By Kemi Kasumu
Yam is one of the staple food in Nigeria, though it is consumed by some at all times but to some it has a procedure which must be followed especially new ones before it is eaten. The celebration of the arrival of new yam is followed by a festival known as new yam festival that is I’ruji in the Igbo community language.
Although many communities in Nigeria have abandoned the festival because of the influence of western cultures on Africa especially Igbo land, but few are still doing that and one of such community that has resisted such foreign influence and is still celebrating the yam festival is the Achalla community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, South Eastern Nigeria.
The community, through the able leadership of its paramount ruler, Igwe Ezeoba Alex Nwokedi, a man who has traversed many places, held many positions in the country and values the importance of culture, has demonstrated to people the need to preserve their culture. Igwe Nwokedi’s love for the culture was demonstrated last week Monday 28th October 2019 when the entire community, paramount rulers, government officials, party men and women, friends and in-laws trooped out for the celebration of the 22nd annual Yam Festival of Uthoko Na Eze, the 23rd king of Achalla community at his palace.
Achalla, a serene community in Awka North Local Government, has beautiful cultural values which distinguish her from others in the East of Nigeria, an attribute they traced to Igala, in the present day Kogi State of the North that flaunts its cultural assets. The Yam Festival is a very big ceremony held annually as a forum for rekindling peace, unity and charting the way forward for the community and this year’s own was not an exception, especially as all hitherto conflicting quarters this year agreed to bury their hatchet and come together as one. All the villages under the kingdom of Igwe Nwokedi believe that there is neither progress, unity nor development in fighting and their coming together this year made the weeklong I’ruji 2019 edition more fantastically elaborate with glitters and fanfares.
This year’s festival was attended by Abuja politicians led by National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Ike Oye, who was conferred with a chieftaincy title. Member representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Chief Chinedu Onwuaso was also on ground to celebrate with the king and people of Achalla on their day.
Very early in the morning, the entire community was already agog with festivity as youths held massive demonstrations to herald the new Yam Festival. It was glamorous with different kinds of masquerades like the Isaka (the like of Lagos Igunu ko); Jele, Oganachi and others moving around the community.
According to investigation, the Oganachi masquerade is usually the first to come out four days to the king’s yam festival calling on the people of Achalla and the eight sub-communities under it that it was time for people to begin to eat yam.
“Oganachi takes place four days before Igwe festival that is taking place today. It happened in a big way calling on Achalla people that they can now eat new yam. After that, living title holders called Ozo-dindu do their own festival and the dead title holders (the Ozo-nwulaun) do their own the next day.”
After that, people kill goat for their dead fathers and mothers who were title holders but are dead. It is a must for everybody to do. It is general sacrifice that every affected person does. This is followed by another event when all men go and buy Ogodi-Igbaoku (gifts) for their wives showing appreciation to them for taking good care of them during the planting season.
After the preliminaries, the main occasion which is the celebration of the king’s yam festival took off with prepared roasted yam meal served with thickly vegetable soup. All occupants of and visitors to the palace are served no other food than the meal. After the morning meal that is of yam, cow is slaughtered to prepare pounded yam which is served in the afternoon. Thereafter, people trooped into the palace in groups each bearing big tubers of yam for presentation while paying homage to the paramount ruler.
The Owelle Achalla, Ogbuefi Joseph Ani, came in from Port Harcourt, Rivers State to partake in the festival this year like before. Later, the Igwe arrived at the main palace escorted by security mounted by officers and men of the Nigerian Police and members of the vigilante group of the local government. Upon arrival he walked into the meeting of the elders forum said to be the most senior of all group meetings in the community.
There he was welcomed and he addressed the meeting briefly and then moved unto the open place where the chiefs and visitors are already seated expecting the main celebration to start. Then various masquerade came each at its own turn and it was all festivity all through as the Igwe stood with the appearance of each masquerade, he dance to the Ikolo drum to the massive applaud by the people and the entire community joined him.
It was indeed a celebration well deserved as the various villagers, particularly a musician on band stand, danced and entertained their visitors.
