Nasarawa’s cultural triumphs
Nasarawa State is compelling Nigeria to turn attention in the direction of culture and to invest in it. The state has gained from the development of this sector, notably in the area of unity and attraction of national recognition. Someday, Nasarawa State will be in the international scene with its well preserved cultural heritage – […]
Nasarawa State is compelling Nigeria to turn attention in the direction of culture and to invest in it. The state has gained from the development of this sector, notably in the area of unity and attraction of national recognition.
Someday, Nasarawa State will be in the international scene with its well preserved cultural heritage – and this has been the dream. Its realization is being vigorously pursued by the people’s determination, and the target is very much near.
First place has become its exclusive preserve in major cultural competitions for upward of four years now. The state went to four National Festivals of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), and emerged first. The winning streak started in Makurdi, Benue State, then came the event in Enugu and Minna in Niger State. The last one was just held in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, towards the end of last year.
NAFEST is one programme initiated to foster understanding among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups. Through this initiative, national unity is enhanced when Nigerians of diverse cultural backgrounds come together to exhibit and appreciate each others’ cultures. Crafts, weaving, traditional dances, children’s creative designs and music performance, food fair and traditional wrestling, among others are entered for competition. It is in these areas that Nasarawa has been emerging as over-all winner with golden gong awards.
The annual Abuja Carnival, which commenced soon after NAFEST, is another area where Nasarawa showcased its rich heritage. The state yet again emerged No. 1 at the Carnival for the third time, breaking all known records in carnival competitions in Nigeria.
THE MEETING POINT
The story of Nasarawa’s success can be traced to it many ethnic groups. The state shares boundaries with five other states, and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), all within the North-Central and North-East zones of the country. These are: FCT in the North-West, Plateau in the North-East, Kaduna in the North, Benue in the South, Kogi in the South-West, and Taraba in the South-East.
The multi-ethnic nature of the state, coupled with its common borders with other states, makes it a melting point of Nigeria’s cultures. The various ethnic groups share similar history and rich social and cultural ideologies, just as there is a similarity between cultures and those of the ethnic groups of the bordering states. Fabric design, traditional dishes, food, language, beliefs and the general values among the people of Nasarawa on one hand, and those of the neighbouring states on the other look almost the same. Inter-marriage has crowned this, making Nasarawa one large family of about 3.1 million people.
Sitting at this moment as leader of this large family of diverse ethnic backgrounds is a man who believes strongly in culture, upholding it as the bedrock of Nigeria’s strength which must be advanced as the root frame for nation building; and a heritage which must be promoted at home, in school, at work, using the media. He is Aliyu Akwe Doma, in whose time as governor, the state has broken these records.
Governor Doma has sat firm as Nigeria’s Ambassador of Culture because of his international recognition in that area. He directed FESTAC 77. In Nigeria’s Culture and Tourism industry, he is the Chief Guardian. In his own right, he is an artist and performer.
Doma’s rise to international stardom came in 1977. FESTAC 77, was the momentous gathering of the cultures and peoples of African descent, the climatic celebration of the vivacity and rhythm of African lifestyles, languages, architecture, cosmology, diets and fashion to the applause of a watching world. It was Africa’s moment in the sun and Nigeria’s rise to her acclaimed status as Giant of Africa. The man who made all these possible was Doma, a young artist and the Artistic Director of the FESTAC 77.
Exactly 30 years later – in 2007, serving as governor of Nasarawa, Doma was to sit as father of young and upcoming artists, dancers, wood carvers, cooks of various traditional dishes, weavers of traditional fabrics, men, women and children of various cultural troupes while they performed in Makurdi, Benue State at that year’s NAFEST. The state contingent went to that competition with a national anthem called “Nasarawa Na Baba.” The state emerged the overall winner of that competition
The performance in Uyo [2010] was superlative. The state contingent put up its pavilion with a content that was an embodiment of its culture. The contingent’s artistic director, Professor Victor Dugga simply described it as “the blend of old and new, nature and nurture, the traditional and orthodox.” Named “Blue Pavilion”, a name given because of its color which drew inspiration from one of Nasarawa’s precious stone deposits – Aquamarine. The stand had at its entrance two colorful animal horns, representing the rich wildlife, flora and fauna in the state. It offered an atmosphere of fresh breath with a rich collection of arts and crafts: pottery, weaving, paintings, carving, beading and knitting.
A GOLDEN OUTING
The physical performances and documentaries that came out of this Pavilion to thrill the crowd in Uyo were excellent. First were the traditional wrestlers, both in the intermediate and senior categories. With only loin cloths to cover their nakedness, the wrestlers – strong young men, all of ebony complexion, typifying the Nasarawa indigene, stormed the arena with bare feet. Their chests heavy with the breast regions standing out like blocks, and the muscles on their arms like slabs.
They wrestled over 15 states because they were the defending champions. They had a stiff competition, one that was fairly judged. They lost the golden gong, but picked silver.
The traditional dance and music group retained the golden gong. The state cultural troupe is made up of about 36 performers including dancers and drummers. During all the performances, the drummers gathered at the arena, adjusting their musical instruments. Chief Drummer, Bawa Abare is highly respected by his men. He would simply snap a finger in the air, and the drums will roar and vibrate. At this time, Troupe Leader, Elizabeth Akombo would have lined up her dancers, ready to enter the arena and unwind. In Uyo, the troupe had a unique way of coming out; the dancers mixed with spectators at different locations. At the scream of some traditional song from Elizabeth, the dancers would appear from different directions and run in a single file, unwinding. The men on the dance team are young and good. But the ladies; also young and good, are the main attraction. They are beautiful, slim built, and have athletic statures. In their uniformed make-ups, they are a faint resemblance of Aphrodite, the Greek sensual goddess of love and beauty. Their costume is mainly a strap of animal skin with cowries holding tight to it. The leather hangs loosely on their waist to expose large girdles of colorful beads. When they danced, Uyo was electrified. They returned with the golden gong.
Traditional arts and crafts also returned the golden gong. Ahmadu Albarka is famed for carving. His display and exhibition at Uyo was excellent.
Members of the state contingent including dancers, artists, wood cavers, fabric designers spoke to this reporter on return with the golden gongs. Elizabeth Akombo, the Troupe Leader, said particularly that she owed her performance to the inspiration of Governor Doma. “You know, our governor is a man of arts and culture. He is a good dancer. He has severally challenged us on dance steps, and we have made amends to go with his professional advice. The golden gong we have won for the fourth time is a demonstration of his commitment to this sector,” she said.
The governor was out himself to receive the states contingent, recently. He was happy the state returned the Presidential Gong as he walked out to meet the dancers. He danced with them to the drum beats. Everybody sweated. It was as if Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and arts was there herself.
Nasarawa’s 24 ethnic groups
Alago, Arum, Agatu, Afo, Bassa, Buh, Eggon, Egbura, Fulani, Gade, Gbagyi, Gwandara, Hausa, Jukun, Kantana, Kanuri, Koro, Kulere, Mada, Migli, Nyamkpa, Ninzam, Rindre and Tiv. These ethnic groups spread across the 13 local government areas of Akwanga, Awe, Doma, Karu, Keana, Keffi, Kokona, Lafia, Nasarawa, Nasarawa-Eggon, Obi, Toto and Wamba.