Celebration of Cultural Festivals

The Nigerian is a happy being. He may weep profusely and somersault in the face of adversity, but it is amazing how he quickly bounces back with zest and energy. To him, sorrow, pains, and tears are only a passing show. With his optimistic spirit, the typical Nigerian believes that God Almighty, his ancestors, or some other things that he worships are busy working out a better tomorrow for him.

In churches, mosques, temples, shrines, and other fora, many Nigerians share experiences and give testimonies of how they have witnessed devil being driven out of a person, seen ancestral spirits, charms, and amulets provide solutions to stubborn problems, and personally received divine healing, protection, and guidance in facing daily challenges.

This, lends credence to the general belief that Nigerians are among the most religious people on earth. Religion, itself, exists to help man find God, love, and happiness; and to help develop in man the virtues of chastity, forgiveness, detachment, humility, justice, faith, patience, and contentment. But many Nigerians are more interested in the primordial elements of religion which include metaphysical speculations, superstitious assumptions, emotional extravaganzas, and ritualistic celebrations.

Nevertheless, the Nigerian accepts whatever life dishes out to him as an act of fate and lives the spiritual principle of gratitude and thanksgiving. He thanks God for the good, the bad, and the ugly. To him, the gift of life alone offers enough reason for celebration. His desire to organize a party and celebrate is not a function of his bank account. He can sell his piece of land or any property for a celebration. He can take a loan for a celebration. And paradoxically, he can be vicious in the process of raising funds for celebration despite his religious disposition.

But what does he celebrate? Like others across the world, he celebrates the birth of a child, weddings, birthday anniversaries, national days, burial ceremonies, the New Year, and remarkable successes. But the average Nigerian is voluble, proud, flamboyant, and vibrant. So he makes an extra-ordinary show with celebrations. He holds the burial ceremonies of his loved ones such as father and mother several times. And each burial ceremony lasts for days, weeks, or even months. For a marriage, there is the traditional wedding ceremony and then the “white” wedding bash. Whether traditional marriage or white wedding, the celebration also lasts for unimaginable period involving extended family members, friends and well wishers. The story is the same for birth day anniversaries and the other events.

Traditionally, the various ethnic nationalities that constitute the country have several festivals which they celebrate annually. The Ogba people of Rivers State have about five major festivals which they celebrate annually. They include Ebiam, Egwu-iji Onube, Igba-Ogwe, Egwu-Ohali, and Nchaka which is the most celebrated by the people of the Kingdom. As the major occupations of the people are farming and fishing, the festivals are observed to show gratitude to God for fertility, cleansing, and protection and to mark the end of the planting or harvesting season.

In Kebbi State, the most popular festival celebrated annually to offer prayers and sacrifices to the gods for abundance of rainfall, successful harvest and fertility is the famous Argungu Su. The festival popularly known as Argungu fishing festival is held in the month of February each year.

In Sokoto State, some of the festivals celebrated by the people are the Golmo, Uhala and Shan Gumba, which are exclusive to butchers; others are the Dibedi, Sharo, and Shara or Ashura festivals. The festivals are marked with dancing, singing, and in the case of Sharo, flogging among bachelors to determine their eligibility into the matrimonial life.

In Kogi State, there are the Ocho and Ogaganyi, Ogani, Ujo and Ote Igbegwu festivals. Both the Ocho and Ote Igbegwu festivals are celebrated to herald the coming of the dry season. But while the Ocho is a royal festival the Ote Igbegwu festival is an occupational celebration for the Igala people.

Among the Ibos, there are the Ahiajoku, Ozuruimo, Oji Ezinihitte, Omune, and Ikeji Aro celebrated by the people of Imo, and Abia States. The new yam festival associated with Ahiajoku is the greatest of Ibo festivals. This is because the Ibos regard yam as the King of crops.

Cross River and Akwa Ibom states celebrate New Yam, Fattening, Etu, and Ntam festivals. While the Fattening festival is celebrated to mark the transitional period between maidenhood and womanhood, Etu and Ntam are wrestling and religious ceremonies respectively. The Ntam festival is celebrated by the people to banish misfortunes, sickness, and epidemics.

The Yorubas, very well known for elaborate celebrations stage numerous festivals annually, some of which are Adamu – Orisa play (otherwise known as Eyo festival), Igunnuko, Meboi, Zangbeto, Agbo, Kilajolu, Odun-Ela (Isa Tutu), and Jigbo. The festivals are associated with funeral obsequies, planting and harvesting of crops, and prayers to forestall outbreak of wars and diseases and also to usher in peace and harmony among the people and their neighbours.