Thrills and frills of Gbari’s pounded yam festival

It was on Saturday, October 24, 2020 that the Gbari youth of Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in their large numbers, converged at the outskirts of Ijah community where they organised their ‘pounded yam’ cultural festival. The youths, who slaughtered a cow for the event, conveyed all cooking utensils, firewood and […]

It was on Saturday, October 24, 2020 that the Gbari youth of Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in their large numbers, converged at the outskirts of Ijah community where they organised their ‘pounded yam’ cultural festival.

The youths, who slaughtered a cow for the event, conveyed all cooking utensils, firewood and condiments to the celebration ground, which was a bush near the community, where they prepared the meal for the pounded yam cultural festival.

Also, various masquerades and local bands as well as Gbari local musical entertainers were on ground to thrill guests at the festival.

Speaking at the event, the Etsu of Kwali, Alhaji Shaban Audu Nizazo, said the celebration of the pounded yam festival was to showcase what the Gbari indigenous people of Kwali were known for – which is farming.

He said the festival was organised annually right from the times of their forefathers, adding that the festival also fostered unity and peace among the Gbari natives and non-natives across the chiefdom.

The monarch, therefore, urged traditional rulers and community leaders in the chiefdom to always ensure they support security agents in tackling insecurity and other crimes in the area.

Also speaking, the chairman of the council, Danladi Chiya, commended the youths for organising the pounded yam festival, adding that such festivals were a clear indication of the unity and peace among the youths of the council.

He said his administration is determined to promote holding of cultural festivals by the various ethnic groups in the area, noting that showcasing of cultural festivals annually will encourage the youth to imbibe their culture and tradition.

He advised the youth to shun all forms of social vices and avoid bad groups, adding that peace and unity should always be their watchword so as not to dent the image of the council.

On his part, Dr. Midah Kwali Ayuba, said the youths decided to organise the festival in order to showcase the culture and tradition of the Gbari speaking natives of Kwali, including how the pounded yam festival has been held right from the era of their forefathers.

He said the pounded yam was eaten on fresh leaves which, he explained, was the way and manner their forefathers eat together especially at the farms.

“The pounded yam festival is an indication of how our forefathers always ate on leaves in a group, especially when they go to farms in groups, and showed unity and peace as well as sustaining the Gbari culture and tradition,” he said.

Aso Chronicle reports that the symbolic pounding of the yam was led by the wife of the chairman of the council, Mrs. Hannatu Danladi Chiya.