Festive aura filled the air, women had their hair braided their hair in different styles. They dressed beautifully and elegantly. The men had nice haircuts and dressed stunning too. It was the day for the New Yam Festival known as the 'emume iri ji ohuru'. The New Yam Festival was an event which was done annually to thank the Earth goddess 'Ani'- the goddess of fertility and land for a fruitful farming season. During this period, natives living far away return home to honour the goddess 'Ani' and God the creator 'chukwu okike' for the gift if life and fruitful harvest.
The masked masquerades from the nine villages performed their dances and mystical stunts at the village square when the villagers had gathered for the event. When the king entered the village square alongside the chiefs, the flutist played pleasant melodies eulogizing the king. When the flutist halted, the villagers greeted the king and his chiefs. An opening prayer was said by king and the king ordered that kolanut should be given to the oldest man in the town to break.
'Chukwu okike' (God the creator),
'Nne anyi ala' (Mother Earth),
'Ndi nna anyi ochie' ( Our fore-fathers),
'Bia gozie oji' ( come and bless the kolanut),
'Bia taa oji ma nye anyi ahu ike ( eat kolanut and give us good health).
Ka anyi na awa oji a na-ata ya ( as we break and eat this kolanut),
umu anyi na umu umu anyi ga-enwe oganiihu (our children and children's children shall prosper).
The old man breaks the kolanut, takes a lobe and passes the remaining ones to the king and the chiefs. After the kolanut breaking, the Chief priest and other spiritualist performs certain rituals to thank the gods. Dry gin, palm fronds, native fowl, cowries and native white chalk 'nzu' are items for the ritual.
The chief priest makes some incantations and chants while performing the rituals, he utters some strange language which is believed to be language of the spirit.
A plate of roasted yam and palm oil was presented before the king after the chief priest was done with the rituals. The king takes a piece of yam and takes a bite then his chiefs follow suit. After that he gives the people a go ahead sign to go one and eat their newly cultivated yams. The was filled with joy as the merriment goes on. People are to their satisfaction as there was alot to feast on. Nne made yam pepper soup with goat meat wives to other mama's sons mad different yam dish. I enjoyed eating meat alot and that was what I focused on eating. I sat next to my father 'nnam' as we ate. He had gotten a fresh tapped palmwine from the village palm wine tapper 'ote nkwu' in the morning.
I once asked mama why the festival is regarded as new yam festival because I was confused why yam was held with esteem amongst all crops. "Yam is the king of crops according to our tradition. During the days of our fore fathers, a man's wealth and status is considered with the number of yam barns filled with yams which he owns, the number of domestic animals he owns and the number of titles he held", mama paused for a little and began again. " Even before my father was born, the tradition was there. No man eats newly harvested yams if the festival has not taken place if not, 'Ani' will strike him with a strange illness which can only be cured be offering sacrifices and appeasing 'Ani'."