Iwa Iji: The New Yam Festival in Igboland

As the rainy season yields to harvest time in southeastern Nigeria, an age-long tradition springs to life. The Igbo people, one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups, gather to celebrate the New Yam Festival, known in their language as Iwa Iji. This significant celebration, deeply rooted in agrarian culture, showcases the rich traditions of the Igbo and their strong connection to the land.

While Iwa Iji translates to “new yam eating,” the festival goes by various names across different Igbo dialects. Some call it Onwa Aasa, others Orurueshi,  Iri ji or Ike ji, but regardless of the name, the purpose remains the same — celebrating new yam harvest.

Yam as the King of Crops in Igboland

In Igbo culture, the yam holds a place of reverence. Considered the chief of all crops, it’s treated with utmost respect. Such is the yam’s status that it’s considered taboo to sit on it or place heavy objects upon it. This reverence sets the stage for a festival that’s not just about food, but about cultural identity and spiritual beliefs.

Preparation for Iwa Iji Festival

The preparations for Iwa Iji are as significant as the festival itself. Communities engage in both spiritual and physical cleansing, a ritual that symbolizes renewal and readiness for the blessings of the harvest. Homes and public spaces are adorned with decorations, while groups intensively rehearse traditional dances that will bring the festival to life.

In a symbolic gesture of embracing the new yams, the old ones are discarded or sold off on the eve of the festival. The celebration is strictly reserved for the newly harvested crop.

While the duration of Iwa Iji varies among Igbo communities—some celebrate for a few days, others for a week or more—the core rituals remain consistent.

The festival’s opening is marked by a solemn ceremony where yams are roasted and offered to Ohajoku, the Igbo deity of yam and earth. This crucial rite, performed by the king or a respected elder, seeks divine blessings for the community.

Once the offering is complete, the feasting begins. Yams take center stage in every meal, often served with palm oil (mmanu nri) or a delicacy known as ugba, an oil bean salad. The air fills with the rhythms of traditional music as dance troupes and masquerades take to the streets, their performances expressing Igbo artistry and spirituality.

History of the Iwa Iji Festival

While the exact origins of Iwa Iji are lost to time, a legend offers a mythical explanation. According to this tale, during a time of severe famine, a king reluctantly sacrificed his son, Ohajoku, on the advice of a village priest.

Days later, yam tendrils mysteriously sprouted from the prince’s grave. When harvested months later, the king found that his son’s body had transformed into yams, providing sustenance for the entire community.

This legend, blending themes of sacrifice, divine intervention, and agricultural abundance, underscores the deep spiritual significance of yam in Igbo culture. It also explains why Ohajoku is venerated as the god of yam, with the New Yam Festival serving as an annual tribute to this deity.

Iwa Iji serves as a powerful magnet, drawing Igbo people from far and wide. Sons and daughters of the land, whether living nearby or in distant diaspora communities, make the journey home.

This homecoming aspect has transformed the festival into a tool for cultural preservation and community bonding, bridging geographical divides and generational gaps.

As long as yams grow in the fertile soils of Igboland, the rhythms of Iwa Iji will continue to beat, linking past, present, and future in a celebration of life, community, and abundance.

Thanks for reading, OldNaija.

References:

1. Ical, C. O. O. S. (2014, June 3). A glimpse into “iwa ji” or “iri ji” festival. ical. https://www.igbocommunityliverpool.org/single-post/2014/06/03/a-glimpse-into-iwa-ji-or-iri-ji-festival
2. Omipidan, Teslim. (2023, November 2). Igbo Pre-Colonial Political System/Administration – OldNaIJA. OldNaija. https://oldnaija.com/2019/12/20/igbo-pre-colonial-system/
3. Anyanwu, U. D. (2019). “The New Yam Festival and Igbo Cultural Identity.” Journal of African Cultural Studies, 31(3), 282-296.
4. Chukwu, J. C. (2018). “Traditional Igbo Religious Beliefs and Practices: The New Yam Festival.” Religious Studies Review, 44(3), 311-322.