The Igede people are a Sub-Saharan people found majorly in Oju and Obi, and fairly in Konshisha and Gwer Local Government Areas of Benue State and Yala Local Government of Cross River State of Nigeria. Their major preoccupation is farming and hunting. They are a minority tribe in the Benue belt, traditionally rule by the first class chief- ADIRAHU IGEDE.
The Igedes had their own traditions before the advent of colonialism and Christianity which has greatly influenced their way of life, with a high percentage of them practicing the Christian faith, while little of them predominantly elders practice their traditional religion.
Amidst eroding cultures and traditions due to the interaction with Western civilization in many parts of Africa, the Igede people continually maintained some aspects of their culture, one of which is the annual Igede Agba or called by some as New Yam Festival. This annual festival is celebrated to mark the beginning of the harvest period. Igede Agba is a unique and cyclic festival that comes up every first Ihyigile market day in the month of September. According to the Igede calendar, September is her seventh “moon or month”, a very special number they believe signifies completion. The activities at Igede Agba include eating of pounded yam, cultural music, dancing and other forms of cultural displays. The occasion also witnesses the drinking of locally brewed drinks from millet and guinea corn called Apyoo, Ogbete, Oburukutu, Ogene and others with different degree of alcoholic and non-alcoholic content. Palm wine is also served during the festival.
According to oral tradition, Agba is the ancestral father of the Igede people. Agba was also said to be fond of a musical instrument called “Ogede”. From there the name Igede probably came from. The Igede people are believed to have been led by one Irumanyi as they traveled East ward until they came to the bank of Oyongo River close to the current Izzi area of Ebonyi State. The river parted ways for the people to cross after they performed some rituals as demanded by the oracle. They crossed to the other side of the river and arrived at a place known now as Ogaka and rested under a tree called “Utukenge”. There the Igabu, Opirikwu, Anyogbe and Ikwuro people of the present Cross River State, who were part of this migration, parted from their Igede relations. The Igede continued their journey to Ipinu Igede, except Uwokwu that pursued a snake called “Uwo” and did not joined the others to Ipinu Igede. All the clans moved from Ipinu Igede to their present location.
The major preoccupation of the Igede people is the cultivation of food crops such as yams, cassava, rice and cereals. The size of an Igede man’s yam farm is a manifestation of his wealth and a widely acclaimed farmer in Igede is called an Ogireji. Ogireji is one that has over 400 tubers of yams stored after eating and given to relations and friends at the end of the harvest season. Yam, the king of all farm produce, is used to mark the occasion of harvest and the new planting season.
Igede Agba is celebrated with all male children gathering at the father’s round hut called Ugira, while all the man’s wives gather together with all female children in the most senior wife’s hut. The father usually washes his hands first, followed by the most senior son and that is how the eating proceeds. Nobody is allowed to jump queue. Those who disobey may be stopped from further eating. Meat is usually shared after meal or somewhere close to the end of eating of pounded yam.
Igede Agba is considered a time of peace, reconciliation and sharing. No one eats alone on Igede Agba day. You must have a friend to visit or one to visit you. Hence as part of the preparations, it is mandatory you clear the foot path between you and your neighbor’s house. This is saying “you are welcome to visit or stop over to eat’. Exchange of gifts and food is done with enthusiasm and joy. The Igede man is truly at his best during the Igede Agba period.
Igede ihyoo!!!! Igede for life!!!
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