After Millenia of continuity in the region, groups like Akans, Guans, Gas, Ewes, Fons, Edos, Yorubas, Igbos give yam a central role in their cultures by making it the designated food for deities and ancestors:
ɛtɔ for Akans.
This cultural continuum between Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon means that the region has a concentrated number of ancestral indigenous agricultural techniques and culinary practices, particularly centered around yam cultivation, preservation, and ritual use.
This gives Yam the same role as Rice in Asia, breadwheat in Mesopotamia and maize in MesoAmerica.
In the eventuality where sustainable development is to be had in the region these crops, agricultural and cooking techniques must be renewed and developed.