FESTIVALS IN NIGERIA
1. The Argungu Fishing Festival:
The Argungu Fishing Festival is an annual four-day festival in the town of Argungu in the north-western Nigerian state of Kebbi. It began in the year 1934, as a mark of the end of the
centuries-old hostility between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom . The festival is held on the Sokoto river in February or March. Thousand of fishermen equipped only with nets compete to catch the largest fish. Other attractions include dance and music, sporting competitions and exhibits of arts and crafts. People from various parts of the world come to see or look at this festival.
2. Calabar Carnival
The Calabar Carnival has been held in Calabar since 2006, including band competitions, a
parade, food and dancing. It has been called Nigeria's biggest street party. The carnival may have as many as 50,000 costumed participants and 2 million spectators, and is broadcast on television across the country. It is the culmination of the month-long Calabar festival.
The Calabar Carnival holds at the end of the year in Nigeria, and in keeping with tradition, carnival teams march across the streets where they engage in colorful displays and competitions from which winners are selected and awarded. Participating teams usually rehearse for months in advance before the carnival date itself.
3. Ojude Oba Festival
It all began in 1892, when Oba Adesumbo Tunwase, who signed the treaty of relationship with the British Queen, gave land to the Muslims to establish their Central Mosque. At the same time, he agreed with the British missionaries to preach Christianity in Ijebu Land and even went further to allow some of his children to be baptized. To cap it all, he gave the land on which the first church in Ijebu Land was built; St Saviours Italupe. The Muslims started the Ojude Oba Festival, which when translated means “Festival in the King’s Court”, using it as an occasion to pay homage and give their appreciation to the reigning Monarch for his benevolence towards them.
4. Osun Festival
Every August, lots of people from around the world throng to Osun State, Nigeria. Attending and participating in the famous, two-week long Osun-Osogbo Festival. It is held at the illustrious and sacred Osun Grove. The Osun- Osogbo festival, without a doubt, is more than
just sacrifices performed to celebrate the Osun River goddess. There are several activities
planned around the festival, as tourists and visitors all come to witness, interact and partake in the two-week long celebration.
5. New Yam Festival
The New Yam Festival ( Orureshi in the idoma area, Iwa ji , Iri ji or Ike ji , depending on the dialect) is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people. Held at the end of the rainy season in early August. Observed mostly by the people of the Middle belt, South and East of Nigeria. It symbolises the conclusion of a harvest and the beginning of the next work cycle. In Igbo land, it ties the Igbo communities together.The harvest symbolises the abundance of produce. However, rituals are performed to express gratitude to the gods of the community for making the harvest possible.
6. Ofala Festival
The historical Ofala Festival in Igboland is usually celebrated towards the end of every conventional year as an event that marks the end of the 13th month in Igbo calendar and the
beginning of another Igbo year (Igu Aro). The festival is also celebrated as a sign of authority and legitimacy bestowed on the traditional ruler in the land to guide the people on the path of truth and wisdom. Hence, it is titled Ofo (Authority) Ala (Land). Today, the age-long social tradition has gained global recognition, therefore, it has become a major tourist attraction in Igboland. Ofala festival, which is celebrated as a way to keep the heritage of Igboland alive, is also an occasion for the traditional ruler to honour deserving individuals with chieftaincy titles.
7. Egungun Festival
Egungun refers to all Yoruba masquerades or masked figures that are connected to the ancestors as a collective force. The Egungun festival is a part of the Yoruba traditional religion.It is performed to mark the death of important personalities, the festival is common among the Egbas, Egbados, Oyo and other parts of southwestern Nigeria. The festival is usually an annual celebration performed within the months of November to April when there is no rain, with the belief that their ancestor should not have to suffer in the rain. Elaborate costumes adorn the Egungun masqueraders (dancers), and through drumming and dance, these dancers become possessed with the spirits of the ancestors. The Egungun then spiritually clean the community and through exaggerated acting/ miming demonstrate both ethical and amoral behaviour that occurred since their last visit, exposing the strengths and weaknesses of a community with hopes of encouraging behaviour more befitting of their descendants.
