CULTURE: Colour and Spectacle as Ibagwa Aka People Celebrate New Yam Festival
By Chidi Omeje
A palpable air of conviviality began to pervade the town as early as 6am on that eventful Saturday morning. Not even the initial apprehension that perhaps the heaven might open its bowel with showers of rain could dampen the spirit and expectations of the people who have been looking forward to that day.
That day was the 29th of August 2020; it was a day set aside by Oha Ibagwa to mark the year’s New Yam festival (Iri Ji Ohuru). It was going to be a day of cultural renaissance and it promised to be colourful, merry and absorbing as many sons and daughters of the town, living both at home and in Diaspora, were already on hand to be part of this year’s event.
Iri ji or Iwa ji festival is common across Igbo land where yam is regarded as the king of all crops. To Ibagwa Aka people who are traditionally crop farmers, Onwa Esaa is one of their most important cultural festivals as it reminds them that they cherish the bounteous gifts of nature especially those crops like yam that have sustained their lives over the years and that have enriched some members of their community, enabling them to become ‘Omer’egu’ (rich men whose wealth came from the bounties of the farm). It is this Onwa Esaa ceremony that Oha Ibagwa decided to christen Iri Ji festival, in line with global Igbo terminology of the festival.
A cosmopolitan town, Ibagwa Aka is made up of three major quarters, namely, Amaebo, Echara and Ezema – referred to as ‘Nkpuna’to’ (three clans). Ibagwa is also described by many as ‘mini Nigeria’ – home for all (a sizeable population of Hausa, Yoruba and other non-natives), sanctuary for all faiths – Christians and Muslims – uncountable number of churches (Catholic, Protestants, Pentecostal), Mosques (about three variants), traditional adherents- all observing their beliefs without let or hindrance. The town is peopled by industrious, accommodating, peace-loving, culture-conscious and deeply religious folks.
The Socio-religious essence of New Yam Festival:
In the days before the advent of Christianity in the town, Onwa Esaa festival involved sacrifices, worship, prayers, and presentation of new yams. Essentially, the harvest of yam and the celebration of the deity of the land during the festival consist in expression of the people’s religious belief in the supreme deity as a giver of yam and donor of good harvest.
The symbolic philosophy of the New Yam Festival is that it allows communities to thrive in the provision of food supplies and victory over starvation, conservation of the better forms of yam seedlings against extinction or predation, thereby providing the basis for ennoblement, prosperity and strengthening of kinship relationship.
With the emergence of Christianity in Ibagwa Aka, new yam harvesting ceremony (onwa esaa) has been modified to accommodate the Christian faith (and also the Moslem faith given that there is a percentage of indigenes who are Moslems). The Onyeishi Amaebo who is traditionally the head of Nd’ishi Nkpun’ato along with the Nd’Oha (titled men) from all the three quarters, are the authorities that determines the date for the celebration of New Year’s Yam Festival.
The D-Day:
As a matter of tradition, the New Yam festival in Ibagwa Aka is celebrated in three parts. First at the abode of Onyishi Amaebo (oldest man in Amaebo) who traditionally heads the nd’Ishi nkpun’ato (oldest men of the three clans) where iwa ji ohuru (cutting and eating of the new yam) will first take place. After the ceremony at Onyishi’s house, each of the Nkpuna’to moves to the abode of their respective leaders where they will further eat new yams and get full dose of entertainment till evening. From there, everybody is expected to retire home to continue celebration till ‘ok’oku kwa ovu kwa’ (roughly translates to ‘till dawn’).
So, on that beautiful day, as early as 10.30am, the expansive compound of Onyishi Amaebo, Rev Canon S.E Okoro, had started bustling with activities. Young men were seen preparing fire where yams will be roasted while some were busy taking care of a fat goat they just slaughtered (pounded yam with ofe-ukpo garnished with goat meat will be on the menu later in the day). Gaily dressed folks were sauntering in with a gait in tune with mood of the day.
In no time, the Onyishis and Nd’ohas of the Nkpuna’to led by their respective Igwe-designates began to arrive. First to arrive was the Igwe-elect of Eburumiri community, Edeoga Festus Asogwa, accompanied by his council of elders. Next were the Igwe-designate of Edemani-Amebo community, Edeoga (Prof) Ikenna Omeje along with his younger brother, Ede Pius Omeje, his Onowu, Ede Sunday Omeke, and Nd’oha Edemani Amebo led by Edeoga Chukwuma Nwaonah. Then came the Igwe-elect of Ezema, Alhaji Danjuma Ukwuabah accompanied by the full complement of his council of elders and nd’oha (titled men). The Igwe-elect of Echara, Ozioko Sylvester Eze, sent in a delegation as he decided to stay back at his palace to begin an early hosting of guests. Prominent men and women of the town were already taking their seats. The atmosphere was gay and electric.
At about 12.30 pm, Onyishi Amaebo’s compound was already packed full with excited sons and daughters of the soil, and visitors alike who were on hand to partake in the eating of new yam and to listen to the prayers and admonitions of the oldest man in Ibagwa Aka, who will be presiding over proceedings any moment from then.
