Mbaise folks in Sokoto celebrate New Yam Festival in style
From TUNDE OMOLEHIN, Sokoto
Wednesday, November 09 , 2011
Mbaise elders performing the rites
Photo: Sun Publishing

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Indigenes of Mbaise, resident in Sokoto, recently celebrated this year’s New Yam feast in grand style. They also launched their maiden magazine, The Mbaise people in Sokoto at the Immigration Command Training School in Sokoto.

Mbaise is a clan found in today’s Owerri Federal Senatorial Zone of Imo State of Nigeria. They live in the rain forest belt area of southern Nigeria, comprising Agbaja, Ahiara, Ekwereazu, Ezinihitte and Oke-Avuru. The community is bounded by Owerri, Mbaitoli, Ikeduru, Mbano, Etiti, Isiala-Ngwa and Ngor-Okpuala Local Government Areas.

The people, who are described as the most populous homogenous clan in Africa, were predominantly farmers but are mostly educated, while entertainment and artistry remain their greatest industries till date.

On the D-day, some indigenes of the community had travelled from far and near to join their kinsmen in celebration, identifying with their kith and kin and demonstrating their uniqueness of indivisibility, procreative, peace and harmony on the occasion.

The rites of new yam festival in the olden days were usually declared by the chief priest of the community who would sacrifice the yam to the goddess of farmland in thanksgiving for the people to start consuming. But that has changed in modern times to some extent. It is usually performed in a different manner due to the advent of Christianity and the civilisation.

While performing the rites, the chief priest, represented by Mazi Polycarp Anaeme, read some incantations in thanksgiving to Almighty God. He cut a roasted yam and followed that with the breaking of kolanuts for the consumption of the people in attendance.

Speaking at the occasion, chairman of the management committee, Chief John Chilaka said: “Iri ji Mbaise had its origin and evolution from the ancestral period and has become an event to be remembered by the awareness of oral tradition from the stories told by the forefathers.”
According to him, “this specie (type of yam) could be cut-off early, leaving the head underground. That would later grow and produce tuber for consumption while some are reserved for the next planting season.”

He further said: “The people have survived over the years through the bumper harvest of yam. Therefore, in thanksgiving to God, this wonder of nature calls for a special celebration as a day has been set aside for eating of the new yam. That is what we are demonstrating today in line with the launching of our maiden magazine to further express the cultural heritage of our community-Mbaise.”

In his speech, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Julius Dike expressed satisfaction over the package of the magazine. He commended the organizers of the festival for coming out with a magazine that contained the historical contents of the clan and also urged the people to use their valuable heritage to promote peace and unity in the state they found themselves.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the community in Sokoto, Engineer Hillary Anyanwu said the new yam feast in the state was aimed at showcasing the huge cultural values that Mbaise people are known for, adding that “this is a unique annual event celebrated at home on the 15th of August, every year.”
According to him, “this community comprises Agbaja, Ahiara, Ekwereazu, Ezinihite and Oke-uvuru, an entity clan that makes up three local government areas called Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, and Ezinihitte Mbaise. We are known as the most populous homogenous clan in Africa.”

Also, author of the magazine, Sir Imo Casmir Chibuzo, a lecturer with Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnics, Birnin Kebbi, described the people of the community as progressive, proactive, predominant and prominent in all sphere of life. “We celebrate life and without any fear of contradiction, our greatest industries include procreation, education and entertainment.”

Chief launcher at the event, Chief Athan Keke (Ogbuefi I of Mbaise) made a donation of N250, 000 to declare the fund raising of the magazine open. He, however, encouraged the people of the community to always show their generosity in order to sustain the existence of the magazine.

Those that graced the occasion include the Igbo Community President-General, Chief Matthew Chukwu as well as the Presidents of the five south-east states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. Others were the representative of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Igbo Community Presidents-General (Emeritus), Chief Innocent Udeh, Prince Emma Eze and other dignitaries, among others.

The whole concept, according to the organisers, was to express the rich cultural heritage and social activities of Mbaise community and how much the people still reckon with their values till date. The occasion was glamorized by cultural dancers of Abigbo and Ekere-Avu.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/citysun/2011/nov/09/citysun-09-11-2011-002.html

Sokoto is far.