Amb Ayegba Abdullahi Adojoh, Historian Izoduwa Amowie Imasuen, Dr Omede Abdul Solomon and Amb Valentine Opaluwa Ejeh
The aim of this research is to carry out a comparative study of the new yam festivals in Igala kingdom of Kogi state and Benin kingdom of Edo state, using interview and observation methods. The results showed that though both Igala and Benin Kingdoms celebrate new yam festival which began from time immemorial, the methods of celebration are different in some aspects. While roasted yam is used in Igala kingdom of Kogi state, pounded yam is used in Benin kingdom of Edo state; while that of Benin is done immediately after the Oba has completed a seven-day fasting in seclusion, that of Igala does not involve fasting by the Attah or any Chief; new yam festival is called Iyalo Igala in Igala kingdom while it is called Em’orho in Benin kingdom, etc. However, there are some similarities in the practices in the two Kingdoms such as; the two kingdoms forbid eating new yam before the festival is done. In both kingdoms, yellow yam is used for the feast instead of the white yam. Also, the festival is celebrated in both kingdoms to thank the gods of the land, the ancestors and God almighty for the protections during the farming period, the blessings so far on the people, and for the good harvest from the farms. It was concluded from the results that, the new yam festival in Igala and Benin kingdoms have some differences as well as many similarities. It was recommended that clan heads and/or traditional rulers in Igala land and Benin land whose people practice yam farming should celebrate the yam festival in order to attract more blessings to the land as it is the way of appreciating the ancestors and God almighty for the good harvest. This recommendation is extended to towns and people of Benin or Igala descent in various states outside Edo or Kogi state, including those outside Nigeria.
Ancestors, Benin, Em’ orho, Igala, Iyalo, Thanksgiving