HERITAGES IN NIGERIA
1. Osun-Osogbo Sacred Groves
The sacred groves of Osun, the goddess of fertility and one of the most popular deities in Yorubaland, are located on the outskirts of Osogbo, which is about 230 kilometers from Lagos . The groves, which are dotted by shrines, sculptures, and artworks, represent a time when people dedicated areas outside their settlements to deities, areas which are regarded as sacred. The Osun-Osogbo grove itself is located in a dense forest that is one of the primary high forest in southern Nigeria.
2. Idanre hills
The hills of Idanre are found in Ondo State in the southwest of Nigeria, about 300 kilometers from Lagos. The hills are about 680 steps from the bottom to the peak and have mysterious handwritings etched into the rock, which have never been decoded. On the hill also is a magical footprint that fits any foot put in it. The town of Idanre has other historical sites, including the building of the first primary school built in 1896 which still stands, as well as a law court and adjoining prison built in 1906 by colonialists. There the inner court of the Oba’s palace is also an interesting place for tourists, with its various sculptures, crafted many years ago. The Idanre hill was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in October 2007, in the cultural category.
3. Old Oyo
Old Oyo in southwest Nigeria is a said to be the former city of Oyo (known as Oyo- Ile), which was deserted in the 18th century after a war with Hausa/Fulani raiders. The site lies within the confines of Old Oyo National Park , and on it are the ruins of buildings built by people who lived there in the past, such as the old palace compound, outer walls with ditches and a water reservoir. There are also wells, cisterns, and grinding hollows which are proof of an extensive past settlement. Within the park is also the famous Agbaku Cave, which served as shelter for the ancient warriors of the Oyo-Alaafin Kingdom during times of war.
4. Ogbunike Caves
The Ogbunike Caves are found in a valley in the tropical forest of southeast Nigeria, in Anambra State. Descending into the valley is a lengthy walkway of 317 steps, which were constructed by the state government. The cave, has about 10 inner chambers and several tunnels, some of which are interlinked. Several streams also flow into the caves, and another stream within flows out into river Nkissa. The caves have a spiritual significance for the local people, and a festival is celebrated to commemorate the discovery of the caves. Bats are the main occupants of the caves, but other animals can be found in the tropical rainforest vicinity, including antelopes, porcupines, and snakes.
5. Oban Hills and landscape
Oban Hills are part of the Cross River National Park, which is contiguous with Korup National Park in Cameroon. The Oban Hills are home to a variety of wildlife including the Nigerian-Cameroon chimpanzee, which has brought about a lot of conservation efforts in the hills and the surrounding landscape.
6. Ogbaukwu Caves and Waterfall
Located in Anambra State in the southeastern part of Nigeria, Ogbaukwu caves are said to be the largest in West Africa and have enough roomy compartments to accommodate an entire
village. Not much is known about the caves as they are largely unexplored, but local legend tells a story of a brave warrior who defeated lions that lived in the caves. The waterfalls are an aesthetic beauty and attract many tourists.
7. Ancient Walls of Kano and Associated Sites:
The 14-kilometer city wall made of earth and its associated sites (Dala Hills, Kurmi Market and the Emir’s Palace) are found in the northern part of Nigeria. They form a part of a pre-colonial civilization and governance, when the city was built for the security of the growing population of ancient Kano. The walls were said to have been completed in the 14th century, but were later extended in the 16th century, which is the present structure.
8. Sukur Cultural Landscape
Sukur is located in Madagali area of Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria. The landscape has terraces on farmlands, stone-paved walkways, and dry-stone structures. On the landscape is the palace of the chief and other sacred remains that express the spiritual and material culture of an ancient society, and it is also representative of a former flourishing iron industry.
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