Ekpetiama Kingdom is in Gbarain/Ekpetiama or old Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The kingdom is made up of seven communities namely; Agudama, Akaibiri, Bumoundi-gbene, Gbarain-toru, Ikibiri and Tombia.
The Okelede New Yam Festival is the official festival to flag off the eating of the New Yam in Ekpetiama Kingdom. The festival commences from the 6th of June, every year.
The water-yam is the specie of yam that does predominantly well in terms of growth in the riverine areas. And it is normally from around the end of May. But in Ekpetiama land, its eating is preceded by an official ceremony.
On the morning of the 5th of June, in all the respective villages of Ekpetiama, every married woman prepares the newly harvested water- yam in either boiled with pepper soup, pottage or roasted form. This they bring to a gathering of all the men in the village headed by the various village heads (Amananaowei). In this gathering, the Amananaowei declares the new yam ready for eating and they all eat the new yam together, after which they depart their various homes.
After the official declaration and eating on the 5th, the celebration proper begins from the 6th of June. There are normally activities like inter-community wrestling matches, boat regatta, swimming and paddling competitions. There are also events like novelty football matches; masquerade and cultural dances and most recently beach parties.
The festival lasts for one week, rounding off with a general get-together of all the seven communities of Ekpetiama being hosted by one town, the host community for the year – the hosting is rotational among the communities yearly.
On the day of the grand finale, normally on a Saturday, all the communities in Ekpetiama gather at the Town Square or auditorium of the host town. Here the King (Ebenanaowei) officially does his own declaration of the eating of the new yam after his goodwill message. Chiefs, elders, dignitaries, indigenes from far and wide and visitors of the clan officially eat the new yam amidst celebrations.
Before this day, every woman in Ekpetiama is expected to have donated tubers of yams as required of her. On this day, the women of the host community roast the yams, which are served to the chiefs, elders and dignitaries with pepper soup.
Also the women of the seven communities bring gifts of tubers of yam, which they present to the Ibenanaowei.
On this occasion, clubs, association, individuals and guests use this opportunity to make donations of cash and community development items to the community. Activities like cultural dances and masquerade displays add colour to the ceremony. In the evening, there is normally an all-night dance featuring a circular musician of repute.
The festival is officially brought to an end with a thanksgiving service on Sunday.
