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Ekiti State is planning a Guinness World Record attempt for the tallest pounded-yam pyramid.
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The attempt will feature 100 traditional mortars and pestles working at the same time.
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The record bid will be held at the 2026 World Iyan Carnival in Ado-Ekiti on December 27.
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Organisers say the event will showcase Ekiti’s food culture while promoting tourism and yam production.
September 04, (THEWILL) — Ekiti State is set to attempt a Guinness World Record for what organisers hope will be the tallest pounded-yam pyramid in the world.
The attempt will take place at the 2026 World Iyan Carnival in Ado-Ekiti on December 27.
Ade Ajayi, convener of the World Iyan Carnival, announced the plan during a press briefing with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Friday, September 4, 2026.
Ajayi said 100 traditional mortars and pestles would be used simultaneously to prepare the pounded yam for the record attempt.
The pounded yam will then be assembled into a giant pyramid as part of the carnival.
He said the project was designed to showcase Nigeria’s food and cultural heritage while promoting Ekiti as a destination for tourism, agriculture and investment.
The carnival will bring together yam farmers, food experts, traditional yam pounders, tourists and other participants for the record attempt.
Organisers are also inviting individuals and companies to take part in the 100 Odò Iyan Legacy Project by adopting one of the traditional mortars to be used at the event.
According to Ajayi, the names or identities of participants will be engraved on their adopted mortars as a lasting connection to the cultural project.
The Guinness World Records attempt is one of several activities planned for the carnival. Others include the Iyan Challenge, the Omoge Iyan Pageant, the 50 Million Yam Tuber Cultivation Initiative, the Aafin Iyan Resort and an Origin of Iyan documentary.
The 50 Million Yam Tuber Cultivation Initiative is to increase yam production and create opportunities for farmers and other agricultural stakeholders.
Ajayi said the initiative had also attracted interest in yam production and processing in the state, including activities around the Ilasa Yam Conditioning Centre.
The organisers are working with relevant state agencies, including the Ekiti State Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce and Investment, to support the initiatives.
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The Iyan Challenge has also been held across communities, with participating towns competing for a place at the carnival’s grand finale.
Ajayi said the carnival had attracted interest from outside Nigeria, including communities in Brazil, Grenada, Jamaica and other Caribbean countries.
He thanked Governor Biodun Oyebanji for supporting the initiative and promoting the state’s cultural and agricultural development.
Dr Tolu Dada, Acting Director of the Centre for Food Processing and Innovation at Ekiti State Polytechnic, said the record attempt could bring international attention to the state’s food and cultural heritage.
He added that the carnival could also help promote food production and food security in Ekiti.
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
