National cultural rebirth
Tales from Abuja Carnival
By SEGUN AJAYI who was in Abuja
Thursday, December 13, 2007

Niger State contingent Photos: MAURICE ARCHIBONG

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The setting became electric as dancers, drummers, acrobats, culture managers Masquerades, and culture managers and to government functionaries converged at the Eagle Square, Abuja for the just concluded Abuja Carnival 2007. With faces radiating with smiles and bubbling with energy, artistes from 33 states of the federation and the FCT drove home the message of President Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua, but delivered by his vice, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan at the opening ceremony, Thursday, November, 22, that culture has a pivotal role to play in fostering national integration and towards achieving the lofty goals of Vision 2010.

The culture extravaganza which also had as its theme, Experirience culture, celebrate life also featured a durbar, exhibition of crafts and African cuisine, boat regatta, a poetry night and a command performance. Before then, there were palpable fears that the carnival might not hold. The organising committee led by Professor Ahmed Yerima had just two months to stage a show of international standard even with limited resources. But inspired by the Federal government through the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, and the recourse to the popular theatre maxim that the show must go on, the committtee swung into action. The outcome of that determined effort was a cultural fiesta that was not bereft of fun, excitement and razzmatazz.

Masquerades show
They wore different looks. Some were covered with yellow palm frond, which are prominent in Ondo and Ekiti States. Others came in clothing habiliments, and animal skins like Gbajumo from Imesi Ile and Esa Oke, in Osun State. Some were covered with raffia like Iki from Taraba State. Adanma he ferminine mask from Enugu State mesmerized the crowd with calculated dance steps, even as Ijele, the king of masquerades brought the show to a climax with its colourful costumes and magnificence. It was a notable contribution from Anambra State. The display which lasted several hours also had as Chief Host, the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and National Orientation, Prince Tokunbo Kayode, while Hon Dimeji Bankole, Speaker, Federal House of Representatives was the chairman at the event. Nasarawa’s outing was a confirmation that its victory at this year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture, (NAFEST) in Makurdi was no fluke.

The contingent that was tutored by renowned choreographer and dance instructor, Professor Razaq Ojo Bakare, eventually emerged winner in the Most Spectacular Mask.

Although it made its debut this year, Niger State’s entry also reinforced the impression that it is one of the states to watch in the country’s cultural scene. Niger paraded Adawyeya masquerade from the Gwari speaking people, Ndakogboya, from Nupe Kingdom. The contingent actually caused a stir on Eagle Square when it led the state’s contingent with a life elephant. The beast which had on it the inscription Talban Minna, according to the Media Consultant to the State, Beyond 360 Degree, symbolised the power and authority which the state is noted for.

The Riverine folks, comprising Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, paraded richly dressed contingent. However, the most spectacular among the presentations of people of the aquatic region was the floating masquerade, Ongwie from Rivers State. It operates on land and in waters. Ensconced on a raft, the masquerades is usually accompanied by its daughter, Ongwieada.

Command performance
This aspect of the carnival actually was in line with the vision of the initiators of the carnival to extend its frontiers to the West Coast, and the world in general. The show which featured troupes from Nigeria, Niger and Ghana, according to the Minister, of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation Prince Tokunbo Kayode was supposedly part of the build-up to the Golden Jubilee edition in 2010. Kayode, who was basking in the euphoria of this year’s outing however reiterated his determination to use the material to foster cultural interaction among West African counties.

Boat regatta
With nine states featuring against five that featured last year, minister of state, Culture, Tourism and National Orientation the show, which lasted about 30 minutes had as Special Guest of Honour, the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. For the period the event lasted, the participating states, which included Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross Rivers, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ondo and Anambra States, did a series of rowing and sailing races. Unlike the engine-powered boats that are common on the rivers, the boats were rowed manually. This year’s outing was a tough bout between two traditional rivals, Bayelsa and Rivers States

Being one of the competitive events, Bayelsa had wanted to snatch the title from its neigbour if only to do proud their ‘son’, the Vice President Goodluck Jonathan proud. Luck however refused to smile their way, as Rivers State won the crown at the end of the day, with Bayelsa trailing behind it. Akwa Ibom came third, making the competition an all- Nigeria-Delta affair.

Closing ceremony
It was the climax of the cultural extravaganza. Per adventure, you missed the opening ceremony, you could make up for what was missing in the closing ceremony. On Sunday, November 25, the festival returned to the Eagle Square and paraded artistes from the participating states, except Kebbi, Bornu and Lagos States which were missing in action. Aside cultural displays, the most splendid feature of the procession were the floats. They came in different sizes and motifs that reflected the identities of the contingents. For instance, Rivers State came with a crocodile float while her neighbour, Bayelsa and Kogi States underscored their strong attachment to acquatic life with the Seagull for Bayelsa while the confluence state, paraded a fish float.

As for states in the hinterland, Kaduna and Nasarawa States made strong statements. The former portrayed in a rather civic manner, a fibre glass cast of the 5th Century B.C, Nok culture, while the latter had a a horse with a ballooned horseman on top. Cross Rivers State demonstrated her early interaction with white men and wealth having on its float, a steel band.

