The maiden edition of New Yam Festival hosted by Protea Hotel on Saturday 5th September was frustrated with heavy down pour as rain soaked chairs and tables set out side for the event, making it bad for special invitees to seat on their reserved positions.
Displeased with the manner heavy rain soaked the chairs and tables, the special guests and other invitees decided to seat on the chairs set along the corridors.
Considering the the fact that the rain started at the exact time the event was supposed to commence,some traditional believers viewed it as a heavy protest from the gods of the land as it is abnormal for Hotels to hold new yam festival.
A young man who came with his friend and pleaded anonymity while speaking to press questioned if they are an autonomous community with a traditional ruler, asking, I think New Yam Festival is hosted by communities in Igbo land, where do you classify Protea hotel in communities Igbo land?
Another factor that portrayed the event as a flop was the obvious and porous low turn out of invitees as over 80 percent of the chairs and tables were empty.
From over 5 tables set along the corridor that leads to Gym House were totally empty except the last one occupied by few invited journalists.
Over 15 single chairs set opposite the tables were also empty with no single person seating on it,same was the same with many other tables and chairs arranged for invitess on the event.
On the corridor facing the entrance door, that is the left wing side of the Gym House, the chairs were also empty except few little children who followed their father to the event occupied it,just to fulfill all righteousness.
Findings revealed that the Special Guest were forced to seat on the tables set along the corridors,close to the DJ and MC and his sound system because rain badly soaked all the special seats arranged for them, observers and analysts viewed their position as noisy and and unconducive.
Another aspect of the new yam festival that made it appeared laughable and abuse of culture was presentation of the roasted yam with stew instead of local source only, an act that is totally wrong and out of Igbo culture in any new yam festival, the presented roasted yam was Three instead of Four that signifies the four market days in Igbo land
Many observers and analysts have judged the Protea Hotel New Yam Festival as not just a flop but as disrespect of Igbo cultural values, norms and traditions.
The New Yam Festival is an essential part of Igbo cultural heritage, promoting community spirit, cultural identity, and traditional values. As the communities in Igbo land continue to celebrate this festival, it has undoubtedly remained an important part of Igbo cultural landscape.
Reacting to questions from journalists on some obvious lacuna in the event and why they presented Stew instead of local source, the General Manager of Protea Hotel, Mrs Maureen-Ion who was economical with her response explained it was the first time and expressed hope for improvement in the future.