Introduction
The New Yam festival is an annual celebration observed in Eastern Nigeria.
Origin of the Name
As the name implies, the new yam festival is a cultural festival which celebrates the harvest of the new yam.
Timing
It is usually observed around November or December depending on the time when the new yam is harvested.
Event
The new yam festival involves far more than just celebration of the new yam. A series of events queue up and terminated in the actual celebration of the new yam.
Festival of Cleansing
bout seven days to the big day, a festival of cleansing is carried out. Here, anyone who considers himself to have sinned in the community confesses his sins to the native doctor who reassures him of forgiveness of his sins and orders him to bring some items for sacrifice. These items may include animals like cat, goat, dog, cow or ram depending on the gravity of the sin. A family head can make this sacrifice on behalf of his family and in single parent families, the single parent can offer the sacrifice on behalf of his family even if he/she is not aware of all the sins of the individual members.
Image Source
Traditional boxing
The boxing is carried out in rounds just like a football match and the final round is held in the village square. Whoever wins the tournament goes home with 100 tubers of yam and any maiden of his choice.
Street Carnival
A colourful street carnival is held and the village is grouped into families. Each family has a unique uniform and dances to a unique music played by the village drummers. The best performer usually goes home with a whole barn of yam and 14 monkeys. Visitors usually trip into the village in their numbers to observe this part of the event.
The Festival Eve
On this eve, evil things are always done. Seven virgins are sacrificed as a gift to the gods for general cleansing of the land and their blood is sprinkled on the shrine of amadioha. This is believed to make the gods happy and increase the yield for the coming year. People dread this part of the event and no visitor comes into the village to prevent falling victim.
The D-day
A huge party is throne and mounds and mounds of pounded yam is served with a soup called Afang Sound. Pounded yam is a yam paste made when yam is pounded in a huge mortar. This is usually served with different types of soups. This pounded yam is served in such huge mounds that it is rumoured that two brothers once ate from the same mound but sat at opposite sides of the mound. They didn't know until the mound of pounded yam was almost cut by half. They now saw each other and exchanged handshakes over the mound of pounded yam before they continue eating.
The New Yam festival is an event you can't miss. Come to Nigeria. Attend the new yam festival.