By Ihuoma Jennifer Metuaghan
NCMM, Abuja
October 27, 2025
Introduction
The new yam festival marks the end of the farming calendar which is followed up by a bumper harvest which is celebrated in style and fashion by the Ibeku Egwu Asaa people.
The Origin and Commencement (Iwa Ji)
In Ibeku land the new yam festival starts at the EGWU IBEKU. Which is an important site for the celebration of the iriji. A ceremony called Iwa ji proceeds iriji. The iwaji is carried out at the EGWU IBEKU while the authority to eat and celebrate in the different villages that make up the EGWU ASAA on their different market days is given by the traditional ruler of the Ibeku ancient kingdom.
The EGWU IBEKU houses the shrines of the Ibeku people and major issues concerning Ibeku land are discussed there.
Significance of the Festival
The iriji festival is the most celebrated of all festivals in Ibeku ancient kingdom. The ceremony is second to none and the most rated. It promotes unity in the land and even extends to non indigenous people dwelling among them. It therefore promotes cordial relationships.
The celebration to the Ibeku people marks the celebration of survival from hunger from the previous year to the time of harvesting.
The main reason why the Ibeku people attach much importance to this celebration is because yam is seen and regarded as the king of all crops planted each year in the farms. It is also called the crop of men planted by men and stored in yam barns. The size of barns and the quantity of yams stored in it to a reasonable extent determines the strength and capacity of the man or head of household.
Rituals and Ceremonies
The activities that are carried out during the Iwa Ji is the beating of the Ikoro a wooden instrument.
Cola nuts are broken in line with tradition and pouring of libation to the gods for keeping Ibeku people from the beginning of the farming period to the end to witness another new yam festival and for bountiful harvest.
Men, women youths and teenagers gather at the EGWU to dance and celebrate while the traditional things are done after which the people greatly rejoice and dance to the official authorization for the villages to go ahead to eat and celebrate the festival.
New Yam Festival Village by Village in Ibeku Land
After the Iwa Ji Ibeku (Igbo eriale ji) the different EGWU will start observing their new yam festival.
Ibeku is made up of seven EGWU namely:
- Eke
- Afarata
- Afaraukwu
- Amaoforo
- Emede
- Ossah
- Ndume.
All the EGWU has villages that make them up for example, Eke which is the first in Ibeku has six villages namely:
- Ajata Isieke
- Ukome
- Umuajiji
- Ihie
- Okwuta
- Okwoyi.
The day for the iriji celebration is known from the market day which they trade. Example it can be nkwo ukwu or nkwo nta. So every village knows it’s market day.
Preparations and Feasting
On that day the women are made to do what is called ihi ama or iza ama. This is translated as sweeping the community square. The men clear the community road or roads as the case maybe but that is done some days before the celebration day. The community looks so clean and well tidied.
The youths build there boots with rafia palms and in it are ekpete which are locally made musical instruments which are used for the celebration.
Families prepare very well for the ceremony because it attracts visitors, inlaws, friends and well wishes.
Food Prepared
Food like yams are cooked in different shades. It can be Yam pepper soup or yam porridge, some do roasted yam and prepare a special source for it called ngo. Rice either jallof or stew are prepared. Ugba or oil bean seed is being prepared with stock fish or dries meat which is a must for families because of its significance.
Garden eggs and biter colas drinks of all makes are provided for entertainment. The garden eggs, bitter cola, cola nuts and ugba are used to welcome the visitors so they are served first. Then latter other forms of food.
In Ibeku land there is a traditional soup called ofe ukazi which will be a accompanied by achara and balls of Mellon called akpuruakpu egusi. It is being eaten with either fufu (cassava) or Garri.
Drinks Served
Lots of drink are made available for the guests. Palm wine which is traditional drink, hot or snapps and beer are served. Non alcoholic drinks are also served. Water is giving to whosoever needs. It is always a ceremony to remember.
The Grand Dance (Igba Ekpe)
After entanglement the guests so come out to the community square called Ama for a traditional dance which is the Hallmark of the occasion. It is called Igba Ekpe.
Igba Ekpe is a special dance with a known beat pattern same sound from village to village. The youths, women and men will tie their traditional cloth called George usually red and white colour with their cap called okpu egwurugwu (same as the one usually won by ohafia war dance group).
The dance gets hotter and hotter as the day goes down. People dance and dance until there will be a song they sing and dance and will start saying mbiara mbia bia lawaoo meaning that visitors should start going oooo at that point the tempo is highest. The players and dancers are into another realm which is powered by excess drinking and dancing.
The dancing continues until it is dark and people gradually disperse because of darkness.
It attracts exchange of gifts. Money, some inlaws will come with goats chickens cow rubbers of yam Turney and wine of different makes to celebrate and thank God for the bumper harvest witnessed and for successfully ending the farming season.
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