Nigeria’s 10 Famous Festivals

Nigeria’s 10 Famous Festivals

Festivals that celebrate tradition and display history are common to peoples and cultures all over the world. In Nigeria, the many and varied festivals are usually colourful avenues through which the cultural heritage of the people is showcased and celebrated. Artistic presentations, singing and dancing and so on characterise these festivals and each of the diverse cultures in Nigeria has one or the other that has refused to lose relevance, in spite of the influences of modernisation and Western religions.

LEADERSHIP Friday in this edition takes a look at the most popular festivals celebrated across Nigeria.

ARGUNGU FISHING FESTIVAL

The popular Argungu Fishing Festival is one of the most famous and exciting traditional festivals in Nigeria. The four-day annualfestival dates back to 1934 and has continued with more alluring dynamics every year. The festival is an all-men affair; women can only be there as spectators.

But what is the festival all about? It is a competition among the fishermen of the area to determine who catches the biggest fish and become the winner of the grand prize of a new bus and N1million. The festival takes place at the Matan Fada River in Argungu, Kebbi State.

The sound of a gunshot signals the commencement of the competition, with the anxious and excited competitors jumping into the river to begin the search for the ‘big’ catch. This lasts for an hour, at the end of which each competitor presents his catch for weighing, to determine which fish is the biggest.

The Argungu Fishing Festival attracts spectators from near and far.

SHARO/SHADI FESTIVAL

The Sharo (also called Shadi) Festival is celebrated among the Jafun Fulani. Referred to as the Flogging Competition, it is a traditional rite for young men. The participants are escorted by girls to the event venue and led into a ring formed by spectators, their chests exposed. They are not allowed to wear shirts or cover the upper part of their bodies. The drumming, singing and cheers of the crowd combine to create an atmosphere of excitement.

Each participant is flogged by another and they are expected to endure the pain for as long as the exercise lasts, to demonstrate and prove their manhood. However, not all the young men are able to endure the excruciating pain; which at times leaves permanent scars on their bodies. Those who do endure to the end are certified mature and free to choose a girl to marry.

NEW YAM FESTIVAL

The New Yam Festival is a popular annual cultural festival in Igbo land, Southeast Nigeria. The festival is held at the end of every farming season, usually in August, to mark the beginning of harvest. Symbolically, the festival, known as Iri ji ohu, Iwa ji or Ike ji in the Igbo language presents the people with the opportunity to make sacrifices and thank their gods for granting them a bountiful harvest. Iri ji or Iwa ii literally means “eating new yam”.

The festival also celebrates the abundance of food that replaces the scarcity usually experienced between planting season and harvest time. This festival is, therefore, a popular celebration among the Igbos, who are predominantly farmers and eat yam a lot. It attracts prominent Igbo sons and daughters from all over the world, as well as guests who grace the occasion.

On the eve of the festival, all old yams from the previous year’s harvest are either discarded or eaten to give way for new ones. Then, on the day of the festival, only yam dishes are served in the homes. Some renowned farmers use the occasion to invite friends and relations, especially the less privileged, to celebrate with them.

Making presentations of special offerings, the traditional ruler or the oldest man in each community is required to offer yam (cooked or roasted), usually mixed with palm oil, to the recognised deities of the land and to the ancestors. After the sacrifice with its rituals, members of the community are free to start eating their already prepared dishes of yam.

OFALA FESTIVAL

The traditional institution of the Igbo people is made more prominent by the celebration of Ofala Festival by various traditional rulers. The word, “ofala” is derived from two Igbo words – ofo, which means “authority” and ala, which means “the land”. The summation of these words forms the word, ofala, which means “the authority of the land”.

Originally, Ofala was celebrated for a king twice – a day after his coronation and after his death. The Ofala celebrated upon the death of a king was known as “the last Ofala”. However, with the gradual influence of modernity and the festival now being tied to other salient social and political issues affecting the lives of the people, it is now celebrated by traditional rulers as an annual event.

In Igbo land, the Ofala Festival of the Obi of Onitsha, Dr Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, is the most prominent. Ofala is almost a red cap affair, as traditional rulers adorned in royal regalia and red caps and holding the traditional staffs and customised royal hand fans made of animal skin usually take over the event to celebrate with one of their own.

ONITSHA IVORY FESTIVAL

Among the Igbos, the Onitsha Ivory Festival is one of the most famous. Ivory – the substance elephant tusks are made of – is regarded as a very expensive item for the traditional institution in Igbo land. It is, therefore, usually worn by a select category of women who can afford it. They are usually the wives of wealthy and powerful men in society.

