The ancient Isinkan Kingdom will come alive with pomp and pageantry as it celebrates the 2025 New Yam Festival on September 3 and 4 at the historic Ita-Owa, Akure South Local Government Area.
Presided over by His Royal Majesty, Oba Oluwagbemiga Ajimokunola Olofin-Adimula, the Iralepo of Isinkan, the two-day celebration will feature sacred rites, ancestral masquerades, traditional music, and the iconic Idasu procession—where elegantly dressed maidens carry yam tubers from the farm to the palace.
“The New Yam Festival is not just about eating yam; it is about thanksgiving, unity, and peace,” Oba Olofin-Adimula emphasized. “It is a time to renew our bond as a people and give thanks to God and our ancestors for a fruitful harvest.”
A central tradition of the festival prohibits the consumption of new yam before the Iralepo performs the royal thanksgiving rites, marking the crop fit for the season. This practice underscores the reverence with which yam the “king of crops” is regarded in Isinkan’s agrarian heritage.
The Olu Aladodo Isinkan, Ayodeji Fatoki, described the celebration as a bridge between generations: “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.”
This year’s edition promises a vibrant mix of age-old customs and modern entertainment, with dignitaries from across Nigeria and the diaspora expected to attend.
The palace has extended an open invitation to indigenes, residents, and lovers of culture to experience Isinkan’s heritage at its finest.
