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As it’s already well known, Igbo people celebrate kola nut. They also celebrate new yam. These are two major elements of culture that have resisted the invasion of modernity. Like a new bride, they have continued to enjoy pure adoration among the Igbo. And no month is better suited to showcase these two customs than August, a period when Ndigbo at home and abroad usually commune with their ancestors.
This was what happened last weekend at Isuofia, the hometown of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State. Whether you call it ‘iri ji’ (eating of new yam) or ‘iwa ji’ (cutting of new yam), they all mean the same thing – New Yam festival. And the best adjective to describe what happened this year is, ‘eclectic’.
L-R: Onowu Isuofia, Chief Ndubuisi Osele; Traditional ruler of Isuofia, Igwe CAO Muoghalu and Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, at the 2024 New Yam festival of Isuofia on Saturday, August 24, 2024.
The festival was heralded by what is known in local parlance as ‘igwa aka ji’. This simply means checking to see whether the old yam seed has given birth to a mature new one. Yes, the people concerned confirmed that the new yam was ripe. Thus, those responsible for ‘ikpo ji’ (display of yam) in the town’s central market square, Afuzo, did that with pomp on Thursday, August 22, 2024. This particular event was ceremonial as the displayed new yam was not meant to be sold.
In the midst of these events, something happened. A kola nut was broken in one of the villages. It turned out to have six lobes. This engendered serious discussion on the town’s WhatsApp platform about the meaning or significance of different kola nut lobes in Igbo tradition. A kola nut with one lobe is said to be dumb kola known in Igbo as (Oji Ogbi) or kola nut of the spirit (Oji Mmuo). From different accounts, this one-lobe kola nut is not meant to be eaten by human beings because it purportedly belongs to the spirit. Kola nut with two lobes can be eaten but it is not used for any cultural or traditional event in Igbo land. It is called ‘Oji Gworo’, the type Hausa people eat. Kola nut with three lobes is called ‘Oji Ikenga’. It is said to be for warriors or titled people. Some people believe that kola nut with three lobes is not meant to be shared, as doing that may mean sharing your bravery or fortune with others.
The kola nut with four lobes signifies peace and blessings (Oji Udo or Oji Ngozi). It represents the four market days in Igbo land (Eke, Orie, Afo and Nkwo.) This kola nut can be eaten by anybody, both male and female. The kola nut with five lobes signifies procreation (Oji Omumu) or progress and wealth (Oji sirili werere) and can also be shared and eaten by everybody.
There was confusion in interpreting the import of kola nut with six lobes. To some people, this kola nut signifies crisis (Oji Okwunuka) and should be thrown away and never eaten. Some others see it as the kola nut of the ancestors (Oji Ndi Ichie) or covenant kola nut (Oji Ogbugbandu). Some say though it signifies crisis, one of the lobes is used to pray against evil or calamitous happenings, after which it is thrown to the ancestors. It can also be used for oath taking.
Kola nut with seven lobes and above is unique. It is known as kola nut of celebration (Oji Mmemme). This one is not shared or eaten. It is kept aside for an elaborate celebration on a later day. For instance, in November 2020, at the inauguration of one of Governor Soludo’s support groups, Soludo Promoters Forum (SPF), at Igbo-Ukwu, a town in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, a kola nut with seven lobes was discovered. That kola nut was later celebrated at the inauguration of SPF, Isuofia chapter, on January 1, 2021.
The discussion about kola nut ebbed away on Friday when the traditional ruler of Isuofia, Igwe (Col) Christopher A. Muoghalu (retd), celebrated new yam in his palace. Resplendent in his royal regalia, Muoghalu and his Ndi Ichie (cabinet members) ushered in the activities of the day with some royal dance steps. There were different cultural and masquerade displays. The highlight of the day was the conferment of chieftaincy titles on six illustrious sons of the town. They are the Managing Director of Anambra State Housing Development Corporation, Hon. Chike Anyaonu; Abuja-based lawyer, Barrister Kris Okey Muo; Angola-based businessman, Coleman Nwafor; Sir Moses Anakebe, Mr. Ndubuisi Okoye and Ichie Alphonsus Nwankwo.
