In some Igbo communities, yam is regarded as the queen or chief crop, hence it is a taboo for anyone to sit on it. The dates differ from one area to the other. In some agricultural communities, new yam festivals are held to herald the formal eating of new yams, hence it is called new yam festival.
What are yams in Igbo culture?
Among the Igbo tribe of Nigeria, West Africa, it is obvious that the most cherished and respected crop is the yam. While giving credence to the Igbo preference of the yam crop, Chinua Achebe, in his most revered novel, ‘Things Fall Apart’, described yam as the “king of all crops”.
What do yams symbolize in Nigeria?
For the Igbo and Yoruba people of Southern Nigeria, it symbolizes prosperity and fertility. For the Igbo people of South Eastern Nigeria, the yam crop is not just a harvest, but a symbol of hard work, wealth, and celebration. Since the early days, the harvest of yams represented the start of a new harvest season.
Who is the father of Igbo?
Eri
It is believed that the Igbo people descended from Eri, a divine figure who according to folklore, was sent from heaven to begin civilization. Eri was the son of Gad and Gad was one of the sons of Jacob from his concubine, as mentioned in the Bible.
Are yams celebrated in African ceremonies?
The Yam Festival is celebrated by members of ethnic groups like the Mahi, Nagot (Yoruba), Bariba, Dendi, and others, for whom yam is a staple crop and a marker of identity. Unlike cassava, maize, or rice, yam is a native product of these regions and is thus deeply rooted in the culture of their populations.
Why are yams so important to the Igbo?
It is a symbol of strength and power which due to the patriarchal nature of Igbo culture is associated with the male gender. Yam is seen as a male crop and a male thing and thus a symbol of authority. There is nearly no significant occasion in Igbo land that doesn’t include the display or eating of yam.
What does yams symbolize in things fall apart?
Yams are a crop grown exclusively by men. Growing yams is labor intensive, and the size of a man’s fields and harvest say much about his work ethic. Yams are grown to gain wealth and also to feed one’s family. They are a symbol of masculinity and ability as a provider.
Who are the Igbo tribe in Nigeria?
Igbo, also called Ibo, people living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria who speak Igbo, a language of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family. The Igbo may be grouped into the following main cultural divisions: northern, southern, western, eastern or Cross River, and northeastern.
Why are yams so important?
Yams are not only an excellent source of fiber but also high in potassium and manganese, which are important for supporting bone health, growth, metabolism, and heart function ( 3 , 4 ). These tubers also provide decent amounts of other micronutrients, such as copper and vitamin C.
Why do they celebrate yam festival?
Asogli-yam1
The festival is celebrated annually by the Chiefs (Togbewo, Mamawo) and the people of Asogli State in the Volta Region of Ghana. It is celebrated every September to thank God and also the gods and ancestors for a bumper harvest, and as an occasion to offer prayers for good health and prosperity.
Who created Igbo?
Eri, the god-like founder of Nri, is believed to have settled the region around 948 with other related Igbo cultures following after in the 13th century. The first Eze Nri (King of Nri) Ìfikuánim followed directly after him. According to Igbo oral tradition, his reign started in 1043.
Where did Igbo originally come from?
Where did the Igbo originally come from? Sources claim Igbo’s ancestral land is Umueri town (an ancient town in the Anambra state, south-eastern Nigeria). Other sources state that the tribe migrated from Igala country in the lower Benue River to Igboland in the late 17th century AD to avoid the Fulani slave trade.
Who is the first son of Igbo?
“The first son is known as the Okpala and he plays a very important role in the administration of his father’s property. The first son is the chief administrator of his father’s property.
Which month is yam harvested in Nigeria?
Yams are a primary agricultural commodity across much of West and Central Africa where tubers are planted between February and April and harvested 180 to 270 days later.
Who celebrates the Yam Festival?
Asogli Yam Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the people of Asogli in the Ho Municipality located in the Volta Region of Ghana. It is celebrated in September annually to celebrate the cultivation of yam that was started by a hunter who found the tuber in the forest during his hunting expedition.
What is the name of Igbo festival?
THE IGBO NEW YAM FESTIVAL 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 do the Igbo tribe eat?
Key traditional staple foods in the Igbo culture area included: yams (Dioscorea spp.), cocoyam (Colocasia/Xanthosoma spp.), cassava (Manihot spp.), maize (Zea mays), some of which were status symbols. Other food groups such as legumes, nuts, seeds, wild fruits and vegetables were abundant.
What unacceptable thing did Okonkwo do just before the feast of the new yam?
Q. What unacceptable thing did Okonkwo do just before the Feast of the New Yam? He got drunk in public. He beat his second wife, Ekwefi, then fired his gun at her.
What is the feast of the new yam in things fall apart?
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. New yams could not be eaten until some had first been offered to these powers.
What are yams?
What Is a Yam? Yams are edible stem tubers native to the tropical regions of Africa and Asia. Because yams have dry starchy flesh, they can be stored in humid environments without fear of spoilage. This makes them an excellent staple food in the tropical climates where they are grown.
Where does it talk about yams in Things Fall Apart?
In the second story from Okonkwo’s past, the young Okonkwo was preparing to plant his first farm in yams — a man’s crop — while his mother and sisters grew women’s crops — such things as coco-yams and cassava.