When Ebonyi hosted, dominated NAFEST 2014

‘Celebrating Nigeria @ 100: The Role of Culture as a Vehicle for National Unity,’ was the theme of this year’s NAFEST organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC). The 28th edition of the annual cultural fiesta which held from Sunday 19th to Sunday 26th October, brought together no less than 14,000 participants […]

‘Celebrating Nigeria @ 100: The Role of Culture as a Vehicle for National Unity,’ was the theme of this year’s NAFEST organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).
The 28th edition of the annual cultural fiesta which held from Sunday 19th to Sunday 26th October, brought together no less than 14,000 participants and spectators from across the country, including major players in the industry with a nouvelle level of representation from the federal government.
Representing President Goodluck Jonathan, who was also grand patron of the event, Vice President Namadi Sambo, declared the event open.
It was survival of the fittest in the march past parades by the states with the FCT standing out as they showcased their best of acrobatics, dance and costumes. These were new attractions for most spectators whose views of northern dances and displays were a lot more docile.
Accompanied by various musical renditions, colourful attires, 19 participating states, including Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Katsina, Kwara, Kogi, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Taraba and Yobe, as well as the FCT, flaunted Nigeria’s cultural wealth in their uniqueness and regality.
As is characteristic of the festival, there were competitive and non-competitive events. The competitions included children’s essay writing competition (SSS1-3) on the topic ‘My Role as Culture Ambassador in the 21st Century’ in which the host state Ebonyi emerged winner. The state also came first in the children’s storytelling competition.
There was also a children’s drawing/painting competition (SSS1-3), which focused on the theme ‘Celebrating Nigerian Unity @ 100,’ with Niger State coming first as well as in the traditional wrestling (intermediate category 55kg – 65kg) competition.
With culture being the bedrock of the seven-day fete, states exhibited indigenous craftsmanship at the traditional furnished apartment. Creativity was evident in the various architectural exhibits further endowed with traditional interior designs and techniques which were reminiscent among a lot of the elderly present. Impressive as all displays were, Bauchi State outdid other contenders to clinch the top position in this category.
In the arts and crafts exhibition, which included a physical and a DVD presentation event, Ebonyi State clinched the first position as Akwa Ibom State successfully wrestled the first prize in the traditional dance music stage and DVD presentations event.
Although Cross River is synonymous with cuisine, in recent times at the festival other states have taken that glory and this time it was Ebonyi.
Non-competitive events at the fiesta this year included a command performance, NAFEST colloquium/book fair, demonstration events of games and sports like ‘ayo,’ ‘langa,’ archery and female wrestling.The intellectual component of the festival tagged ‘NAFEST 2014 Colloquium/Book Fair,’ had several paper presentations as well as discussions which were all tied to the broader theme of the celebration.
NAFEST 2014 final results were reeled out at the closing ceremony and Ebonyi took away the giant presidential gold gong as first prize for the overall winners. Niger which followed closely, received the giant silver gong while Akwa Ibom which placed third, got the giant bronze gong.
The fourth position was a triple tie between Benue, Bauchi and Anambra states as each received certificates of participation.
States received recognitions and special awards with best costumed state going to Delta, Ebonyi, Benue and Taraba as Niger was recognised for having the largest contingent with 130 participants. Others were the minister’s golden gong which went to the host state for most impressive entry at the week-long extravaganza while Katsina was recognised as the ‘most consistent state.’
NAFEST which is regarded as the ‘Unity Forum,’ in fulfilling its mandate, is designed to serve as a veritable index for cultural exchange, marketing and promotion and as a forum for the exchange of ideas.
It has over the years evolved as a creativity fair that unites the nation through various manifestations of Nigeria’s rich and diverse cultures as well as become a veritable instrument for the actualisation of government’s development objectives through the instrumentality of our rich and diverse cultural heritage.
According to organisers, this year, “NAFEST showed that the culture sector of Nigeria’s economy has inherent and abundant resources from which our people can seek and sustain decent employment and living as well as live as one people in peace and unity despite our diverse cultures.”
Data provided by the NCAC showed that local government, non-governmental organisations and the academia also participated in this year’s event. “This is a positive index with respect to our domestic tourism promotion and the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the hosting state, Ebonyi,” the material said.
Also in attendance were the supervising ministry and its parastatals, the media, schools, various artistic and cultural groups, guilds, and relevant associations making a total of 14,259 participants and spectators for the duration of the week-long fiesta.