Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, the Ijele Ndigbo and Eze Igbo Gburugburu expressed his happiness identifying with his people. He said celebration of new yam was a tradition handed over to us by our forefathers. It is a festival that unites all Igbo.

    Urging Ndigbo not to be afraid wherever they are, he said they should ensure they are law-abiding and respect constituted authority of their host communities.

    Differing from Chief Nzeruem’s position that an Igbo appointed into the cabinet of any government outside Igbo land is a privilege and not a right, the MASSOB leader noted that “the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not recognise indigeneship. Every Nigerian has a right wherever he or she resides. That is what is in the constitution.”

    He urged Ndigbo to strive to be at peace with their neighbours wherever they reside, adding that they should not be afraid of anybody as far as they are law-abiding citizens of Nigeria.

    He said: “I love to come and identify with you in order to give you courage, the confidence that nothing will happen to you. Nigeria cannot do without the Igbo. In each state of Nigeria, the Igbo are the second largest group in every city.

    “It may not be possible for the Igbo to speak with one voice because they are from a great tribe, what matters is the voice of the majority.”

    Earlier, Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State and Co-ordinator/Igbo Mobilise in APC, Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu said the new yam festival or Iri ji is one of the significant cultural events in Igbo land. He added that the event provides the Igbo  man the opportunity to thank God for bumper harvest in yam and other farm varieties.

    “In Igbo land, men plant yam while women plant cassava and cocoa-yam and so on. As man is the head of the family, so is yam the head of everything in the farm in Igbo land.

    “For the Igbo man, the new yam festival day is symbolic in the sense that it is a day of enjoyment after the cultivation season, and the plenty is shared with friends and well-wishers. A variety of festivities mark the eating of new yam. Folk dances, masquerades, parades and parties create some joyful experiences for the participants,” he said.

    High point of the event was the cutting and eating of tubers of roasted yam by participants.

    •Representative of Senator Tinubu, Mrs Omolola Essien, eats the new yam.
    •Representative of Senator Tinubu, Mrs Omolola Essien, eats the new yam.

    Dignitaries at the event were Executive Secretary of Isolo Local Council Development Area, Alhaji Segun Jubril; the Ideh of Ite-Owerri, Prince A. W. Lams Nwizu; Chief Cliff Nzeruem; MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike; ministerial nomiee Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, who was represented by Hon. Chief Ajayi Nicholas; Apostle Chris Ezegbu; Chairman Igbo Community Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, Hon. Tony Ofoegbu; Chief Anslem Udoka; Pastor Ndubuisi Nwachukwu; Peter Osuji; First President Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Chief John Uche; National Coordinator Greenfield Traders of Nigeria, Mrs Evelyn Okere; President-General Market women and men Association of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo who was represented by a group of Iyalojas and the Executive Secretary, Lagos Mainland Local Government Area Mrs Omolola Essien who represented Senator (Mrs) Tinubu.

     

     

  • Monarch celebrates new yam

    Monarch celebrates new yam

    The traditional ruler of Nike Kingdom in Enugu State, Igwe Julius Nnaji has celebrated the New Yam festival with fanfare. It was an occasion which attracted dignitaries in the state including Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    Also in attendance were members of the Enugu State executive council, local government chairmen, security chiefs, members of the state and National Assembly as well as other traditional leaders from within and outside Enugu.

    There were as well different dancing troupes and orchestra bands in place to entertain the large turnout of crowd that trooped to witness the occasion.

    Igwe Nnaji was assisted by members of his community to perform the rituals associated with New Yam festivals with his wife by his side.

    The Igbo refer to the wife of their Igwe or Eze as Lolo, but the Nike community and indeed entire Nkanu prefer them to be called Ugoeze. And Igwe Nnaji insisted on this during the yam feast.

    The ceremony was flagged off with the Ugoeze accompanied by women of the community bringing out several tubers of yam and presenting them to the Igwe and members of his cabinet. That aspect was actually a solemn occasion as the women tenderly carried the yams as they were carrying eggs.

    After the presentation, the Igwe significantly gave out to the Ugoeze, a tuber of yam and one cock to prepare for him. That done, freshly roasted yams were brought to the Igwe with palm oil sauce prepared with Ugba (oil bean seed).

    The Igwe cut a piece and dipped into the palm oil sauce and did justice to it. There was applause. The ceremony kicked off. There was a lot of yam to eat. Mention it. Roasted, boiled, fried, pounded, porridge etc were distributed to all and sundry at the occasion.

    There were other delicacies and various types of traditional Igbo soups. Drinks were inexhaustible using them to wash down varieties of the bush meat served.

    All the dignitaries that graced the occasion were each presented with two tubers of yam and a live cock.

    Igwe Nnaji told the gathering that yam regarded as the king of the crops in Igboland is being celebrated yearly not only in his community but the entire communities in Igboland.

    Giving an insight of how yam is regarded in his community, the Igwe said if anybody matches on yam in the community, that person has to perform some rituals to appease the gods and cleanse himself from the “abomination”.

    He urged Ndigbo never to allow “this tradition to go the way of others.” He thanked the Governor Ugwuanyi for “squeezing out time in his tight schedule to grace the occasion”, adding, “this shows you love my family and the entire Nike community.”

