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IGBO NEW YAM FESTIVAL 2017 NOTTINGHAM - By Edwin Ubah
On the 13th August 2017, The Igbo Union Nottingham celebrated our 6th annual New Yam Festival. Delegates
included the Mayor of Nottingham, Mr Michael Edward’s, Igbo Union Chairman and Chief Dr Emeka Illione
(Ojimaeguaku. The Union’s Cultural Group and the women dance troupe entertained the guests.
We are in celebration season! August
to October are a time to celebrate
harvesting season in Igbo land, south
Eastern Nigeria. Igbo communities,
at home and in the Diaspora, have
been celebrating New Yam Festival
for many years.
Yam is one of the most valued crops
by the Igbo as they believe it played
a great historic role in the survival
of Igbo communities during periods
of famine. During the festival, yam is
used to symbolise harvest. It is the
first crop to be harvested because of
its prominence in the social-cultural
lives of Igbo people. The night before
the beginning of the festival, old yams
are eaten or discarded so that the
new year may begin with tasty fresh
yams. The new year is celebrated
with a feast of only yam dishes!
As the New Yam Festival comes in
the midst of Black History Month, I
call upon everyone to join hands in
developing a joint celebration of the
two events thereby strengthening
community cohesion and in the
City and beyond. We should also
endeavour to organise events that
enable people to gain knowledge and
understanding of our shared history.