Culture and Tourism

Nigeria’s culture is rightly quoted as being very diverse. Like its weather, Nigeria’s time-table of major cultural events is relatively friendly all-year round, compared to the harsh extremes that obtain in the Northern hemisphere. This diversity ensures that Nigeria’s cultural climate is very attractive and full of varieties of activities that suit and satisfy the inquisitiveness of Nigerians and non-Nigerians who passionately care enough to explore the pleasures they offer. Each of Nigeria’s 500-odd ethnic nationalities has worked out their hierarchy and frequency of cultural festivals since their legends of origin. For each member of any ethnic nationality, there has never been a conflict of interest or a clash in dates fixed for their ceremonies with those of neighbouring nationalities. It was assumed that their cultural loyalty, from cradle to grave, lay solely with their own nationality. The process of urbanisation and the quest to establish so-called national cultural festivals has changed the picture of cultural loyalty and, for the upwardly- mobile middle class, it has awakened the idea of ‘internal’ tourism and spending the holidays away from their own ethnic nationalities. The mantra that Nigeria is a culturally- rewarding destination for international tourists has been sung for more than four decades by the various Tourism Agencies at both state and federal government levels; with some degree of success. As such, the now successful cultural festivals in Nigeria are attracting growing numbers of Nigerian and foreign tourists. While the various Tourism Agencies can take a lot of credit for creating awareness and better patronage for the prominent cultural festivals in Nigeria, they still have a lot of work to do in the area of logistics. The calendar of cultural activities in Nigeria has become overwhelming and, can be confusing for potential visitors and participants because of a lack of detailed and structured independent information on the status of the destinations. For all the publicity and hard sell given these big cultural events, there is no annual guide of festivals in Nigeria that details dates, travel facilities, accommodation, cuisine, climate conditions and financial implications for visitors. A look at the popular cultural festivals in Nigeria reveals that the older and ‘better’ cultural festivals are deeply anchored in age-old tradition; which is their source of strength and longevity. The newer ones, on deeper examination, lack cultural focus. They are at best, hybrid affairs of borrowed and jumbled ideas. Appropriately, the 75 year-old Argungu Festival usually held annually; mostly in early March, in now Kebbi State, has become the ideal opener for Nigeria’s rich calendar of important/national cultural festivals. The highlight of Argungu is the Fishing event in which as many as 30,000 fishermen drawn from neighbouring States and countries; using calabashes and dragnets, compete to catch the largest fish ‘bare-handed’ from the Malan Fada River canal in Argungu. By strict traditional law, no fishing is allowed in this section of the River for a whole year prior to the Fishing festival; which explains why fish as big as 75 kg are caught. Started in 1934, the week-long Argungu Festival also includes an agricultural show, archery, cultural dances and musical shows featuring troupes and choirs from various States of Nigeria and neighbouring countries; wrestling, durbar, camel race, swimming; as well as a car rally and in earlier years a cycle race. That the Argungu Festival is in the firm control of the Emir and his people has been the ‘secret’ of its continued success. In an interview with the Emir at the 50th year of its inception, he told me that after a visit to England sponsored by the British Council; he appreciated the need to set up a Museum in Argungu as well as the need to keep the cultural identity of his Emirate continually projected through the Argungu Festival. It will not be an overstatement to now rate the Argungu Festival as one of the world’s most exciting cultural events! In October, all roads lead to the Zaria Durbar. Durbars, which are usually parades of horses and horsemen in their best finery, are held in the various Emirates of Northern Nigeria and are associated with the end of Ramadan. The Zaria Durbar is very famous and attracts indigenes as well as national and international visitors. Nonetheless, Durbars have not been able to match the attraction of Argungu. The annual Osun Osogbo Festival, usually held in August, has over the years become an international event. Having been branded by UNESCO and with a lot of push from the Federal and State government Tourism Agencies, it now attracts international tourists; mostly worshippers of Yoruba traditional religion in the Diaspora as well as national and international ‘seekers’ at ‘Ojubo Osun’ looking for the fruits of the womb! It is also an opportunity for visitors to admire the totem sculptures of the late Susan Wenger. The new annual December Calabar Carnival, thanks to a lot of hype and massive national and international publicity now seems to enjoy a lot of national participation; also attracting a lot of international visitors, in line with Cross River State’s policy to turn the state into a world-class tourism destination. Other appendages of the Calabar Carnival include music festivals (classical, choral, popular), beauty Contest and general merriment. The Carnival modelled after the world-famous Rio and Notting Hill Gate Carnivals; could definitely be more culturally-original with less of the penchant for being a display of ‘sexy flesh’ like the Rio version. That top government officials and politicians are the leaders of the winning parade teams don’t say much for genuine community involvement. The new Abuja Carnival enmeshed in a controversy on who should actually organise it, is nothing more than an assemblage of Cultural troupes and traditional dancers from all the States of the Federation. The accompanying hype that it will attract international tourists is a weak excuse for huge Federal funds wasted on a whim. For seekers of centuries-old yet fascinating culture; the annual Igue Festival in Benin City, held in the last weeks of December and featuring the Oba, Chiefs and functionaries dressed in splendid and colourful spectacular costumes, is a worthy cultural event to end the year with.