Etung New Yam Festival: 4th Sept date polarises indigenes|History at cross roads

The annual 4th September date of celebration of the Etung New Yam Festival is under serious contention as the traditional leadership of Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State is reportedly decided on a change of date NegroidHaven can report. 

Earlier today, reports of a perceived polarisation greeted public space over a debate bordering on the change of date from 4th September to a time not yet known. While it’s alleged that the change of date instigated by the traditional leadership was for purpose of convenience to allow indigenes of all filial enclave in Etung celebrate in unison, there is suspicion from some quarters that the change of date is influenced by political concerns. In fact, these set of latter sentiments are of the opinion that Calabar-based politicians are pushing for a change for alleged political fanfare. Whatever it is, there’s agitation for the 4th September date and agitation against it. 

The pro-4th September sentimentalists have their mouthpiece in one Anthony Bissong Attah who has explained that there’s a historic implications to the original date. His words, ‘Those plotting to shift the date of Etung New Yam Festival should consider the historical implications before carrying out such exercise. 

‘The significance of 4th September to the Etung man goes beyond mere eating of pounded yam, pouring of libation and political get together. It is a date set aside by our forebears to celebrate Etung liberation from the Biafran overlords.

‘We should not sacrifice our well chequered cultural heritage just to score a cheap political point. 

‘There are more pressing issues that begs for attention in Etung LGA than a hurried contrivance of political fanfare while the people are suffering untold hardship’. 

Attah’s opinion was greeted by a critical reply from Steve Takim who argued in favour of the thesis that change is a constant. According to him, ‘I don’t agree with you Anthony Bissong Attah “Change is constant”; if meaningful development must occur in any society then the people must be dynamic in both policies and decisions. If the change in date becomes imperative as observed by custodians of Etung culture or those you may describe as “leaders”, then it must be to align with current realities of development and civilization. The fear of “change” has always been the bane for retarded growth and emancipation of the society. 

‘The Ikom New Yam Festival was formally celebrated on the 1st of September, but was changed sometime in 1989 to every first Saturday of September. The Leboku new yam date was also change when the state government took the festival as one of it major festival to be celebrated in the state. So let’s hope the change if true is for better and not for any cheap political point’. 

One Eugene Onor further educated Attah on the concensus, as against alleged politicisation, via which a change was preempted. In his words, ‘Thoney my brother you sounded clearly as an opinion. The shift of Etung New Yam Festival from fourth to every second Saturday of September, was a transmographical approach of a modern picture.

‘No body has sat on his comfort zone to plot whatever decision on sole political interest. It was a collective decision that undergone several circle of meetings before a resolution was reached. All traditional leaders were part of it, all political leaders, of great magnitude criticize, antagonize, quarreled and hated themselves before resolving.

‘Be guided that the historical date we claim to celebrate, Etung was not a local Government then. The celebration goes beyond only harvest of new yam festival and the heroic escape of Etung man from the attack of the Biafran war Lord’s. But to occasion, other meaningful harvest, like our proud crops, such as Cocoa, plantain banana, Cocoa yam, cassava, Mellon maize etc.

‘The September fourth was not totally off from the picture, but can be celebrated among individual villages, while the grand finale should be on the first Saturday of September, where we will invite our illustrious son’s/daughters including friends and relatives from far and near to the social and colourful event, where our tourist site will be visited, cultural display, our Ejaghim speaking brother from nearby Cameron and other tribe will be on ground, and prices of all kinds will be awarded, academic papers will be presented, unlike the time of (Ntufam John Oru Etta(ksj) (JP) as a chairman. 

‘He celebrated a new yam festival with a distinction. This is my take please.

Don’t forget as a scholar, history is not static, it is changes and event that makes History complete’. 

For one Elvis Okorn, it’s thus: ‘I get maniacally bewildered sometimes when we allow issue of cogent importance to become political. 

Last year that this event was celebrated in Ajassor I didn’t raise all the hullabaloo been witnessed today because a certain emperor orchestrated or was at the forefront of the celebrations. Today the change is becoming an issue because of change in leadership and change in political affiliation. 

I have x-rayed the logic/dynamics and even dialectics of the change and discovered that it was in the interests of the Etung people to set aside a day after every individual community must have celebrated on the Fourth to come together as one indivisible people. It’s now a problem generating political insinuations. I’m quite sure if our Emperor was still on the other side it would be business as usual’. 

Attah further queried, ‘For those defending the change in the date of our New Yam Festival, like Elvis Okorn, Steve Takim, Eugene Onor, I shudder to note a sharp deviation from the issues I raised. 

‘What is the historical relevance of the new date to Etung Local Government Area? What variables did the promoters of the new date use to arrive at this brazen distortion of history? 

‘Change for the sake of change is nothing but vain glory’. 

Is Attah simply rabble-rousing? Or, does he has a point? Anyways, my own be say, I wan chop new yam.