Usually from early August, depending on the community
Igbo communities in south-eastern Nigeria and Igbo communities around the world.
Give thanks for the harvest, share dishes of new yam, watch dances and masquerades, and gather with family.
Iri ji: eating the new yam (Igbo)
Yam has long been the most important staple crop in traditional Igbo society, and its harvest is a moment of celebration. The New Yam Festival, known by names such as Iri ji or Iri ji ọhụrụ, “eating the new yam”, marks the end of the rainy season and the first harvest of yams. Traditionally, newly harvested yams are not eaten until the community has held the festival rites, which may be performed by the traditional ruler, the Igwe, or by the eldest man in the community. The festival expresses gratitude for a good harvest and renews the community’s bonds. Many families now combine it with Christian thanksgiving, and practices differ widely from one community to the next.
Preparations begin with the new moon in August, but the timing and customs vary by community. On the day, the first yams are offered and blessed in a ceremony; the yam used for the main ritual is usually roasted and served with palm oil. The feast that follows centres on dishes of yam, a sign of the harvest’s abundance. Celebrations bring together music, cultural dances by men, women and younger community members, masquerade performances, fashion parades and contemporary shows. People who live in cities or abroad often travel home for the festival, and Igbo communities in other countries hold their own New Yam celebrations.
Above all, the festival is a time to give thanks, share food and celebrate with family and neighbours.
Celebrate the harvest at home:
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New Yam Festivals are community events, and each has its own customs and dates. If you are invited, follow your hosts’ lead, greet elders respectfully and ask before photographing ceremonies or masquerades, as some are considered sacred.
There is no single date. Each community chooses its own, often in August, after the first yams are harvested.
Yam has long been the main staple crop in traditional Igbo farming, so its harvest is a moment of thanksgiving and celebration.
It is centred on Igbo communities in south-eastern Nigeria, but Igbo communities around the world also hold their own celebrations.
