In the Benin Kingdom, Emorho is more than a celebration of a new harvest. It is a beautiful reminder of our connection to our land, our ancestors, our people and the divine order that has guided our traditions for generations.
Emorho, meaning the new or fresh yam, is an age old Benin harvest tradition. From time immemorial, the festival has marked the period when the people give thanks for the harvest and welcome the new yam, which represents food, abundance, gratitude and the continuation of life.
Before the new yam is welcomed, there is Ague, the period of fasting, prayer and preparation. It is a sacred period when the Oba and the people of Benin enter into seclusion and fasting, seeking wisdom, protection, peace and a fruitful harvest. Ague prepares the way for Emorho.
It is a time to give thanks for the harvest, to appreciate the abundance of the land and to share the joy of the new yam with family, friends and the wider community.
The yam is not simply food. It represents harvest, abundance, gratitude and the continuation of life.
For generations, Emorho formed an important part of the traditional and agricultural life of the Benin people. However, like several ancient traditions, the palace observance of Emorho faded with time and was no longer regularly observed.
In 2023, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku’Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, CFR, revived the Ugie Emorho at the Royal Palace, bringing this ancient tradition back into the royal calendar after years of it no longer being observed.
The revival was more than a festival. It was a conscious effort to reconnect the present generation with an important part of Benin heritage and to ensure that ancient traditions do not disappear with time.
In reviving Emorho, the Oba also proclaimed that, from 2024, the festival would be preceded by a period of prayer and fasting involving Benin sons and daughters at home and in the Diaspora.
From Ague to Emorho, from fasting to feasting, from preparation to thanksgiving, the journey reminds us that culture is not merely something we remember.
it is something we preserve
Oba gha to kpere, Isee 🙏🏾🙏🏾
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