World Iyan Carnival aims to promote food security in Nigeria and Africa by inspiring stakeholders in the food and cuisine production industry. We celebrate our cultural heritage while educating the world about the history and origin of Iyan, the King of African foods.
Founder
PAAF Centre for Constitutional Literacy and Civic Education
Cultural Historian
Author of "Oral Traditions and Oral History"
Agricultural Expert
Promoter of African Food Heritage
The World Iyan Carnival started as a simple idea with a clear purpose: to showcase African cuisine and contribute to the global Zero Hunger movement. Our founder, driven by a deep passion for both food and social impact, envisioned a platform that would not only celebrate African culture but also address serious challenges like food security.
With this vision in mind, a small team came together. We began by traveling across various states, learning about local culinary traditions, and capturing these experiences through documentaries and interviews. These early efforts were focused on understanding and preserving the cultural significance of "Iyan" in Yoruba culture, while also looking for ways to connect this heritage with modern agricultural practices.
As the project grew, so did our goals. The World Iyan Carnival is now more than just an event. It's a platform aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture in Africa. By engaging with farmers, youth, women, food processing industries, stakeholders and investors, we hope to highlight the importance of traditional foods like "Iyan" in today's world.
At the World Iyan Carnival, we're committed to promoting sustainable agricultural practices that secure a brighter future for Africa. We support small-scale farmers through training and market access, encourage crop diversification, and champion climate-smart agriculture. By improving food preservation and enhancing trade, we aim to reduce waste and boost livelihoods.
Our dedication extends to raising awareness about healthy eating and attracting investment in agriculture, while addressing the challenges of conflict and displacement. As we grow, we aspire to make the Carnival a global platform that inspires future generations to embrace agriculture as a path to sustainable development.
Iyan: Ancestral Food of the Yorubas. The history of the Yoruba people, descendants of Oduduwa, is popularized by the arrival of Oduduwa to Ile Ife. Before Oduduwa, Ile Ife was known as the land of creation, where God created everything through the first "Adam" called Obatala.
The food has historical links with three major Yoruba deities: Orisa-Oko (god of farm and fertility), Obatala (god of creation), and Ogun (god of iron and hunting). Before all the deities left heaven, God assigned them different responsibilities and provided them with various types of food samples.
These three "Orisa" cherished yam so much that they made it their special food. Ogun liked "esun isu," yam placed on the ember and cooked with its cover. Orisa-Oko made it mandatory for her worshippers not to taste new yam before her every new year. Obatala insisted that his followers let him eat new yam and pounded yam made from new yam first before they could.
Since then, "Iyan," the food made of yam, has been the most highly rated food among the Yoruba ethnic group throughout Nigeria and many African countries.