Tell your story#11: The new yam fastival of our town (Nnewi)

Introduction

Hello friends 👋,how are you all doing, hope you are all doing great ,as you cam see am so excited to join in this contest (Tell your story #11) organized by @ruthjoe

And today I want to share a story of how we celebrated our new yam fastival

The New Yam Festival is an important festival that is celebrated all over the Anambra State.

It is celebrated at different times in each town every year before the new yams are eaten.

In our town Nnewi , we usually celebrated our own New Yam festival on august every year.

And this year's own,we start at 28 august ending it on 30th

Everyone looks forward to this great day because the celebration of this new Yam festival brings joy and promotes a communal lifestyle among the people.

The origin of the festival dates back to the times of our forefathers, when yams were seen as the most important crops, and anyone that had a huge barn was seen as an important person in the society.

Before New Year, we are eating our forefathers wounds and offering sacrifices to the earth goddess for her generosity and protection. Today, however, the majority of the people are Christians, and Thanksgiving services are held in the church to thank God for the new yam festival.

The preparation starts weeks before the new yam festival pathways are cleared by men and youth, compounds are tidied, and bushy trees are cut down.

Some people beautify their houses in readyness for the occasion, as many visitors expect women to do their hair in the latest hairstyle.

the palm wine tappers Get ready because a lot of palm wine is usually needed for the occasion. Invitation cards are sent to friends and relatives.

On the festival day, the celebration starts off with Thanksgiving services in various churches. The new yam are blessed and are now ready to be eaten. After the service, everyone goes home to get ready for the celebration.

The woman and daughters are the busiest people on these days, as they spend hours pounding already cooked yam and prepare delicious vegetable soup that goes with it. The elders and the young men in every compound roast the new yam as the women are cooking.

My family preparing for the celebration

The roasted yams are eaten with fresh red palm oil and washed down with fresh palm wine. Also, "ubga," known as African salad, made from oil bean seeds, is another important delicacy that is eaten on this day.

I thinks my family is one of the families that enjoy the new yam fastival

My grandfather is an expert in preparing this wonderful sweet and delicious delicacy, "Ugba," so delicious that you won't stop eating it until the whole is finished.

My grandfather is usually the in charge of this particular meal beacuse he can prepare it very well

My sweet grandfather being in charge	sweet delicacy

As the woman is cooking, the guests start arriving one after the order and are welcomed by the young men and heads of the families.
My father is particularly the one welcoming them

They are usually friends, relatives, and marriagedaughters and their husbands and children.

As for me all I did is to capture every single thing or event that happens

After the cooking, the guest feasted on ponded yam and vegetable "ugba" and the roasted yam and palm wine.A lot of food is also reserved for the guests at Village Square; everyone has enough to eat and drink.

Towards evening time, everyone goes to the village square for the last phase of the celebration.

Me,my brother and my big sister	Me

• As we are prepared to go to the village square,my sister took the picture without my notice, so i decided to take mine separately

Here the elders take their seat at the high table and pray before they roasted yam are eating; everyone in the area is given his own cheer of roasted yam. Men and women who are to be honored are honored.

The elders	The youth

Afterward, the young men do women dance traditional dances to entertain the guests.

The popular "iyom" is also a sight to behold on this occasion.

The guests thrill the guests with their wonderful dance steps and their songs
through which they condemn the evils in their society. Women also"oyerem" dance, a very captivating dance that praises woman and their motherhood.

We were also entertained by masquerades, which dance and makes everybody happy

The gathering at the village square offers everyone the opportunity to see friends and relatives, some of whom they might not have seen for a whole year.

The new young festival in our town is a very important festival that everyone loves and looks forward to. It gives the people the opportunity to come together and learn about and protect their culture.

Indeed, Nnewi is a place to be during the New Year festival, and I always enjoy that day to the fullest

Thanks for reading 🥰

I will love to Invites @ngoenyi , @steemqueeen and @goodybest to join in this great contest

It is still me @meeky3 ,my regards to our great mom @ruthjoe