What was the New Yam Festival and how was it celebrated?
The Yoruba people celebrate the New Yam Festival, known to them as Eje, for two days around the time of the harvest. They fast, give thanks for the harvest, and carry out special DIVINATION RITES to determine the fate of the community, and particularly its crops, in the coming year.
Why is the New Yam Festival important?
The New Yam Festival, in the Ogidi community, is an important way of marking the beginning and end of the farming season. It is a celebration of life, accomplishments in the community, culture and well-being.
When did the New Yam Festival start?
August 8, 2020 – August 15, 2020. The New Yam Festival of the Igbo people (Orureshi in the idoma area, Iwa ji, Iri ji or Ike ji, depending on dialect) is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people held at the end of the rainy season in early August.
What is the significance of the yam in Igbo culture?
Yams are the essential crop within Umuofia; the yam is a crucial staple in the Igbo diet. The number of yams a man successfully grows indicates his wealth and rank within the society. Additionally, the cultivation of yams is associated with masculinity: “Yam, the king of crops, was a man’s crop” (23).
What was the yam a symbol of?
Seen as a masculine crop, the yams are an indication of the patriarchal society and separation between the genders. It creates a village where women are dependent on the yam farming men to provide for them. Second, yams symbolise sustenance and a way of life.
What happens during the feast of the New Yam?
‘The Feast of the New Yam was approaching and Umuofia was in a festival mood. It was an occasion for giving thanks to Ani, the earth goddess and the source of all fertility. The Feast of the New Yam was held every year before the harvest began, to honour the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits of the clan.
Which festival is associated with the story of yam?
The Ashanti Yam Festival is an annual celebration of the Ashanti people of Ashanti. It marks the first harvest of yams during the autumn season, after the monsoon season. The yam is the staple food crop in Ashanti and most of Africa….
Ashanti Yam Festival | |
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Date | Between September and December |
Frequency | annual |
Who was Okonkwo’s favorite child?
Ezinma
Ezinma is also Okonkwo’s favorite child, for she understands him better than any of his other children and reminds him of Ekwefi when Ekwefi was the village beauty. Okonkwo rarely demonstrates his affection, however, because he fears that doing so would make him look weak.
What is new yam festival in Igbo land?
The New Yam Festival of the Igbo people (Orureshi in the idoma area, Iwa ji, Iri ji or Ike ji, Otute depending on dialect) is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people held at the end of the rainy season in early August.
Why does Nwakibie trust Okonkwo to farm his yam seeds?
Nwakibie gives Okonkwo the seed yams, even more than he asked for, all because he knows Okonkwo is a hard worker and will do whatever it takes to grow his crops. In a very generous gesture, Nwakibie gives Okonkwo twice the number of seed yams he asks for: 800 instead of 400. That’s a lot of yams!
What is new yam festival in igboland?
What does the New Yam festival reveal about Umuofia?
‘The Feast of the New Yam was approaching and Umuofia was in a festival mood. It was an occasion for giving thanks to Ani, the earth goddess and the source of all fertility. Ani played a greater part in the life of the people than any other deity. She was the ultimate judge of morality and conduct.
What is the name of the Igbo new yam festival?
This means the event must precede the eating of water-yam. The traditional name for Igbo new yam festival is “IKE JI” which literally means the “Strength inherent in Yams.” However, the actual occurrence of the festival is known as “IRI JI OHURU.” That is, “Eating new yam.”.
Where does the new yam festival take place?
New yam festival is one of the most prominent annual celebrations in Igbo land. It began in Arochukwu community several centuries ago. In the past, the new yam festival must be celebrated before any adult of Igbo origin will eat a new yam. This means the event must precede the eating of water-yam.
Which is the biggest Yam Festival in Imo State?
As the biggest of yam communal rites, it is described as iri ji ohuru, iri ji mmiri, iro ofo, ofala and ibu ji aro (the latter being common among the people of Ehime in Mbano of Imo State.
When was the yam tuber introduced to Igboland?
Varieties of the yam tuber were introduced to Igboland in the late 19th century by the Portuguese traders and explorers of farm produce. Along the West African coastal belt, yam cultivation and celebration is also well known.