Kwara set to hosts NAFEST 2012
This year`s edition with the theme “Culture, Peace and Economic Empowerment” will feature traditional moonlight games, arts and crafts exhibition, dance drama, children`s drawing and painting competition. Others are traditional wrestling, children`s essay writing competition (SSS1-3), NAFEST 2012 colloquium/book fair, traditional furnished apartment, cultural market and guided tour. Participation is drawn from the 36 states […]
This year`s edition with the theme “Culture, Peace and Economic Empowerment” will feature traditional moonlight games, arts and crafts exhibition, dance drama, children`s drawing and painting competition.
Others are traditional wrestling, children`s essay writing competition (SSS1-3), NAFEST 2012 colloquium/book fair, traditional furnished apartment, cultural market and guided tour.
Participation is drawn from the 36 states and the FCT, nongovernmental organizations and major stakeholders.
Briefing the press yesterday on the Festival, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Chief Edem Duke said that the annual national festival is a creative celebration of our cultural heritage meant to examine ways in which our heritage can be deployed to address the challenges of our time.
He said, “NAFEST 2012 is coming at an auspicious time and in the light of our present challenges, which cannot be separated from poverty and ignorance, the festival is dedicated to the promotion of peace and national unity in addition to growing the culture of economic empowerment. Furthermore, the platform provides us with the unique opportunity to explore the fundamentals of peaceful co-existence and deploy our large population and cultural diversity to advantage rather than allow them to become sources of problem.”
Chief Duke added that the festival will help inculcate in nigerians a heightened consciousness of the country`s unique position within Africa and the black race, thereby imbuing them with a sense of pride as citizens of Nigeria.
He therefore urged Nigerians to reflect upon and employ the virtues of their cultural heritage to promote community understanding and peaceful co-existence, adding that there is no alternative to peace if we must achieve the strategic plan of transforming and developing the country in the light of the expectations of the founding fathers.
In his remarks, Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Mwalim Maidugu, said the festival has been repackaged to meet present cultural demands, adding that the movies industry, artistes and relevant stakeholders have been invited to grace the festival.
He commended the government of Kwara State for the laudable preparation for the festival coming up between 14th – 20th of October at Metropolitan Square, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin.