It is doubtful between the South-East part of Nigeria and South-South, who popularised the celebration of New Yam Festivals or who celebrates it more . In Cross River State, there is prevalence of the celebration across the central and northern parts of the state, which incidentally are neighbours to their South-Eastern brothers, the Igbos who, too, relish the celebration.
The prevalence might be because the entire geographical belt of these areas are fertile, especially in Cross River State, making agriculture a potential goldmine. These are areas where also you have vast forests, which the United Nations REDD+ programme reckons with.
Fertility of the soil has encouraged the people to look towards agriculture. Indeed, they make their livelihoods from the forests as hunters, cocoa and yam farmers. The country even ranks the state as the number two producer of cocoa after Ondo State.
Next to cocoa is the yam crop which the people regard as king of all crops. As a result of the high regard they accord this crop even to the point of worship, there is healthy competition to cultivate and harvest it. This brings about abundance of the crop in many parts of state, thereby boosting sufficiency and food security.
The people of these two senatorial districts as well as those in Biase and Akamkpa local government areas in the south, formally set aside special days in the two months of July and August every year, to celebrate and acknowledge what they see as the divine blessings of the Almighty upon them.
In August alone, there were four such remarkable celebrations. The most popular of them all is Leboku International Yam Festival, which MTN and the state government bankroll each year. The others are Obudu, Yala and Boki New Yam Festivals. These were marked with grandeur. And all usually attract the natives, farmers, both at home and in the diaspora., including tourists and guests.
These new yam celebrations in Cross River State is otherwise seen as their own Christmas that cannot be missed, according to a prominent indigene of the state Major General Moses B. Obi, (rtd) OON, former UN Force Commander – Sudan and South Sudan, who was chairman of this year’s Boki New Yam Festival.
Obi chaired the event in his capacity as head of Boki Socio-Cultural Organisation, known as Ochibe Boki.
He said “the new Yam festival is the most important festival in Boki, perhaps ranking ahead of Christmas. It usually heralds end of hunger and beginning of plenty” .
Obi said because Boki occupies the tropical rain forest of the present Cross River State with some of them in Cameroon and the forest is rich in the diversity of plants and animals ,therefore much of the population is engaged in agriculture, producing both food and cash crops. These include yam, cocoyam, plantain, banana, cassava, cocoa, pineapple, etc. “Of these, it is the yam that is regarded most highly and celebrated. Boki and the rest of the Old Ogoja are the real food baskets of the nation. This is why you see our yam sold as far as Onitsha and other places. Most of the plantain you see in the north comes from Boki. Our new Yam Day is usually the 18th of August yearly. Chinua Achebe may have been referring to the Boki New Yam Festival in his novel, Things Fall Apart”, he said.
However, Obi stated that traditionally, they, the Bokis, do not eat new yam until the New Yam Day. On this day, “we prepare pounded yam in abundance and are generous in entertainment to all.”
Two natives of Boki who are public servants, George Odok and Emmanuel Takim Obi said the annual event usually brings about reunion: “Our festival is always much-awaited. It is a cultural celebration meant to unite the people. It is also the celebration of the new yam for a bumber harvest.”
Leboku is one of the aboriginal festivals recognized worldwide as part of Cross River’s agro tourism drive, since it birthed during the regime of former governor Donald Duke.
Organisers of the prestigious annual International Leboku Festival say they have succeeded in using the attractive event to alter the image of the Yakurr local government area, and in particular the Ugep who suffered some level of profiling in former times.
The festival has also brought it international fame and recognition according to the newly installed Obol Lopon of the Ugep, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng who spoke at his Umor Otutu (name for palace of the Obol )before commencement of the festival.
The monarch, like many indigenes of the state who relish the celebration agree, new yam festivals bring them together, and give them new hope for prosperity and survival ,since human beings need food to live.
“During this period, we use it to bring forth our culture to the world. With the celebration, too, people can see us positively as no longer war-like but hospitable and accommodative”, he said.
He was happy that the event has tremendously impacted upon his people, especially the youth. And he stressed that it has brought in the private sector.
He lauded MTN for empowering 300 youths with cash to start up their own small scale businesses in the telecommunication line of businesses, adding that in 9 years youths in the area have gotten 27 cars.
At this year’s celebrations,which theme was Celebration of Peace , aptly coined to unite the warring Yakurr peoples, organisers and government used it to unveil three more tourist sites, including Edem Omini Akpa stone located in Ijiman of Ugep; Ekumiede Water Fall in Biokobioko; and the Leiwil Wettu Cool and warm spring.
Governor Ben Ayade said his government will do everything possible to sustain and add more socio-economic values to the new yam festivals in the state, because it has been recognised as a way of driving tourism, boosting economy and importantly uniting the people.
His special adviser on events, Mr. Kenn Anklah, said this year’s Festivals have further brought the state fame and boosts in different areas.
Mr. Anklah also stated that government would continue to create an enabling environment that will make room for youth participation and productivity.
Okuku, the commercial nerve centre of Yala Local Government area on August 30, 2016 witnessed their sons and daughters converge in their numbers to celebrate the annual new yam festival tagged “ celebrating Yam, king of tubers”. Major streets were closed and a mammoth crowd besieged the venue of the New yam celebration.
They used the occasion to honour seven distinguished Nigerians, including their deserving children.
The Adamoche 1 of Yala, and paramount ruler , HRM, Ogamode Onah Ipuole conferred them with traditional titles, for their various contributions to the development of the society and mankind.
Chairman of this year’s Yala New Yam festival celebration, former military administrator of Rivers State and ex-minister of information, General Anthony Ukpo, said the essence of the event ought to appeal to the federal government to doubly emphasise and encourage all Nigerians to return to the farm. He said because the people of the state have no oil, they are turning agriculture into gold.
Also in August, Ibos resident in the state who themselves are also known for celebrating New Yam festival otherwise called “Iri ji’’ , converged in Calabar. Under the auspices of Afikpo Town Welfare Association (ATWA), Calabar branch, they displayed their culture and love for the revered crop.
President general of the association, Sir Clement Oti said they annually come together to give thanks and appreciate the Almighty who gives them increase, not only in their farms but also in their daily endeavours.
According to him, the Ibos, too, give high regard to the celebration which event, too, they use to empower the less privileged and recognise the hard working and deserving members.
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