Iwa ji na iri ji ohuru (New yam festival) is a cultural festival celebrated among the igbo's and most communities who dwell in the south east part of Nigeria. Igbos believe that yam is the King of all crops, for this reason, they make special reference to it. The new yam festival, which takes place in August at the end of every rainy season is to thank the gods of good harvest and it also mark the end of the farming season for the year. This festival is one of the Igbo people's traditional and cultural celebrations that they do not joke with. In Igbo land, no full-fledged or matured man eats new yam unless he participates in this celebration as an individual or in a group. It is observed as a public function.
The occasion proper
At the day of the festival, the king, titled men, elders and every man who wants to witness it will all gather at the village square. At this point, many communities in Igbo land have there different ways of eating the new yam. Some roast it, some boil it while some use it for pounded yam and ofe nsara (white soup). After preparing it in their different ways of consumption, then
Rituals will be performed and The yams will be offered to gods and ancestors.
From the picture above, the elders are performing the rituals, after which, they will offer the yam to the gods before distributing it to the locals. The rite is done by either the community's eldest man or the king or an outstanding title holder. They eat the first yam after praying to God in thanksgiving, as it is thought that their status allows them to act as intermediaries between their people and the gods of the land. The new yam eating rituals are intended to convey the community's gratitude to the gods for allowing them to harvest their yams, and at the same time praying for better yield in the next farming season.
The importance of this festival
This festival is cherished by the Igbo people both home and abroad because it brings love, peace and unity among them. During the celebration of New yam festival, most Igbo son's and daughters return home to unite with their families. Quarries, land disputes and any other offenses are settled. Offenders of the law will be punished. During this period, people engage in exchange of gifts, visiting of families and friends and exchanging pleasantly. We can't talk about the festival without the presence of The masquerade which add colour to the festival. The masquerade moves around the community in different shapes, sizes, height and colour dancing, chasing ladies and making children happy. The main purpose of this culture is to facilitate unity, love and peace among it's people.
For me, the iri ji festival is a culture to maintain and retain because of it's way of uniting the people. It also has a way of demonstrating love and peace within the people. Yet I suppose it is due for amendment. Especially in the area of performing rituals with the blood of a fowl and also in the area of offering the yam to the gods before sharing to the villagers. To enable everyone access to this, it should be modernized in order to accommodate all religion.