MKPANI LEBOKU NEW YAM FESTIVAL
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Mkpani new yam festival is a traditional celebration of thanksgiving to God, for increased fertility in birth rate, increased production of food (new yam) and peace and unity of the community. Mkpani people like all Yakurr people, and indeed, all humanity, love and strive for the gift of children, enough food to feed them and the peace and unity of their community. Mkpani people believed that these dire needs of every human society are provided by almighty God, who deserves thanks. This is why they have to set aside a period for a traditional thanksgiving to God every year for the continuous provision of these dire needs. In Yakurr, every year is alternated with a period of plenty and a period of scarcity or famine. After farms have been planted between the period of January and May, farmers subsist on meager reserve of food. These reserves may be adequate or inadequate, depending on the status of the farmer. In the months