New Yam Festival

Traditional beats of ije ngala
Muscular feet rooted firmly on the sandy village squares
beautiful maids in ornamented garments
gossips and chattering
excitement in the air
July and its traditions
Travelers in massive return for the cultural rites
thick village square
Ndi-nne might have to stay back for the august meeting
who knows what the future holds
long vacation brightens the children's faces
titled men in red caps and ishi agu gowns
chief priests and their servants

beautiful maidens with baskets of yams
clans in packs of their age grades
young mothers with their crying babies
the village chief introducing the new yam with traditional rites
destroying the old barn
red cap chiefs echoing in concordance
open traditional dance-floor
rigged with different dance troops
exhibiting thrilling dance moves
excitement grows
happy crowds sharing kegs of palm wine
tapped through the night and undiluted in the morning
maidens dancing in intoxication
masquerades unleashed into the square; colourful
final rites to the goddess of fertility
thankful to the gods for the new yam
the successful new yam festival