White yam is a subspecies of the Dioscorea genus (rotundata), which is a series of plants that are mainly grown in tropical and warm temperate regions of the world (likely zones 10-12 in the U.S.). It is a very large plant, having the capacity to grow 10 m (32 ft.) by .5 m (approx. 1.5 ft.) at a very fast rate. Yams need to be in soil that is consistently moist, due to its natural habitat only having a dry season of about two months. It should ideally be planted in well-draining, sandy soil that is fertile. Long days of direct sunlight with moderate shade are best in order to mimic warm and/or tropical environments.
Culinary or Medicinal Uses
Yams are considered to be a staple crop in African cuisine. Most forms of cooking involve boiling, frying, and roasting. To prepare, the yam is divided into round pieces and stripped of its skin; then, the white starchy flesh is boiled. Oftentimes, the yam is eaten as boiled pieces with any relish or sauce. Other times, yams are pounded using a mortar and pestle to make a thick, starchy paste that is eaten with sauces and stews. Similar to this, the yam can be dried into flour which can be made with boiling water to form a brown paste to serve with soups and sauces. Yams themselves are starchy tuber plants with essential nutrients; for example, they provide prebiotics that can help with digestion and gut health. Yams are also very calorie-dense and contain various vitamins, proteins, and dietary fiber. (4)
For this particular subspecies of yam, there is no recorded medicinal use. However, there are various subspecies in the Dioscorea family (e.g. Dioscorea villosa) that are observed to have a multitude of benefits, such as curing ailments like cough, stomach ache, arthritis, fungal diseases, and many others. With the use of wild yam, it is uncommon to consume it fresh due to a bitter taste; instead, it is usually prepared as a tablet, capsule, tincture, cream, tea, or powder for medicinal use. (3)
Significance to Cultural Communities
This subspecies of yam is native to Africa. It is considered one of the most important cultivated yams on the continent. Across many parts of the continent, though, there are festivals held in honor of the yam. These festivals celebrate the beginning and end of the crop’s growing season, and the yam itself serves as symbolism for fertility within the soil every growing season. In different areas of the continent, like in Koji, Nigeria, it is believed that if yams are harvested from farms in good quantity and condition, the year is predicted to be bountiful and the soil will be rich enough for other crops to flourish. (5) Festivals like this usually host events like dances, songs, acrobatics, and feasts.
From a Community Voice
“The Yam Festival is a celebration of identity, as well as a celebration of national unity. It brings together all Beninois, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political side. It is also developing as a tourist attraction in Benin. Many tourists come to discover our history, what we know how to do, and who we are via the Yam Festival.”
- Marthe Montcho, native to Benin, Excerpt from the Smithsonian Festical Blog (2)
References
Akpabio, Emmanuel M. & Jude E. Obidiegwu. “The geography of yam cultivation in southern Nigeria: Exploring its social meanings and cultural functions.” Journal of Ethnic Foods. Published March 2017. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352618116301147
Fenton, Rebecca & Marthe Montcho. “When Food and Culture Are Celebrated Together: Benin’s Yam Festival.” Festival. Published August 28, 2019. https://festival.si.edu/blog/food-culture-benin-yam-festival
Kandola, Aaron. “What are the health benefits of wild yam?” Medical News Today. Published July 11, 2018. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322423#how-to-take-wild-yam
“Yams - an overview” Encyclopedia of Food Security and Sustainability. Published 2019. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/yams
Omojola, Omotnude. “New Yam Festival: A Celebration of Life and Culture.” The Centenary Project. Published2019. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/new-yam-festival-a-celebration-of-life-and-culture-pan-atlantic-university/vgUhxQmEwWsNLQ?hl=en