THE TRANSFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NEW YAM FESTIVAL IN CONTEMPORARY IGBO SOCIETY OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The Igbo as one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria has a unifying factor or group identity they all commonly subscribe to. And new yam festival celebration is one of the main tenets that are shared by all Igbo-speaking people, although in matters of participation, it remains locally organized. The festival is so significant that it is linked to the Igbo agricultural calendar and the ritualization of the celebration by honouring the god of yam and offering of prayers to it for a bountiful harvest. However, with the emergence of western education, Christianity and the development of urban centres, the celebration of the new yam festival got transformed and modified, although, the ceremony is still a strong tool for group integration, identity and cohesion. The aim of this study is to assess the historical transformation of yam and yam festival in some selected communities in Igboland, examine the contemporary relevance of the festival and the modifications that occurred as a result of the influence of western culture. Basically, the study is qualitative; therefore, oral tradition and written sources were utilized. The findings of the study reveal that new yam festival celebration among the Igbo is a dynamic culture that responds positively to both change and continuity which led to its continuous relevance and appeal. Thus, the study concludes by recommending constant reforms of the festival celebration and the partnership of the Igbo communities with different tier of governments in order for the festival to continue to serve as an instrument of social cohesion among the people.A