Communities in Oju and Obi local government areas of Benue State are preparing for the 2026 Igede-Agba Festival, which will be held on Sept. 4 and 5 to celebrate the new yam harvest and the cultural heritage of the Igede people.

A major annual cultural celebration among the Igede, the festival centres on thanksgiving for the farming season and the ceremonial beginning of the new yam harvest.

At the heart of Igede-Agba is yam, a crop that has long occupied an important place in the agricultural, social and ceremonial life of the Igede people. In Igede usage, “Agba” refers to new yam, which forms the centrepiece of the annual festival.

The celebration traditionally provides an opportunity for communities to give thanks for the harvest, pray for peace and prosperity, and reaffirm a shared cultural identity.

Before the new yam is eaten publicly, traditional leaders are expected to perform a symbolic cutting and blessing ceremony. The ritual marks the formal opening of the new yam season.

In Igede tradition, yam has a role that extends well beyond farming. It features in ceremonies including marriages, naming ceremonies, chieftaincy rites and funerals, reflecting its place in the social and cultural life of the community.

The annual festival also brings together residents, visitors and members of the Igede community returning from other parts of Nigeria and abroad.

This year’s programme is expected to feature cultural groups from Oju and Obi performing traditional dances, folk songs and masquerade displays. Age-grade performances will also draw on themes associated with farming, community life and Igede history.

Agriculture remains another major element of the celebration. Farm produce will be displayed, while yam will be prepared in a range of traditional dishes and shared during communal meals.

Pounded yam and locally prepared soups are among the foods associated with the festival, reflecting the agricultural traditions of Benue State, one of Nigeria’s major food-producing areas.

Beyond the harvest celebration, Igede-Agba also provides a platform for the transmission of language, traditional dress, agricultural knowledge and community values across generations, as migration and social change continue to reshape indigenous cultural practices.

Ahead of the festival, Oga Ero, the Adirahu Ny’Igede, speaking on behalf of the Igede Traditional Council, called on the Benue State government to support this year’s celebrations and stressed the festival’s importance to Igede identity.

“Igede-Agba reminds us of who we are,” he said. “It reminds us that we are a farming people, a thankful people and a united people.”
The festival is taking place against the backdrop of continuing security challenges in parts of Benue State, which have affected some rural and farming communities.

Community leaders say the celebration will therefore also provide an opportunity to promote peace, reconciliation and agricultural recovery while offering prayers for a productive farming season.

For the Igede people, the new yam remains more than a staple crop. Through Igede-Agba, it continues to carry meanings tied to livelihood, community, memory and cultural identity.