New Yam Festival

The Ilamo people perform the new yam festival with pomp and pageantry between July and August each year.

A few days before the festival, the palace chiefs will call on all farmers in the town to contribute some new yam harvest from their farm cultivation.

On the eve of the festival, the new yams are gathered at the farm gate where prayers are offered and there is light communal refreshments of drinks and kolanuts. Also on the eve, preparation is made for the feasting that will take place the following day , During the festival, special vegetables and okra soups are prepared with plenty of fish and meat, drinks are also put on the standby.

The Oloris (the King's wives) and other women, gorgeously dressed with their hair plaited with beads, and also with beads around their arms and necks, move in a procession from the farm gates  to the Alamo's palace; carrying the yams deposited at the farm gates. 

At dawn on the day of the festival, the Alamo ceremonially eats the new yam (as pounded yam) . He is joined by his chiefs, members of the community, friends, well-wishers and guests who dine and wine with the Oba in grand get-together. The Agere drum special, highly cherished and rarely used is beaten on this occasion accompanied by myriad of slangs and songs by the oloris and other women.

They use the occasion to showcase the cultural descent and resourcefulness of the Ilamo people. On the occasion, the Alamo wears a beaded crown and offers prayers to his ancestors for their protection, continued blessings, and productivity of the people. This is followed by cultural dances led by the Alamo and rotated amongst the Iwarefa ( six kingmakers), and other chiefs with the appropriate and befitting slangs and songs.