Gombe: Kaltungo chiefdom promotes peace, unity through carnival

The ancient town of Kaltungo, headquarters of Kaltungo LGA of Gombe State, hosted the people of Kaltungo Chiefdom comprising Kaltungo and Shongom LGAs to a colourful display of cultural heritage, known as the Pan-Mana Cultural Festival, to celebrate and maintain the history and traditions of the people of the chiefdom, from December 26 to 27, 2023.

Our correspondent reports that the carnival showcased a wide range of cultural activities including music, dances and display of cultural heritage.

The carnival also featured traditional foods. Visitors from within and outside Gombe State, including emirs and chiefs, top government officials, politicians and business moguls, inspected the dishes such as shinga and kwakshak.

On the morning of December 27, the Olusegun Obasanjo Stadium in Kaltungo Township, venue of the grand finale of the event, was filled to capacity with guests from within and outside the state, notable among who were the Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abubakar Sadiq Kurba, members of the state assembly and federal legislators, as well as members of the State Executive Council (SEC).

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The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli (Kaduna); Amna Shelleng (Adamawa), Alhaji Abdullahi Isa Dasong; Emir of Fika (Yobe), Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa; Emir of Biu (Borno), Mustapha Umar Mustapha II; Emir of Gwoza (Borno), Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta; and Hama Batta (Adamawa), Alhamdu Gladstone Teneke, were also in attendance.

Others royal fathers are Mai Tula (Gombe), Alhaji Abubakar Buba Atare II; Emir of Yamaltu (Gombe), Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu; and Emir of Funakaye (Gombe), Alhaji Yakubu Muhammadu Kwairanga, as well as other prominent people from the chiefdom and beyond.

The high point of the event was when the entourage of the Mai Kaltungo, the paramount ruler of the chiefdom, Engineer Saleh Muhammad, entered the stadium to a standing ovation. 

Ethnic groups from across the chiefdom dressed in their traditional regalia welcomed the revered monarch with cheers signifying the commencement of the event.

Cultural troupes of some ethnic groups in the state, as well as from neighbouring Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states, also graced the occasion.

In his speech, the Mai Kaltungo urged Muslims, Christians and traditional worshippers in the chiefdom to embrace peace and preach love and unity among themselves.

He said the event was organised to bring the people of the chiefdom together with a view to ensuring a peaceful co-existence and share the joy of Christmas with the Christian faithful.

He explained that, “The Pan-Mana is an occasion for all of us to come together for peace and unity and to share our common heritage.”

He advised farmers in the state not to sell their farm produce to middlemen, only to buy them back at exorbitant prices, noting that such would create more hardship for them.

In a remark, the Emir of Zazzau urged stakeholders to harness culture to promote peace and unity in the state and the country.

He noted that events like the Kaltungo carnival that brought people together to showcase their cultures on the same platform had a way of unifying the people and promoting peaceful co-existence.

In his address, Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State said sustaining cultural values remained a vital tool for promoting peace, unity and social harmony.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr Jatau, Yahaya said any event that promoted the cultural heritage of ethnic groups was a platform to harmonise beliefs and enhance understanding.

He attributed some of the security challenges and other vices to the abandonment of cultural values, beliefs and practices.

He noted that the event was important because it served as a platform to mobilise stakeholders in the arts and culture industry to interact, showcase their talents and protect social values.

He said, “This government places a higher premium on the positive role that culture plays in the progress of any society.

“It is in this regard that the government has reached an advanced stage in the establishment of a museum under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, where cultural artefacts would be preserved for obvious reasons.

“Furthermore, the government has continued to promote our cultural heritage through supporting all ethnic groups that mark their cultural days.”

The governor added that his government would set aside to be called “Gombe Day of Culture” where all the ethnic groups in the state would showcase their cultures.