The Yam Is Full of Ancestral And Spiritual Wisdom
We all have that one dish that makes our mouths water and warms our spirits just thinking about it. Our cultural food staples hold generations of historical and spiritual wisdom. Just look at the humble yam.
In Nigeria yams are a sacred food staple, representing fertility, abundance, and wealth.
Yam farming is ceremonial, from blessing the seeds to loud drumming and singing at the annual new yam harvest festival, “Iri ji.”
An entire village will gather for the Iri ji festival. Yams are presented to deities, ancestors, and the eldest man in the village, honoring his role as the intermediary between the living and dead.
Everyone cooks elaborate dishes celebrating the yams' versatility. After the feast, the remaining yams are divided among the community.
Igbo families take great pride in their yam barns. A large yam barn signifies success and the ability to provide for one's family and community.
It used to be that when an Igbo man showed interest in marrying his love, her father’s first question to him was, “How big is your yam barn?”
Yams were brought from West Africa to the Americas on slave ships, providing sustenance and familiarity to our ancestors in the new world they’d been forced into.
Not to be confused with candied sweet potatoes, yams continue to be a food staple for our community today.
While some of our traditional customs have been lost, the act of gathering to make delicious food and honor our ancestors and community, has not.
What’s your favorite dish to make for community?
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