A Historical Assessment of New Yam Festival in Etche Nationality

This study is a historical assessment of New Yam Festival in the context of the cultural history of Afara-Etche ethnic nationality, with a particular focus on the period between 1970 to 2000. The New Yam Festival, a cornerstone of cultural expression and communal cohesion in many African societies, provides a lens for the examination of the transformations, continuities, and adaptations of tradition in a rapidly changing world, with recourse to the Afara-Etche people of Etche ethnic nationality in Rivers State. The research draws upon a diverse range of sources, including oral narratives, archival materials, and scholarly works, and cultural studies. Dwelling on this, the study placed particular focus on the socio-economic effects as well as the impact of modernization and westernization on the celebration of the New Yam Festival among the Afara-Etche people. By delving into the dynamics of the New Yam Festival during the periods under consideration, the study seeks to uncover the intricate interplay between tradition and modernity. In doing so, the study also provides a leeway into the history of Afara-Etche people stressing their cultural origin and uniqueness amidst the myriad of cultures in Rivers State. The study particularly argued that the New Yam Festival occupies the peak of cultural celebration among the Afara-Etche people, determining their social, economic and political realities. Also, that westernization, in the form of Christianity and modernisation, negatively influenced the celebration of the festival, culminating in its recession in the contemporary Afara-Etche. The study, therefore, recommended that, inasmuch as the festival is a significant aspect of the tradition of the people, it should be purged of the influence of westernization, rather, should place importance on the generational value of such indigenous culture and tradition peculiar to the people.