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Rev Canon S.E Okolo, the providential sage and custodian of the culture and tradition of Ibagwa Aka people, and who by the grace of God is the arrow head of this very important cultural festival by virtue of his position as the oldest man in Amaebo and consequently the ishi-onyishi, is not a man of too many words. However, when the 99 years old man speaks, it resonates with the people because of his uncommon wisdom, forthrightness and penchant for peace and harmony in the town. In his brief remarks as he blessed the kola nut, he thanked God and al’Ibagwa for being benevolent to the people by granting the people good health and bumper harvest this year. He prayed for continuous peace, security and prosperity of the town while urging anyone who finds himself or herself in position of authority in the town to always live above board in order to inspire confidence in the people.
Soon enough it was time for the business of the day as he blessed the roasted new yam that was set on his table and proceeded to cut the yam with prayers and oblation to God and al’Ibagwa Aka, and the people responded with a thunderous Aguuu! Thereafter, the cut pieces of the yam and palm oil source were shared to all and sundry at the event.
In his vote of thanks on behalf of the Igwe-elects and all the participants, the Igwe-elect of Edemani-Amaebo, Edeoga (Prof) Ikenna Omeje, thanked the Onyisihi Amaebo, Nd’ishi Nkpuna’to and the entire Ndi oha Ibagwa Aka for making this year’s New Yam festival a huge success. He announced that he was instituting an agricultural out grower scheme in which each of the clans in Edemani Amaebo will nominate 5 farmers who will benefit from the allocation of improved yam setts, maize seeds and other input materials for planting during the next farming season. According to him, the idea was to encourage the members of the community to embrace farming as a lucrative business. And to ensure that they be able to harvest their own yams both for the market and for direct consumption instead of resorting to buying from the market. He announced that, all things going well as intended, the next festival would be performed with own yams produced from the community.
There were lots of palm wine and other alcoholic beverages to go round and people made merry.
At Edeoga (Prof) Ikenna Omeje’s compound:
As noted earlier, the next port of call for the day’s celebration will be at the abodes of the Igwe-elect of each of the Nkpuna’to. Folks were expected to accompany their own Igwe-elect home where it is expected that he will fete them. This reporter followed the Igwe-designate of Edemani Amaebo, Edeoga (Prof Ikenna Omeje) to his compound where elaborate ceremony had been planned.
At Prof Omeje’s compound, the same iwa ji ritual that took place at onyishi Amaebo’s abode was reenacted but not before the blessing and eating of kolanut which was presented by Nd’inyom di. Palm wine and other drinks were surplus because every titled person from Edemani Amebo were mandated to bring at least a gallon of palm wine or its equivalent in beer. As the kola nut was being shared, so also are drinks while the people await the formal cutting and eating of new yam in Edemani Amebo by the Igwe-designate and his Nd’oha.
Soon enough the host, Edeoga Ikenna Omeje cleared his throat and called the attention of the people. “Edemani-Amebo kwenu! Amaebo kwenu! Ibagwa Aka kwezuonu! To the each of the call, the people responded with a loud “Yaa!” He welcomed everybody present to the ceremony and thanked them for honouring the culture of the town by devoting their time to celebrate this year’s new yam festival. He spoke glowingly about the culture and tradition of Ibagwa Aka people and urged the younger generation to ensure that they become cultural ambassadors by projecting the good values of the town and celebrating the cultural festivals with sense of modesty and commitment. He then invited the Parish Priest of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Rev Fr (Dr) Eze P. Ikechukwu to bless the new yam and pray for the people.
Prayers concluded and the host promptly called upon his Onowu, Ede Sunday Omeke, Edeoga Chukwuma Nwoonah and other titled men around, to join their hands with him to cut the new yam. The new yam was cut and shared to everyone around in the three canopies set in the compound. More palm wines and assorted drinks were going round and the atmosphere was charged with excitement and conviviality.
Just before pounded yam was served, it was announced that a special visitor had come. It was the igwe-elect of Ezema, Alhaji Danjuma Ukwuabah along with the full complement of his cabinet members. It was understood that he was on a brief courtesy visit to the Igwe-designate of Edemani-Amaebo as a mark of solidarity, pursuit of unity and strengthening of kinship of Ibagwa Aka people.
People were eating and drinking and bantering till late in the evening. The same thing was happening in all the clans that made up Ibagwa Aka on that eventful Saturday. This reporter visited the abode of the Igwe-elect of Echara community, Ozioko Sylvester Eze later in the evening and met a boisterous activity still going on. Visitors were still sauntering in and men and women and young boys were seen seated in groups doing justice to assorted foods and drinks while the popular Eke Echezema entertained everyone.
All in all, this year’s New Yam festival in Ibagwa Aka was a huge success as the people reenacted the culture of their fore fathers and had real fun doing that.
In the words of Amb Ejike Simon Eze, a retired diplomat and prominent son of Ibagwa Aka who had to travel all the way from Abuja to witness the event, “Ibagwa Aka is nothing without its culture. Our culture is beautiful and dynamic, and we are determined to preserve it in the interest of our generations yet unborn”.
For Chief Pius Ugwu (Pattah), a business man based in Enugu, this year’s New Yam festival was such a colourful event that he would have regretted missing. According to him, “Our culture has come to stay…”
Ede Sunday Omeke (Ugo n’abo) who is the Onowu of Edemani-Amaebo believes that with unity of purpose, Ibagwa Aka people can make such cultural events like this new yam festival better to attract visitors from across the country “to come and witness our beautiful culture”.
