The Fire Party of the New Name
My culture is an incalculable value that has gone from one generation to another, and that implies the cult of deities, festivals, traditional marriages and coronations. In December 2015, when I was twenty -five, I was designated by my clan to represent young people at the ceremony of that year, due to my contributions to the development and empowerment of the young people of my people. It was a three -day festival in my town with the aim of cleaning our land of mortal and malignant spirits. It was the time when my family and other families joined and appreciated the gods for the end of the harvest season. During this festive period, my group of young people and other clans were exhibited and challenged with mystical powers.
Before the Fire Fiesta of the New ñam, the King (Eze Kingdom Elenwo), together with the Royal Family, the Council of Bosses of him and my Group of Youth, do the proclamations and the preparations. We meet at the ‘Anama Orji’, which is the town square, to choose the date of the new yam fire party, which is usually celebrated the first week of December.
Once the date was set, the Bosses Council and the group of young people belonging to the general market and made public the statement through ‘UN Eze’, the king’s preacher, who used a metal gong to announce the Next party. Upon returning to the King’s palace, I immediately took the roasted yam, the kola, the drinks and served after introducing it to the gods. We also dance and rejoice until night, when everyone retired to their different houses. The climax of the day was announced by 21 cannon shots to mean the beginning of the traditional year.
The first day of the Fire Fiesta of the New ñam. While preparing the stage directing other women elegantly dressed in their traditional outfits and walking through the village with bare feet. As a sign of respect and seniority, the oldest women of each family dressed differently from the others with a firewood on their hand while they traveled the neighborhoods that make up the village. While the procession lasted, I played the animal skin drum ‘Nkwa’ while women danced, applauded and hit the metal gong. When we arrived at the patio, women began to invoke their ancestral spirits, which is known to support the party. While invoking the ancestral spirit, my eyes were well open to observe any burning firewood that went out. Because that is a bad omen and the bearer would be seen as a sorcerer and could be banished from the town.
We finished the spiritual cleanliness of the village in the village river after several enchantments with the objective of scareling the unwanted spirits of our environment, then I placed each of the oldest women in different points of the river to accommodate them in What meant the final enchantments in which each of the oldest women threw their burned firewood to the river which meant expelling all the evil spirits of the earth.
The second and third day, we celebrated it very elaborately, since all kinds of special local foods were prepared in large quantities and ate while we rejoice. This party lasted until the next morning. The last day, we met in the town square, without neglecting children and tourists as spectators of the memorable events that left them wanting more.
During the event, my group and other young people in my town were seen with some sticks and metals, hitting them on the ground while making some spells and said in my native ‘Oji or Wosa’ dialect that means that evil leaves the earth. Another thing I witnessed during the day, were the contests of those who have some magical powers. They were seen in broad daylight demonstrating magical powers. It was when (Ikuku) one of the priests who participated in the festival of that year, cut his head. And he held her with her hands while the blood dripped, and then he felt her again to show others her superior magical powers. This continued until the king arrived later in the day. When the king appeared on the scene, he made the spiritual blessing to my group and other young people in the square. This group blessing marked the end of the new yam fire party and everyone went to their different destinations satisfied with the success of the party.
Traditionally and culturally, the new ñam party marked the beginning of the year for my people, according to the native calendar. The evil men and women regret their bad customs to avoid the wrath of the gods.
In the following weeks, my family and other inhabitants of the town danced their masqueradas and joy continued. This festival brought me peace, joy and happiness, and I am proud to be part of the celebration that promoted the spirit of unity, love, delivery and other good attributes to promote the growth of my community.
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