Iyan-Ewu: Remembering my late parents, By Ismail Omipidan

Iyan-Ewu is a remake of pounded yam from the previous night — the leftover. It is also called Iyan-Ana (literally translated as yesterday’s pounded yam) in some parts of Yoruba land.

But the sweet smell from the delicacy will always make one want to stop eating the real pounded yam and instead opt for the Iyan-Ewu. Just try it, especially with Okro soup. It is a special delicacy among the Igbomina. By the way, the Igbomina are predominantly found in Osun and Kwara States in Nigeria.

Three days ago, we ate pounded yam at home. I had a plan of using the leftover to make my Iyan-Ewu the next day. However, when I woke up and went to the kitchen, I was told my son had killed the ‘dream’. He had devoured the leftover the previous night without my knowledge. But the mother was aware. I grudgingly left the kitchen that morning and opted for something else.

But this morning, the dream came through. I went to the kitchen and prepared my Iyan-Ewu (see video and pictures attached). As I devoured the meal, I remembered my late parents. Back then in Otukpo, my birthplace in Benue State, you cannot serve my dad a pounded yam meal without making provision for Iyan-Ewu. In fact, there were occasions when owing to visitors gatecrashing, which would in turn mean the leftovers would have to go, my dad would instead opt for Amala just to make sure there was Iyan-Ewu to eat the next day.

Most often, my siblings and I ate Iyan-Ewu either with our dad or mum. After the main course, there is the Eepa (I don’t know the English name- it is burnt part of the Iyan-Ewu), that was the one we quarrelled over most of the time. To resolve it, my dad or mum depending on who was coordinating, would put them on our palms one after the other.

But today, I can’t even replicate that experience with my own kids. They don’t even know what Iyan-Ewu is all about. But I am poised to educate them about it this year. I believe once they taste it once, they will always want it. My parents ensured I knew a few things about my country home, Ila Orangun, and culture. I am trying to do the same to my kids. What about you?

May Allah be pleased with the souls of my late parents, my wife’s parents and all the souls of our departed loved ones.