The popular yam in Africa

The popular yam in Africa (Dioscorea rotundata) is native to West Africa. (Yams are also native to Asia and the Americas).
Nigeria is by far the highest producer of yam globally (about 70%).
Benue state is the highest producer of yam in Nigeria with the largest global yam market at Zaki Biam.
It is called l’igname in francophone countries, Isu in Yoruba, Doya in Hausa and Ji in Igbo.
The Ekiti, Ijesha and parts of Ondo can eat pounded yam with egusi soup, morning, noon and night where available.

The Igbo celebrate yam the most with their new yam festivals which many ethnic groups also celebrate. They also have Eze Ji (king of yams) Duru Ji (Master of Yam trade) and Di Ji (Master of Yams).
In Igbo-Ora, Oyo State (the HQ of twins in the world), amala (made from yam) and Ilasa, a common delicacy in the town, is believed to create hormones that make the women prone to the birth of twins and triplets.
In many ethnic groups in Nigeria and West Africa, dowry is incomplete without presenting many big tubers of yams which signifies fruitfulness.
Nevertheless, Ghana and Jamaica export yam the most. Irony!