Did you know why the Igbos & Yam can never be separated?!
Igbos and Yam have history & it will remain in the book of record till eternity.
The Igbo tribe of Nigeria are the ones that domesticated Yam from the wild species.
Yes! You read that right, the Igbos domesticated wild weed Dioscorea abyssinica and D. praehensili and through selective breeding they created magic which is Yam around 5000 BCE that's like 7,024 years ago!
The Portuguese came across Yam in the 15th century, when they started exploring West Africa. Yam moved to America during the 5|ave trade as yam was included as food provision for African on those ships.
During the 16th century, the Portuguese and Spanish colonizers introduced yam cultivation to Brazil and Caribbean territories. £n5|av€d Africans from yam growing regions transferred their agricultural expertise to plantation systems in Brazil.
The colonial powers recognized yams as valuable provision crops for feeding £n5|av€d populations on sugar plantations, reducing operational costs by having £n5|av€d laborers cultivate their own sustenance (yam).
18th century, yam production supported the expansion of sugar plantation economies by providing reliable, culturally familiar food sources for £n5|av€d workers, reducing planters’ expenditures on imported provisions.
You see, without the Igbos what would the £n5|av€d people survived on?
This post is to massively appreciate the Igbos & their ancestors for making a huge mark in history through domesticating a food crop that would change the course of history & a source of huge GDP for Nigeria.
The yearly Igbo New Yam Festival (Iri Ji), which celebrates the harvest of yams in Nigeria is not because the Igbos love yam, it is because the tribe birthed Yam and with such history it is important to celebrate it.
Shout out to Igbos 🙌🫡😀
f you're an Igbo son/daughter reading this, you should be proud!
Lanre
NaijaFarmer.