Today, an Onitsha woman who has acquired enough ivory and coral (substance from the skeletons of some animals) to kit herself out in the ivory costume can claim the title “ivory holder”. To qualify as an ivory holder, a woman is expected to have two large pieces of ivory, one to be worn on each leg. Each piece of ivory usually weighs about 56 pounds or 25 kilos. Also, the woman has to wear two other pieces of ivory on her wrists. In addition to these are coral and gold necklaces, with which she adorns her herself.

CALABAR FESTIVAL AND CALABAR CARNIVAL

Since Cross River State held the first edition of the Calabar Carnival in 2004, it has become one of the most famous festivities in the country. The carnival is one of the efforts aimed at making Cross River State an all-important tourist centre. It kicks off at the end of the annual Calabar Festival, which takes place in December every year. The Calabar Festival is a celebration of the diverse culture of the people of the state.

The Calabar Carnival is a very spectacular event, with dancers in colourful costumes and long, feathered headdresses dancing along the major streets in the state capital, as sonorous music fills the air. The street parades showcase up to 50, 000 young people, twisting their supple bodies into admirable spectacles.  The occasion attracts no less than two million people from different parts of the country and beyond to Calabar every year.

EYO FESTIVAL

The Eyo Festival, otherwise known as the Adamu Orisha Play, is a Yoruba festival unique to Lagos. Traditionally performed on Lagos Island, the festival is presently showcased by the people of Lagos as a major tourist event.

The word ‘eyo’ refers to the costumed dancers, known as masquerades, that perform during the festival. The origin of its observance is found in the clandestine activities of secret societies. It is believed that the play is one of the manifestations of the customary African revelry that serves as the forerunner of the modern carnival in Brazil. On the Eyo day, the main highway in the heart of the city (from the end of Carter Bridge to Tinubu Square) is closed to traffic, allowing for a procession from Idumota to the Igaldungaran palace. The first of such processions was held on the 20th of February 1854, to commemorate the life of Oba Akintoye.

The participants pay homage to the reigning Oba of Lagos. The white-clad Eyo masquerades represent the spirits of the dead and are referred to in Yoruba as agogoro eyo (literally: “tall eyo”).The festival takes place whenever occasion and tradition demand, though it is usually held as part of the final burial rites of a highly regarded chief in the king’s court.

OSUN/OSOGBO FESTIVAL

Among the cultural festivals highly regarded in Nigeria and the South West region in particular is the Osun/Osogbo Festival, which usually takes place in July and August of each year. The festival takes place in the Sacred Forest of Osun and lasts for a week. It is used as an occasion to reverence and honour the river goddess, Oshun of Osun State.

The people of Osun believe firmly in this goddess and therefore, thousands converge to attend the event annually. Some people come in from other parts of Africa and beyond, as it attracts Osun people in  the Diaspora. The devotees believe in the potency of the goddess to hear their requests and provide solutions to their problems.

OJUDE OBA FESTIVAL

Ijebu Ode, a city in Ijebu Ode local government area of Ogun State is the host of the Ojude Oba Festival. Ojude oba literally means “the king’s front yard”. During the event, citizens and well-wishers pay homage to the king, the Awujale of Ijebuland. The event takes place on the third day of the Ileya Festival, (Eid-el-Kabir), when Muslims and non-Ijebu citizens return en masse.

The festival has made Ogun State a major tourist destination in Nigeria. The thematic structure of the festival gives rein to the solicitation and agitation of topical issues in the state and the community. The festival’s repertoire includes a parade from the Balogun clan and Dodondawas clan, regberegbe (age groups), several societies and groups, accompanied by rapid gunshots, traditional songs, poems and equestrian skill display witnessed by the locals, national and international visitors, as well as Ijebu indigenes in the Diaspora.

SANGO FESTIVAL

The Sango Festival is held in honour of Sango, Omoekun (“son of a tiger”), from whom the present day Alaafin of Oyo Oba derives the title.

Sango was the second son of Oranyan, the first alaafin and the seventh grandchild of Oduduwa in Ile Ife. Upon the death of Oduduwa, the grandchildren dispersed from Ile Ife, forming different Yoruba kingdoms in the western part of Nigeria.

According to oral history, Sango was said to be so powerful that he amassed a formidable empire in Africa and transported Oyo culture beyond the Oyo Empire. He was a strong warrior, regarded during his time as a symbol of power and truth. He was the supreme judge in Oyo Empire and the final court.

