Friday 25 September 2015

Cultural Diversity in Nigeria - Cultural Festivals

One thing you cannot take away from Nigeria is her affluently diverse cultural outlook. Saying its rich and highly-varied would be saying the least. From East to West, North to South.

Nigeria’s rich heritage speak volumes of the versatility and industry of her people. Nigeria indeed, is a paradise on earth!

Argungu Fishing Festival

Call it the Fishing-Frenzy Festival. It’s one of the most famous cultural festivals in Nigeria, and is celebrated to mark the beginning of the fishing season in Argungu, a river-side town in Kebbi state. 

Celebrated between February and March every year, AFF sees most local men and boys entering the Argungu river, armed with large fishnet sccops. They are joined by canoes filled with drummers, plus men rattling huge seed-filled gourds to drive the fish to shallow waters. 

Vast nets are cast and a wealth of fish is harvested. This is followed by Canoe racing, wild duck hunting, bare-handed fishing, diving competitions and swimming. There is drinking, singing and dancing into the night afterwards. A fun time indeed you would say!
Argungu Fishing Festival

Argungu Fishing Festival

Argungu Fishing Festival

Argungu Fishing Festival

Argungu Fishing Festival




Eyo Festival

Eyo is not just unique, but central to the city of Lagos, Africa’s largest Metropolis. It’s widely believed that Eyo is the forerunner of a mod­ern day carnival in Brazil. How Interesting! On Eyo Day, the main highway in the heart of Nigeria’s traditional capital and Africa is closed. That establishes the importance of this festival to the people of Lagos!

Here, the participants all pay homage to the Oba of Lagos. Eyo festival takes place whenever occasion and tradition demand, but it is usually held as final burial rites for a highly regarded chief.

Today the Eyo festival carries economic, socio-cultural, and political importance in Lagos state, it attracts tourists which boosts the economy, it is a way of keeping this aspect of Yoruba( its art, clothing, and its people ) culture, particularly Lagos tradition intact, and it allows the Oba(traditional ruler) to exercise their residual power.
Eyo Festival

Eyo Festival

Eyo Festival

Eyo Festival

Eyo Festival

Eyo Festival



Sango Festival

The Sango Festival celebrations can be traced back to 1,000 years ago following the departure of Sango, a popular Yoruba Òrìşà who is widely regarded as the founding father of present-day Oyo State.[3]Sango was a notable strong ruler and magician who became king of Oyo Empire after succeeding his elder brother who was perceived to be a "weak ruler".[4] Believed to bring prosperity to the people of the Oyo Empire during his reign, Sango's death has been linked to different mythical stories. It is believed that Sango committed suicide by hanging himself in order to avoid humiliation from one of his powerful chiefs who ordered Sango to vacate his throne or face war.

Rebranded in 2013 to World Sango Festival by the government of Oyo State, the festival is usually held in August at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo and also observed in over forty countries around the world.

Since its rebranding in 2013, the event which is usually held in August and runs for a week attracts over 20,000 spectators around the world including Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. The event which is recognized by UNESCO, is organized to facilitate the home-coming of the Yorubas in the diaspora and also celebrate Sango who is regarded as the greatest hero in the history of the Yoruba race.
Sango Festival

Sango Festival

Sango Festival

Sango Festival
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi



Benin Festival

Benin Festival is held at the end of every rainy season after harvest has been gathered. This festival also serves to get eligible young men and women acquainted, mostly in the village square. Both boys and girls have elaborate markings painted on their bodies. The boys also take part in a tug-of -war contest, a test of their strength.
 
Benin Festival

Benin Festival
 
Benin Festival

Benin Festival


New Yam Festival

New Yam Festival (a.k.a. Iri-ji) – is one of the biggest festivals celebrated by the Igbos. It is celebrated in the month of August every year. Each Igbo community has a specific day in the month of August for this occasion. 

The day symbolizes the conclusion of a work cycle [farming season] and the beginning of another. Invitation to the new yam festival is usually open to everyone that is, there is abundant food not only for the harvesters, but also for friends and well-wishers. Cultural dances and a host of other festivities mark the eating of new yam.
New Yam Festival

New Yam Festival

New Yam Festival

New Yam Festival

New Yam Festival

New Yam Festival

New Yam Festival


Credit: All That is Good About Nigeria & Wikipedia

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