How the yam brings eastern Nigerians together in Fredericton

An eastern Nigerian festival rooted in gratitude for the land, connection and cuisine featuring the yam made its Fredericton debut on Saturday.

There weren't many Igbo people of eastern Nigeria living in New Brunswick when Chukwulo Ndubisi moved there eight years ago — but that's changed dramatically since then. 

"You can't really compare," Ndubisi said Saturday. "Now we have African shops, you see a lot of African students … there are over 400 people who have identified with [settlement organization Ndi Igbo Fredericton]."

To better connect members of the growing diaspora and educate others in Fredericton about Igbo culture, the organization staged the region's first Iri Ji Festival, or New Yam Festival.

"The Iri Ji Festival is a thanksgiving festival … it symbolizes hard work of the Igbo tribe," Ndubisi said.

"It shows that we are at home in Canada. We are well integrated and we celebrate our culture all over the world. Canada is not left out, Fredericton is not left out."

The yam is celebrated during the festival because it's central to the Igbo harvest. 

"Yam is a very stable crop. They make money from it, people are fed on it," Ndubisi said. 

"So if you are a rich family … you are known to have a band of yam that will indicate how wealthy you are, how hard-working you've been to be able to acquire such a band."

A lot of work went into getting the festival off the ground, Ndubisi said.

"This happening today is the beginning. But it's a yearly event. With time, New Brunswickers, the Indigenous people of Fredericton, will be part of the celebration as well." 

Festival attendees found rows of tables covered in dishes from soups to rice and roasted meats — all incorporating the yam.

Ezinne Adelaja, who led catering for the event, said Nigerians are known for having a variety of meals. 

"The Igbos, in particular, enjoy having a feast," she said.