NAFEST: How art united Nigerians

Culture, arts, crafts, dance, dramas were all on display, conveying messages of hope, unity and love at the 34th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in Ekiti State.  Contingents from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) converged on Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado Ekiti, in distinct traditional colours with fanfare and splendour to […]

Culture, arts, crafts, dance, dramas were all on display, conveying messages of hope, unity and love at the 34th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in Ekiti State. 

Contingents from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) converged on Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado Ekiti, in distinct traditional colours with fanfare and splendour to the admiration of important dignitaries and residents. The colourful was part of the 34th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST)

Arts and crafts on display complemented the aesthetical display from the dressing of the contingents while the aroma from the various delicacies filled the atmosphere. The mood in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, changed due to the festival as residents trooped out to watch the events at designated centres.

Several events lined up by the organisers to the admiration of residents include interior decoration, traditional food, and art and crafts.  

Participants from various states are in high spirits with hopes for laurels at the end of the events. Talents were displayed by different cultural groups, even in their simplicity, as most states came out with their distinct culture, arts and costumes.

Among the area used for the festival was the business arena, near the Ekiti Civic and Convention Centre, Fajuyi, in Ado-Ekiti, where state contingents displayed their crafts with the hope for patronage from the people that thronged the arena.

The Director Administration and General Services, Kano State Ministry of Culture, Malam Aliyu Yakubu, said the state participated in three competitive events out of the nine to eleven events, which include interior decoration, arts and crafts and traditional foods.

He said the country can learn a few things from the theme of the festival due to the recent happenings in the country because the festival was meant to cement relationships.

“The Kano interior decoration does not only represent the state but other states as well, showing that NAFEST is about unity,” he said, adding that the performance of Kano State in the interior decoration reflected unity in diversity.

 

Malam Yakubu said the state presented a calabash with three hands – Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo – holding each other with the green, white, green colour on it. He said the hands were tied by a chain signifying unity.

“We are trying to promote the unity, sense of brotherhood and togetherness of Nigeria. On the traditional food, the people of south-south love our food when we participate in NAFEST. They love our tuwo shinkafa.”

He also said there was need to ensure national unity and sustain Nigeria’s cultural heritage as the state’s contingents are buzzing with high hopes. “We came with five trophies that we won last year; we are yet to surrender them. We hope we will still win more trophies, looking at our performances and our arrangements.  Definitely, we are going to take a lot of prizes home.”

On his part, the Rivers State Director of Culture and coordinator of the group at the 34th NAFEST, Mr. Fredrick ldigbara, said they concentrated on indigenous fabrics and decorations which centred on unity and how to create a bond of unity with the rest of the people of Nigeria.

He said, “We believe that Nigeria is basically a great nation and the things that make us great are our diversity. We have diverse ways of resolving our problems.”

Idagbara noted that Rivers at NAFEST is not only preaching peace but also preaching economic survival and sustainability.  It is all about a festival that unites the nation. We have put in our best. Everybody is a winner at NAFEST.

Also, the Gombe State contingents with their display themed, “Wahala everywhere” showcased some problems confronting the nation.

Several events at the festival showed Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, costumes, people, places and events of the people in different parts of the country.

On display for sale by the contingents were also locally made fabrics, batik, adire, beads and different beverages. Several events at the festival were rich, beautiful, and colourful.

While declaring open the cultural fiesta, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, described the annual cultural celebration as a vital tool for integration, unity, economic prosperity and political stability of the country.

NAFEST representatives from across the states of the federation observed a cultural parade that reflected the rich cultural heritage in colourful attires and peculiar cultural instruments. They equally witnessed the staging of a melodious drama titled “Children of the rolling hills” that was orchestrated by the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

 

The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye; Secretary to the State Government, Biodun Oyebanji; Head of Service, Peju Babafemi, Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Prof.  Rasak Ojo Bakare and his counterparts from the states of the federation and the FCT also added colour to the ceremony.

Governor Fayemi said the current economic and political state of the country requires concerted efforts and investment in arts and culture to give room for the expression of talents, promotion of the unity of the country in its diversity and harnessing human potentials for economic prosperity. On the importance of culture to national development and economic growth, he said culture impacts economic growth by strengthening social virtues, creating a trust which facilitates relationships and motivating and stimulating entrepreneurship.

He said, “We know and understand that culture is one of the main pillars of development, for, without culture, it is certain that development would be greatly hindered. The critical state of our nation requires that efforts be intensified to revive our diverse cultures and enhance the potential of our arts to ensure social and political stability, both of which hinge on the viability of the economy.

“As a country with diverse cultures, it is imperative for us to take advantage of the innate strength in our diversity, and our human and natural resources, to build a united, just and prosperous country for the present and future generations.”

He disclosed that his administration had taken arts and culture beyond mere performance to the realm of cultural re-orientation, attitudinal change, value orientation and its integration into the state’s educational curriculum to be taught at primary and post-primary levels.

Fayemi added that the national event was in fulfilment of his administration’s efforts at exposing Ekiti to both national and international attractions to woo more stakeholders in the culture, tourism and creative world to the state.

Also, the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, commended Governor Fayemi for not only demonstrating strong political will in hosting this year NAFEST but for also mobilizing government apparatus to take an active role in ensuring the success of the event.

He disclosed that this year’s event featured several competitions including tales by moonlight, drama, traditional board games, children’s drawing and painting, children’s essay writing, traditional cuisines, archery, indigenous fabric and fashion and the cultural market display where winners would be given prizes and awards.

Otunba Runsewe added that participants would also have the opportunity to visit the rich cultural tourist centres in the state like the popular Ikogosi warm spring, Arinta waterfall, Fajuyi Park and Amusement, Ogun Onire groove and others in the course of the week-long event.