    The chairman of Enugu East local council where Nike community falls into, Hon. Cornelius  Nnaji, who is the younger brother of the traditional ruler expressed gratitude to God that the event went well as planned.

    He thanked the governor for “gracing the occasion with almost the entire members of the executive council.”

    The local council boss who is also the Enugu state ALGON chairman promised that the next yam festival of the community would improve on this and thanked all and sundry that made it a success.

     

  • Community in crisis over New Yam rituals

    Some youths in Ossah, Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State have been in “protective custody” after they were said to have beaten up two traditional prime ministers who were performing rituals ahead of the community’s New Yam Festival.

    The traditional prime minister of Uzzi/Akpizu community Mr Friday Nwoko and his Eziama/Mgbaja counterpart Sunday Igbokwe were also said to have been stripped naked by the youths, a development which incurred the wrath of elders.

    One of the victims Igbokwe, said, “This happened on the 3rd of September 2015 when Nwoko and myself went to the village square connecting the three Ossah communities Uzzi/Akpizu, Uhabiri-Umuchime na Amonso and Eziama/Mgbaja to pour libation so that the Iri-ji festival which was supposed to hold the next day will be successful. We were performing the ceremony when some angry youths barged into the venue at Orie-oji and started beating us without mercy with machetes and when you consider my age which is 77 years, it means those boys wanted to kill me and my colleague.

    “All my life I have never seen this type of humiliation, as they stripped us naked and asked a woman take pictures of our nakedness, we were not doing anything wrong, as it is the duty of the prime ministers of the three communities in Ossah to go to the Orie-oji square to perform the rites before any festival is held in these communities.

    Igbokwe pointed the finger of accusation on a traditional ruler from one of the communities.

    One of the traditional rulerss, Eze Iheanyichukwu Ezeigbo of Uhabiri-Umuchime na Amanso community attributed the crisis to a misunderstanding among the three traditional rulers of the villages that make up Ossah community.

    The traditional ruler said that Ossah community has two festivals which the three communities celebrate: Ekpe festival and Iri ji.

    Eze Ezeigbo said that before the festivals three traditional rulers of the three communities authorise the prime ministers to perform the rituals before the festivals.

    He said, “We are surprised over what happened during this year’s ceremony, when news got to us that some youths from the community had beaten up the prime ministers who were performing their rightful duties and while we were trying to find out what happened some military men invaded the community.

    The arrested youths were said to be held at the Federal Prisons, Afara, Umuahia pending investigations into their alleged involvement in crisis.

  • Ndigbo celebrate new yam in Lagos

    Ndigbo celebrate new yam in Lagos

    Ndigbo in Lagos State have celebrated their annual New Yam Festival at Obi Ndigbo.

    In his address, the Eze Igbo in the state, Eze Nwabueze Ohazulike, said that the new yam festival has remained one of the strongest vehicles for the preservation of Igbo cultural identity in the country and in the diaspora.

    “The truth is that our language is going extinct. our culture is dying. We have, in response, stepped up the tempo of our celebrations as our own contribution to Igbo corporate effort for cultural irridentism.

    “For us, the crop, yam, has become a metaphor for this effort. It is, therefore, a necessary imperative for our children, scholars and teachers not to allow our cultural heritage to die,” he said.

    Speaking further, Eze Ohazulike expressed the gratitude of Ndigbo to the Lagos State government and leaders of the various Igbo socio-cultural organisations in the state.

    His words: “We… commend His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, exceutive governor of Lagos State, who has made all our progress possible through the provision of a visionary and dynamic administration.”

    However, he appealed to the federal government to do more to empower rural farmers to combat famine in the country.

    “Next week Thursday is World Food Day; the question is, is government really doing enough to put food on the table of every Nigerian? I think there is still much to be done to empower substantive and commercial farming.

    “In the western world, the richest people there are the rural farmers but here in Nigeria we worship white elephant billionaires. Governments have to assist farmers and encourage young graduates to cultivate. Look at, the price of a tuber of yam is not affordable for an average Nigerian. A lot of people don’t believe that farming is what we need to fight poverty. Government needs to subsidise agriculture and also make it enterprising for intending farmers,” he said

    The festival, which was attended by prominent Igbo sons and daughters in Lagos and diaspora, was described as a unity festival that brings people from other ethnic groups to celebrate with their Igbo friends.

    According to Acting President Ohanaeze Lagos State, Thompson Ohia yam crop, in Igbo cosmology, is regarded as the king of crops. “It symbolises also the virile qualities of a successful man, prowess, progress and prosperity,” he said.

    He also used the medium to clear the air on the reason why the executive committee suspended Chief Oliver Akubueze as the president of association.

    His Words:”The executive suspended Akubueze from office because of gross misconduct and abuse of office. A deadline date to retract a publication credited to him which is capable of causing the disintegration of Ndigbo Lagos State before the suspension.

    Akubueze who was apparently absent at the yam festival declined the knowledge that he has been suspended from office. He spoke with our correspondent on the phone, noting “that a vote of confidence has just been passed on him by the Igbo speaking community in Lagos.”

    According to Ohia the executive committee which included himself, the Deputy President Collins Ozor, its Legal Adviser Fabian Onwughalu, the Publicity secretary Chief Louis Okafor, took the decision for the integrity of Ndigbos in Lagos.