Kaduna festival, an arena for cultural potentials
He explained that the festival is organized in line with the laudable objectives of the National Policy on culture and tourism aimed at promoting creativity in the fields of arts and culture and to ensure the continuity and progress in the updating of the country’s traditional skills as well as to serve as a vehicle […]
He explained that the festival is organized in line with the laudable objectives of the National Policy on culture and tourism aimed at promoting creativity in the fields of arts and culture and to ensure the continuity and progress in the updating of the country’s traditional skills as well as to serve as a vehicle for the promotion and documentation of the states rich and diverse cultural heritage.
The festival is also designed to prepare the states contingent for participation in the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) and the Abuja Carnival. That is why the theme of the festival is usually designed along with that of the National Festival which is ‘’Nigerian Music Industries: a vehicle for job creation and national unity’’.
According to the commissioner, the 23 local government areas in the state are the main participants but other participant include institutions of higher learning, the private sector, non-governmental organizations as well as culture and tourism related organizations.
He added that the state has a rich cultural heritage in terms of festivals, music, dance, drama, arts, crafts and even administration. It has 32 autonomous traditional institutions in the form of Emirate Councils mostly in the Northern parts and Chiefdoms in the Southern parts.
Culturally, the state is internationally acclaimed for the famous NOK culture, a village in Jaba local government of the state where the first major NOK terracotta head was discovered as far back as 500BC.
However, with the introduction of the Abuja carnival in 2005, as an annual event which also attracts participants from all the states of the federation, our Ministry deemed it fit to put up the festival as preparation for the national carnival and hence, the commencement of the 2011 Kaduna festival.
The commissioner said further that the theme of the festival is apt in view of the recent security threat in the state, adding that culture is the totality of human activities in all ramifications thus differentiating humans from animals.
“Major participants at the programme are the 23 local government areas of the state and related non- governmental organizations which is believed will foster unity among the diverse ethnic groups in the state and even beyond,’’.
Some of the displays at the weeklong festival were the carnival, a drama presentation by the Bazobe cultural troop which is a Kaduna based troop, dance performances from different groups, music and dance, a traditional food fair, the traditional wrestling completion and finally, an arts and crafts exhibition by the Efik community of Cross River State, among others.
A representative of the Calabar community and a member of the Computer Media and Data Services (CMDS), Mr. Emman O’Neill, who came all the way from Cross River State to participate in the festival and showcase the art and culture of his community, said plans are on to make KADFEST a carnival like the Calabar annual carnival to draw more people from around the country.
If KADFEST is turned into a carnival, it will attract more participation from different groups around the country thereby portraying the historical perspective, rich cultural values and tourism potentials of the state and promote education, trade and commerce.
Kaduna state is one of the most densely populated states in the federation as a result of the liberal nature of the state as it accommodates all kinds of people with a population of about six million people according to the 2006 projection, but look at the poor turnout of people at this festival,’’ he lamented.
He added that it is hoped that the event will help in the contribution and exchange of veritable ideas on how to move the state to the next level of inculcating the cultural and tourism consciousness at the grassroots for the nation’s overall benefit.
He prayed that the festival breed peace, foster unity and enhance amicable coexistence of our brothers and sisters within the state and the nation at large.
Governor Yakowa of Kaduna state was not left out of the festival as he said the strength of the people lies in unity and diversity, and unless Nigerians come to understand their differences and are prepared to live as one for the growth and development of the state, there will be no peace.
The opportunities that abound in the sphere of culture and tourism in our state are enormous. This is the time to harness these opportunities in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity since culture is often defined as a total way of life of a people and Kaduna state is not an exception being the third most populous state in Nigeria with a landmass of about 30, 118 square kilometers made up of people from many diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds,’’ he advised.
He called on the people of the state to do everything possible to maintain and sustain a peaceful environment irrespective of ethnic, religious or sectional divides to enable us have a meaningful development in the state as development is a function of peace.