Gani Adams’ Oodua Festival 2014 stokes embers of unity

    Gani Adams’ Oodua Festival 2014 stokes embers of unity

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THE 2014 Oodua Festival organised and packaged by Otunba Gani Adams, National coordinator, Oodua Peoples’ Congress, under the platform of  Olokun Festival Foundation held at the Oduduwa Square, Ooni palace, Ile Ife, Osun State on Thursday 30 to 31 January, 2014, had  all the trappings of what a festival should be.
The two days event was well attended by many dignitaries and distinguished   personalities from all over the world with over 70,000 members of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress who signified their commitment to uplifting of Yoruba culture and also affirmed their loyalty to  Otunba Adams was  well packaged and organised with a beauty pageant nite  where Miss Oodua 2014 emerged.
The festival has not only come of age but displayed peace and orderliness as it recorded no case of pilfering, stealing or flagrant misdemeanor  as the organisation enforced its anti-social behaviour code, and  spiced with exciting  traditional dances, spectacular cultural display and enchanting.
Apart from the fact that the festival which would have attracted no less than 100,000 visitors to Ile-Ife with its attendant effect on the economy of the ancient city, the 2014 Oodua Festival distinguished itself as one of the most fascinating,  eventful  and historical so far in the history of Yoruba land in the last few years.
The packaging of the event and its success have squarely reconfigured the personality of Otunba Adams as not only a man of peace and rare vision, but also as an enigma who is driving, mobilising  and mentoring a agile, mobile, strong  and positive minded Yoruba  home and abroad ,garnering them for developmental, spiritual  and cultural rejuvenation which will not only be of  benefit to the race, but to the nation in general.
The pattern  of  2014 Oodua Festival could be described as mission to unite all the  Oduduwa scion home and abroad  as every event was stuffed with elements  of  unity of purpose that conformed   to the chores of brotherhood while also lubricating the wheel of communal togetherness.
Even the contents and materials in the brochure of events elucidated the purpose of the festival  with the exhibition of the photographs of Governors  Babatunde Raji Fashola, Lagos, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, State of Osun,  Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo,  Dr Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun and Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo with the picture of the sage, Chief Obafemi  Awolowo on a conspicuous page and documented information on brief history of Ife, tourism attractions in Ile-Ife, contact details and addresses of coordinators of Oodua Progressive Union abroad, list of countries where Oodua descendants could be found in the world and other relevant information.
The beauty pageant was conducted by leveraging on issues which extol and celebrate the virtues in Yoruba  social-cultural mode  of selecting the Arewa, who must not only be a beauty, but a paragon and epitome of Yoruba culture.
If the beauty pageant was anchored on inculcating and creating awareness in the youth mostly the ladies, the grand finale which was held at the Ooni  Palace Square was not only a fascinating spectacle, but a veritable platform to showcase why the Yoruba are what they are.
It was a cultural platform which announced to the world that the unity of purpose and togetherness Yorubaland  is not negotiable.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi though not present, sent a delegation led by High Chief, Bashorun Yusuf Ayoola, while the Ooni was not only on his royal seat but acknowledged and commended the presence of Alaafin at the event.
The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola  who was billed for a commissioning in Ilesa was represented by Mr  Oladipo Soyode, Special Adviser on Tourism who arrived the venue  promptly  and  witnessed  the festival to its close.
The Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, (NTDC),  Mrs Sally Mbanefo who was the Special Guest of Honour showcased to the world  that her passion for domestic tourism is beyond rhetoric  and newspapers mongering as she heaped on herself generational blessings and prayers from not only the Ooni of Ife but by  all the participants at the festival who marveled at her humility and sense of cultural appreciation despite being an Ibo woman.
 Adding value to this year’s festival were the members of  Oodua Progressive Union  in Diaspora who sent a powerful delegates led by Akogun Banji Ojo, Coordinator, Holland to show solidarity, support and represent them at the Yoruba cultural communal revival held in Ile-Ife, the source.
Showcasing that the Oodua Festival is beyond cultural jamboree  but a unified platform for  all Yoruba irrespective of sex, class,  religion or  social or political affiliations was the observance of the opening prayers which were offered  by clerics and practitioners from three major religions - Christianity, Islam and Traditional Religion.
 Otunba Adams, in his speech confirmed that Oodua Festival was inaugurated  majorly to serve as a  platform for the   unity of all Yoruba home and in Diaspora.
“The vision to embark on the  celebration of  Oodua Festival  as handed to me by the ancestors was to rejuvenate our cultural festivals and values using it as a platform for interaction by all Yoruba home and abroad at the first month of every year. This is the reason why Oodua Festival has been the first event of the Olokun Foundation.”
