Botanical Name: Dioscorea batatas. English Name: Cinnamon Yam, White yam. Igbo Name: Ji abana .
What is Ifejioku?
In Igbo mythology, Ahia Njoku, also known as Ifejioku, Aha Njoku, is a goddess worshipped by the Igbo people of Nigeria .
What does the yam symbolize in Igbo culture?
This is of course the African yam, a cornerstone of Igbo culture, as well as a symbol of masculinity, power, and wealth in the story.
Is yam a cassava?
Yams, sweet potatoes, and cassava are classed as tuberous root vegetables that come from a flowering plant but are not related and do not have much in common. In the U.S., they are marketed as different vegetables. Yams are native to Africa and Asia and can be the size of a regular potato to five feet long!
What are Nigerian yams?
Yams are tropical tuber crops . They are mainly cylindrical in shape, with rounded ends. The bark is mostly light brown when harvested and darkens during storage. They are a major staple in Nigeria.
Why are yams so important in Igbo culture?
Yams are the essential crop within Umuofia ; the yam is a crucial staple in the Igbo diet. The number of yams a man successfully grows indicates his wealth and rank within the society. ... Yam stood for manliness, and he who could feed his family on yams from one harvest to another was a very great man indeed” (33).
What is the importance of yams?
Yams are nutrient-dense tuber vegetables that come in many colors. They’re a great source of fiber, potassium, manganese, copper, and antioxidants . Yams are linked to various health benefits and may boost brain health, reduce inflammation, and improve blood sugar control.
What is NGWU in Igbo?
In The IGBO Cosmology: NGWU / OJELUPUTA Is The Father Of IKENGA . OJELUPUTA Is Also Known As EZE – ENU / ELU (King Of The Sky / Heavens). NGWU OJELUPUTA Is The Primordial IGBO Elder Lord That Was Later Manifested As JUPITER In Rome. ANU In Sumerian/Akkadian Mythology, And EL – The King Of Gods In Canaanite Mysteries.
What is difference between yam and cassava?
Manioc (Manihot esculenta), a tropical plant which is the source of tapioca . ... Yamnoun. The edible, starchy, tuberous root of that plant, a tropical staple food.
Is Cocoyam better than yam?
“ Cocoyam has better nutritional qualities than other root and tuber crops such as cassava and yam, with higher protein, vitamin and mineral content. A versatile staple, cocoyam can also be used as weaning food, while the leaves can be cooked as vegetable.
Why are sweet potatoes called yams?
When soft varieties were first grown commercially, there was a need to differentiate between the two. African slaves had already been calling the ‘soft’ sweet potatoes ‘yams’ because they resembled the yams in Africa . Thus, ‘soft’ sweet potatoes were referred to as ‘yams’ to distinguish them from the ‘firm’ varieties.
Is pounded yam fufu?
Pounded Yam
As its name implies, this popular fufu is made of yams , pounded down into a flour and then cooked on a stove with hot water. Cooking pounded yam down to a smooth, mashed potato-like texture requires some arm strength but it’s totally worth it in the end.
Do yams cause twins?
A 2008 analysis of births in southwest Nigeria — which has the highest twinning rate in the world — notes that eating yams may increase the chance of having twins among that area’s Yoruba population.
Are yams toxic to humans?
While sweet potatoes can safely be eaten raw, certain types of yams are only safe to eat when cooked. Naturally occurring plant proteins found in yams can be toxic and cause illness if consumed raw . Peeling and cooking yams thoroughly will remove any harmful substances ( 19 ).
What do the Igbo tribe eat?
Most Igbo traditionally have been subsistence farmers, their staples being yams, cassava, and taro . The other crops they grow include corn (maize), melons, okra, pumpkins, and beans. Among those still engaged in agriculture, men are chiefly responsible for yam cultivation, women for other crops.
What are well known and important Igbo festivals?
Igboland holds many festivities and cultural performances, most notably the masquerades and the new Yam festivals . Masquerades (Mmanwu) are held in accordance with the community native calendars during festivals, annual festivities, burial rites and other social gatherings.