Surprisingly, Delta State had a poor showing at the carnival’s procession. It paraded no float and the contingent lacked colour and panache. States of the South West that were represented included Osun State, which celebrated its rich heritage in Osun Osogbo Festival, and the Ife head. Oyo State, alluded to history as the area hitherto occupied by the great old Oyo Empire, while Ekiti State re-echoed its sobriquet as the fountain of knowledge with the caricature of a professor in academic gown, wielding a giant pen.

Ogun State had a rich display of adire (the Yoruba traditional tie and die fabric) and a sculptural representation of the popular Olumo Rock in the ancient city of Abeokuta.
States in the north that made strong presence at the parade included Niger State with its large retinue of artistes. Sokoto State presented hunters’ dance, Taraba and Gombe States were also present with their floats decorated with cow-motifs. Kano State actually tried to upstage the other states with its acrobatic displays with drew spectators’ attention.

From the South-east, Anambra State represented the large contingent it paraded at the Masquerades show. Abia State celebrated famous Ohafia war dancers while Imo State, the acclaimed heartland of the nation, culturally mounted a hut on its float with live fire, and smoke emitting from it.

Ebonyi States celebrated its agricultural endowment with the popular Abakaliki rice. Both sides of its float were actually lined with bags of this special brand of local rice. Meanwhile, what could be regarded as "the mother of all floats," was presented by the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT). The FCT celebrated Nigeria’s national colours and expressed the country’s diverse cultures in dances. It bore the inscription, Expression of Our Dreams and was a symbolic representation of some of the monuments within the capital city. It also made a difference by borrowing from the Caribbean and the Rio Carnival in its costuming.

Awards and prizes
It was the moment the participants had waited for. After all the dancing, miming and variety of displays, the Director General of Carnival, Prof. Ahmed Yerima, mounted the podium to announce the results for the competitive events.

According to the jury’s verdict, Rivers’ State emerged the winner of the Boat regatta, trailed closely by Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States, which emerged second and third respectively. The first prize for the state with the Most Spectacular Mask went to Nasarawa. Anambra and Enugu State came second and third. As for the Durbar, Bauchi State won the first prize for presenting the Best Costumed Horses and Riders. Yobe and Kaduna States emerged first and second runners-up respectively.

Kaduna State came first as The Best Sportsmanship Display, followed by Bauchi and Yobe States. Bauchi also won the number-one prize for the state with the Best Durbar Formation. Rivers State won the laurel for the Best Decorated Float, back-to-back, followed by the FCT, and the Ebonyi States.
The FCT also beat Rivers State to emerge the Best Costumed Contingent.
Special recognition awards were presented to the Emir of Machina, the Dangote Group and the Oceanic bank for their consistent supports and contributions. Fireworks later rent the sky to draw the curtain on Abuja Carnival 2007.

Stock taking
Apparently, this year ‘s outing is a consolidation of the gains of the previous years in terms tourism development. The minister reiterated this mission at the Banquet Night, penultimate Sunday, where he stated that the dream of the founding fathers is to use the carnival to drive tourism and make it an alternative foreign exchange earner. He regretted that it was only in Nigeria that tourism was yet to become a major revenue earner.

He therefore promised to change the face of the sector.
To underscore the potentials of the Abuja carnival as a tourist delight, Thessa, a social worker from the Neitherlands, described the event as absolutely beautiful. The lady, who resides in Nigeria, told Daily Sun, " this year’s is much better than last year. After last year’s experience, I invited my friends to come down to see the carnival, and experience the diverse cultures of the people.

Theresa’s friend, Ester Vanbenuiliven, marveled at the beautiful costumes paraded by the states. She revealed that what obtained in her country, is of smaller proportion compared to what she saw. She promised to take the news back home and invite more people to the coming editions. Veteran artiste, Jimi Solanke, also commended some of the innovations introduced to this year’s outing. " I was here last year, even though I missed the first, what has been added, like the children’s programme, a poetry night, cuisine and the involvement of neighbouring countries like Ghana and Niger, amongst others are novel. I believe that the carnival aims towards higher heights. In a couple of years, it would have been fully branded. Once it is branded, the external presence of tourists will grow bigger."

As if he read the minister’s mind, Kayode while doing an appraisal of the festival at the Banquet night, informed guests that the private-sector’s involvement in the carnival is picking up. He cited the involvement of big brands like the Dangote Group, Wema and Oceanic Banks as evidences of a promising future for the festival. An elated Kayode told the gathering that the carnival, for the first time, was not run on deficit. " We’re not owing anybody, the minister declared before the guests."

The minister also told Daily Sun that the carnival’s orgnising team, will start erecting permanent structures for the yearly fiesta. The first step in that direction, Kayode disclosed, is that the carnival’s secretariat on Aminu Kano Way, Abuja, will not be shut down. He added that, immediately after the committee would have submitted its reports, preparations for next year’s edition would commence as the Ahmed Yerima-led team will not be disbanded.