***Two days of tradition, music, and pageantry await as sons and daughters of Isinkan gather at Ita-Owa for a cultural homecoming.
The ancient Isinkan Kingdom is set to come alive with color and tradition as it hosts the 2025 New Yam Festival on September 3 and 4 at the historic Ita-Owa, Isinkan, in Akure South Local Government Area.
This annual celebration, one of the most significant events on the Isinkan cultural calendar, will be presided over by His Royal Majesty, Oba Oluwagbemiga Ajimokunola Olofin-Adimula, the Iralepo of Isinkan.
The festival marks the start of a new agricultural season and serves as a sacred act of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.
“The New Yam Festival is not just about eating yam, It is about giving thanks to God and our ancestors for a fruitful harvest. It is also a time to renew our bond as a people and promote peace in the land.” Oba Olofin-Adimula emphasised
For generations, the New Yam Festival has stood as a deeply rooted tradition of the Isinkan people. Historically tied to the community’s agrarian heritage, it celebrates yam, the ‘king of crops’, which holds a revered place among the Yoruba.
Ahead of the festival, it is considered a taboo for any son or daughter of Isinkan to eat new yam or pounded yam made from the fresh harvest. Only after the Iralepo performs the royal rites of thanksgiving can the new yam be officially consumed.
This ritual underscores cultural respect for tradition and marks the official start of yam consumption for the season.
The Olu Aladodo Isinkan, Ayodeji Fatoki said “our forefathers understood the value of gratitude and communal living. The festival has always been a unifier, and it continues to bring our people together.”
One of the festival’s most captivating highlights is Idasu, a spectacular procession where young ladies, adorned in traditional Yoruba attire (aso-ofi), carry tubers of yam on their heads and march gracefully from the farm to the palace. The elegance of these maidens, clothed in vibrant regalia, adds glamour and authenticity to the celebration.
The 2025 edition promises a blend of age-old traditions and contemporary entertainment. Over two days, guests will witness sacred rites by the Iralepo declaring the yam fit for consumption, an exhilarating parade of ancestral masquerades that showcase the kingdom’s spiritual heritage, and thrilling performances by renowned traditional entertainers and musicians.
“We are expecting dignitaries from across Nigeria and the diaspora. This year will be exceptional because we have lined up special activities to showcase the beauty of our culture.” Olu Aladodo Isinkan said
Beyond its colorful pageantry, the New Yam Festival stands as a powerful statement of identity for the Isinkan people. It reinforces gratitude, unity, and cultural pride in an era of rapid modernization.
“We want the younger generation to know where they come from, culture is the soul of a people, and when you lose it, you lose your essence.”
The palace has extended an open invitation to indigenes, residents, and lovers of culture to attend the festival and experience the rich heritage of the Isinkan Kingdom at its finest.
