There used to be a tradition in which many communities across the 36 states in Nigeria use to celebrate every year and it is called NEW YAM FESTIVAL, though it is mostly celebrated in the Easter part of Nigeria and even for the fact I didn't grow up there I still see people celebrate here in southwest part and it is used to be very interesting, it a celebration of new harvest of yam and it means a lot to me because it celebrated on August, September and October ranges from one community to another.
This tradition is really special to me because it represent, blessings from God because YAM is not ordinary food here in our culture, it a sign of wealth because we believe it is a kings of all cultivation and therefore there must be a celebration for new harvest every year to thank God for the blessings of the crop with happiness and rejoicing.
The day of the festival is always beautiful an colourful in accordance with each community culture and styles,the community gathers together, dressed in traditional attires. There is music, drumming, and dancing that fills the whole place with joy. The elders or the king (depending on the community) are usually the first to taste the yam. They pray, bless the land, and thank God for the harvest. After that, the new yam is roasted, pounded, or cooked in different ways for everyone to eat.
This is a very interesting and beautiful celebration that brings everyone together the rich, the poor, the old and the young, everyone is just happy eating together, united, shared meals, laugh and dance and the most lovely is every visitors are welcome regardless of your race or where you come from, you will be served till you full or reject that am not eating again.
It is always been done because it is a form of appreciation to God that the land is fruitful for the year and also mark the beginning of new season and also remind us how farming has been aeans of survival to the community.
Even with modernization of today, people still travel from city to villages for this festival because it makes them who they are, their source of becoming what they are now, they still go to celebrate and I also give all my chance to be there to celebrate every year.
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