Hello everyone, I trust our day is moving smoothly as expected, cause mine is actually moving fine. It Sunday, so let's discuss a little about one of the cultural festival in my community. And I will be talking about Yam festival...
New yam festival has always been a remarkable fest to my culture and tribe, it is one of the customs and traditions the igbo's don't joke with...
It is celebrated annually, during the month of August..
Firstly the festival is been done at community level before the people celebrate it individually with there families and friends...
Yam festival is called irie ji in my tribe.. Women and children can eat yam before the celebration, but a full grown man can't eat without celebrating it with his ancestors.. Although after the community level celebration it is not compulsory that one can celebrate it if not financially buoyant to celebrate.
During the community level celebration, it is been done around the village square with the igwe (the king) and his cabinets laying sacrifices to their god's and thanking them for another year yam festival.... Then the women will be busy preparing tubers of yam with any animal present mostly goat...
There will be alot of presentations that day, dancing, singing, warriors challenge and so on. Yam festival is known as the season of love in the community, neighbors giving food and stuffs to their neighbors.
Indigen of my community that lives out of the village always find time to return with their family just to celebrate this festival..
I so much love this fest cause there's always a lot to eat and drink while gisting with my peer-group and no matter my distance from home, I always find my way home just to celebrate it with families and friends.. I wouldn't want to miss out cause I hate it if I'm given the gist of things I missed...(chuckle) you know that feelings....