The following day, being Saturday, August 24, 2024, it was the turn of the whole town to celebrate new yam. There were different side attractions. But the main highlight of the occasion was the conferment of chieftaincy title of ‘Mmili Guru Egu’ (cool and calm water) on the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Dr. (Mrs) Nonye Soludo. It was unique in the sense that it was the first time in modern history that a woman would be so honoured with such a chieftaincy title in the community. An illustrious son of the town, Mr Patrick Ndubuisi, further electrified the arena with a donation of 13 tricycles, two shuttle buses and one open truck for some persons from different communities like Ekwulobia, Nanka, Oko, Igbo-Ukwu and Amesi, all in Anambra State. He also gave out cash gifts of N300,000 to 42 persons, N1 million to one person and N500,000 to selected persons from different communities in the state. Torrents of prayers were said for him.
It is pertinent to note that some people still believe that certain rites performed during the new yam festival are fetish. Masquerade display is one of them. Incidentally, unlike in the days of yore, some of these cultural practices have been modernized or reformed. Igwe Muoghalu explained this phenomenon better during the New Yam festival of Isuofia in 2019.
He said: “Celebration of the feast of New Yam is deeply rooted in ancient Igbo culture, fore-grounded in the belief that yam is the king of all crops. And to underscore its prominence among all other crops, the feast of New Yam is celebrated to thank the gods of good harvest. Being an important event in the calendar of Igbo race throughout the world, it is very important to state that contrary to misrepresentation by religious zealots, the new yam festival has nothing to do with fetishistic and diabolic practices. It is simply the Igbo traditional way of thanking God for giving them the opportunity to plant and reap.”
The same illusion of paganism has continued to trail initiation into the prestigious Nze na Ozo society in many parts of Igbo land. Hitherto, an initiate must undergo certain pagan rituals. As an Ozo title-holder myself, I can say that there is no such thing anymore. Some ardent Christians and even senior priests are members now. That is why culture is said to be dynamic. This notwithstanding, some wives and mothers still kick against their husbands or sons being initiated into the Nze na Ozo society.
In all, what should be uppermost in our minds is how to explore ways of making money from some of our cultural festivals. Argungu Fishing festival in Kebbi State and Osun-Osogbo festival in Osun State are typical examples. In 2019, about one million tourists from different parts of the world witnessed Osun-Osogbo festival. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) had since listed Osun-Osogbo groove among its world’s heritage sites. Old Anambra State started ‘mmanwu’ festival in 1986. It lasted for some years and attracted many tourists to the state. Today, it has fizzled out. This year, the Federal Government of Nigeria spent N90 billion to subsidize Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. While we visit Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem for our pilgrimage, we should also think of doing something that will attract foreigners to embark on some form of pilgrimage to Nigeria as well. That will earn us some hard currency.
Congratulations, Rev. Fr. Obinna Agu
In line with the celebratory mood of the Isuofia people, my kinsman, Rev. Father Obinna Agu, celebrated the silver jubilee anniversary of his priesthood on Sunday, August 25, 2024. The occasion, which was ably organized by Obinna’s elder brother, Chief Okey Agu, was attended by people from all walks of life. This is to congratulate Obinna, who is based in Canada, on attaining this milestone. May God give him more strength to continue to fish in His vineyard. Congratulations!
Re: Parable of Tinubu’s wristwatch
Casmir, Shettima is a smart alec! He is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians. But, why did he cry more than the bereaved? Tinubu has never hidden the fact that he is ‘a man of fortune’. The only snag is the ‘how’ of ‘the fortune’. To most, this govt is the sadist type. It derives pleasure out of inflicting pains on the masses. Shettima obviously thinks he has the remote control of the brains of Nigerians in his hands – a reason for appealing to sentiments! They expect the masses to laugh for increasing our anguish. No way! He tried turning the table against the poor citizens rather than the poor Tinubu. What a joke taken too far! Garri taken with groundnut is no longer a poor man’s food. It costs more than N1,000 to take it satisfactory – sugar inclusive plus sachets of water. Shettima’s paradoxical statements of comparing his lifestyles with that of Tinubu is hogwash and won’t sell in the public court! It only reveals why corruption is high amongst public officers. The urge to have the best cars (SUV), houses, clothes, wristwatches, etc, makes them steal from our common patrimony or treasury for their use and children’s children. They forget that ‘all is vanity upon vanity’.