Otunba Adams said that “ It is an ancestry call to duty which the owners of Yorubaland have bestowed on me. It is enormous, but I thank the creator of heaven and earth, the luminous order who parted the sea for the Israelites to walk through, the owners of Ife oyee, Oodua  Atenwonro and the gods and spirits which are servants of the Lord almighty for ensuring the success of each and every celebration.”
He pointed out that “Oodua Festival is dedicated to celebrate the progenitor of Yoruba race, the great Oduduwa Atenwonro who was a paragon of peace, order, harmony, love, brotherliness, development and an  epitome of growth.”
Otunba Adams called on all Yoruba home and abroad to eschew bitterness, shun  acrimony and spread love and brotherhood as espoused by Oduduwa.
“I am using this forum to appeal to all Yoruba home and abroad to live in peace, embrace each other, oil the chord of brotherhood , exude love and continue to exhibit that trait of  Omoluabi which distinguishes  and stand out  a Yoruba man from the crowd anywhere and at any time.”
He commended the Ooni of Ife for tending the stead of “our forefathers with grace, honour and  unrivalled dignity while praising the Alaafin of Oyo for hoisting high the cultural heritage of Yoruba land  without blemish.”
Otunba Adams commended  the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Aregbesola for his strides at enhancing the cultural and tourism assets in Osun urging him to do more while tasking the Director-General, NTDC to “as matter of urgency put machinery in place to tap into the various tourism sites in Ile-Ife.”
 The representative of the governor, Mr Soyode lauded the efforts of Otunba Adams which he described “a salvage mission entrusted on him to rescue Yoruba culture from slipping into the abyss of forgetfulness.”
He affirmed the commitment  of Governor Aregbesola at seeing that all indigenes and citizens of  Osun State express their socio and religious feelings without fear and bias.
The guest speaker at the event, Dr Subair  Tayo, of the  Department of Educational administration and Planning,  Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife in his paper  “Oduduwa: Separating the myth from the truth” concluded after painstaking  analysis of the various concepts, myths and discourses on Oduduwa “we should reflect on the decency and probity in terms of character and embodiment of culture, let us all borrow a leaf from the documented facts about Oduduwa that he united the different states within Ile–Ife and was so successful to the extent that other Yoruba leaders and towns began to claim affiliation with Ile –Ife in order to gain some respect and relevance as well as access to beaded crown.”
Dr Subair in line with the tone of 2014 Oodua festival appealed to all  Yoruba “ We should remain one irrespective of our social , political and religious differences so that in togetherness a suitable, prosperous and glorious Yoruba lineage is built, maintained and sustained.”
He commended Otunba Adams for reforming and changing the public perception of OPC as an organisation peopled by miscreants and nonentities to a socially responsible army of socio – cultural revolutionaries doing the race proud.
The Director–General, NTDC, Mrs Mbanefo who was excited by the various display of dances and cultural stunts by different groups  extolled the historical and cultural greatness of Ife and promised her corporation’s readiness at  partnering  with OPC in its drive to promote domestic tourism and enhance the culture of Yorubaland.
“NTDC is to drive domestic tourism. OPC through its calendar of events seems to be the only organised organisation in Nigeria with such an exciting and colorful cultural calendar which hosts events from January to December.This is commendable. We are definitely going to run with you.”
Mrs Mbanefo lauded the Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo for their efforts at enhancing the cultural heritage of their forefathers and promoting domestic tourism.
The representative of Alaafin of Oyo, High Chief  Ayoola eulogised Otunba Adams for his temerity of purpose and determination to see that Yoruba culture is not swept into the dustbin of forgetfulness.
He lauded the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade who he described as a pristine royal father while commending the Alaafin of Oyo for his untiring defence and protection of cultural values of  Yorubaland.
The Ooni who copiously  acknowledged the presence of Alaafin of Oyo praised  Otunba Adams for his singular effort at veneration and resuscitation of the Yoruba culture and tradition.
“I am very sure that what you are doing is not your own making, but a mission saddled upon you by our ancestors. And you have been pursuing the vision diligently and responsibly at your own expense , you are one of the greatest Yoruba men in the contemporary era.  You shall live long and our ancestors will ensure you live well and fulfill your mission on earth.”
Ooni also commended the Director General, NTDC, Mrs Mbanefo for “displaying not a robust sense of duty at her post, but showcasing to the whole world that she is well brought up and from good home.
The Ooni who fervently prayed for the success and enviable accomplishment for the Director-General at her duty post, added that Mrs Mbanefo is an asset to the nation.
The 2014 Oodua Festival was packaged and cleverly organised platform by Otunba Adams at cementing the bond of unity and brotherhood among the Yoruba. It has not only achieved the purpose, but sending signal of harmonious relationship among the traditional rulers in Yorubaland. It was a great feat and wonderful stride which has not only explored the cultural gifts and virtues for excellence but truly show the Yoruba as one race with common heritage and one destiny.