New Yam Festival, also known as Iri Ji Ohuru, is a special tradition for the Igbo people. It is held every year to celebrate the first harvest of the season. Below are six simple ways this festival honors the harvest.
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Offering Thanks to Gods and Ancestors
The New Yam Festival begins with offering gratitude (thank you) to their gods and ancestors for a good harvest. In Igbo life, yams are a special gift from the earth, watched over by spirits who help farms grow. The village elder brings everyone together to give the first yam of the season to the spirits. This shows that there are things bigger than ourselves.
Feasting on Yam-Based Dishes
Eating the first new yams is what starts the new season, and various yam-based dishes are served, like pounded yam and yam stew. In this season, most families stop eating the old yam and focus on only the new yam, with different dishes to show how much they depend on yam and also to honour the farmers’ work and the seasons harvest.
Showcasing Cultural Performances
Celebration begins properly after the harvest, different dance moves are shown as people gather in the village square, songs and musical instruments are played, and old stories are also told through dance moves.
After the new yams are displayed proudly, showing everyone the results of hard work in the fields, these yams are shared out among the people. This is how the community keeps its traditions alive.
Sacred Rituals
To honour the harvest, special rituals are carried out the night before the festival, where people throw out old yams. This shows respect for the new crops and a clean start. The next day, a village elder eats the first yam in a special way. This starts the harvest season. These acts celebrate the harvest as part of life’s natural flow.
Community Unity
Families come back home to celebrate this festival, the sharing of meals brings people together, reconnects old friends and brings about unity.
The feeling of togetherness spreads across the whole community and children learn how to work together. Celebrating the harvest as one group shows that plenty comes from working as a team.
Cultural Heritage
The festival keeps Igbo culture strong. Kids learn by joining dances, hearing elders’ stories and helping with the cooking. They pick up important ideas like being thankful, working hard, and caring for the land. Traditional songs, foods, and customs show what it means to be Igbo in today’s world. The New Yam Festival builds pride and keeps people connected to who they are.
Final Thoughts
The New Yam Festival is a happy time for saying thanks, sharing culture and bringing people together. Through special ceremonies, big meals and music, it shows how closely people’s lives are tied to the land that feeds them.
Read More: Children’s Special: The Cultural Significance Of Egungun Festival.
