Agriculture as rebirth and renewal; the Yam Festival

The Yam Festival is an important cultural event celebrated in many West African communities. Traditionally, it occurs at the end of the rainy season when yams are ready for harvest. Yams hold a special place in West African cultures as they are considered the main staple food crop and a symbol of abundance and fertility in many communities. In the novel Things Fall Apart for example, Chinua Achebe build’s a lot of Okonkwo’s personality around his ability to become a good yam farmer, which is a sure sign of his strength as well as his ability to keep a family together.  

Yam festivals are also a way for communities to express gratitude for the bountiful harvest and to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the farmers. People are happy to dress in their best attire, celebrate life and just relax, knowing that a lot of the hard work that went into filling the barns and granaries is done. In many areas, the festival culminates in wrestling tournaments, dance competitions and even weddings.

Different parts of Africa give importance to different aspects of their history and socialisation. In Nigeria, for example, the Iri Ji Ohu involves feasting, dancing, music, traditional dress, and the offering of yam tubers to the gods and ancestors. The Igwe plays a central role in overseeing the festivities and ensuring that the rituals are carried out in accordance with tradition. He leads the prayers and oversees the blessing of the yams before the explosion of joy and dancing begins.

Villagers present their best yams to the village chief, who offers them to the gods in a ceremony filled with prayers and blessings. This ritual is believed to bring a bountiful harvest in the coming year. That is how all festivals start: people project themselves into the future before they celebrate in the present.

In Ghana, the Homowo festival is also an opportunity for many communities to give thanks and celebrate. On the day of the yam festival, villagers gather to cook a special yam dish, known as "etele," which is made with mashed yams and palm oil. This dish is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the community. After the cooking is complete, the entire village people dress in traditional clothing and adorn themselves with colorful beads and jewelry. Drummers and dancers entertain the crowd with energetic performances that celebrate the harvest season.

The Yam Festival highlights the importance of agriculture, community, spirituality, and heritage in these cultures. It also serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of humans with nature and the need to respect and protect the environment for future generations.

However, the Yam Festival also faces challenges in the modern world, such as the impact of climate change, and urbanization. As societies evolve and adapt to changing circumstances, the Yam Festival has become for many just an opportunity to see one’s favourite traditional dances again. This is especially true for people who move to different cities or countries for work. In such contexts, there is no longer a need or opportunity to work the land. For such people, the Yam festival is the kind of origins and renewal story that keeps the tribe together. Metaphorically, if coming together to celebrate new harvests also serves to celebrate and renew relationships, then Yam Festivals continue to have their raison d’être in wider society.  

However, many parents still find it important to send all their children to the village at the approach of such events, ensuring in this way, that they get to experience the values and traditions that built those communities.