Iri Ji – New Yam Festival

Iri Ji – New Yam Festival

Yam is an important food crop in the Eastern part of Nigeria. This is evident in the cultural significance attached to the popular Ïri Ji – New Yam festival celebrated in Igboland. Iri Ji, which means “new yam,” is an Igbo cultural festival celebrated annually, between August to October, to mark the end of a harvest and the beginning of a new cycle. The festival is celebrated elaborately with yams and is attended by almost all Igbos in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Some states that celebrate this festival include Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo State.

Iri Ji festival serves religious, cultural, and celebratory purposes. The festival is celebrated to appreciate the gods for a successful farming season and harvest and to intercede for the success of a new season. This is done in a sacred way, with rites and offerings to the gods.

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Iri Ji celebration often starts with the eating of the new yam by the oldest man in the Igbo community, followed by general feasting by other members of the community. Yams are used to make different kinds of traditional Igbo meals. During this season, sharing is seen as an important aspect of human behavior and must be upheld. The youths and elderly in society are mostly seen eating with different families, sharing, and celebrating. The festival fosters peace, love, and unity amongst members of the community.

Before the festival, families are usually busy cleaning their compounds and clearing bushy paths. The youths also assist to clear paths that lead to different homes. According to history, clearing bush paths is important before the festival to create easy access to different homes once the festival begins.

Iri Ji festival features the cooking of yams, dancing, singing, and the appearance of masquerades. Masquerades are important to the belief of the traditional Igbo society. Therefore, a highly revered festival such as the New Yam often features their presence.

Igbo people have had a long history that places the yam as the King of all farm crops. Thus, a typical Igbo society accords respect to families who have neatly stacked barns of yam. Possessing large quantities of yams in Igbo society depicts hard work and strength. A man’s wealth and social status are thus, determined by the size of his barn and harvest.

The next time you hear about the Iri Ji festival, make sure to enjoy the fun of it!