In Kagoro, an ancient town amid hills in Kaura LGA in the Southern part of Kaduna State, a cultural fiesta, Afan Festival, is held every January 1. The vibrant celebration not only showcases the rich heritage of the community, but also serves as a testament to the resilience and unity of the people.
The festival kicks off with a colourful parade featuring traditional attire and dances featuring hunters and women groups. As the procession winds its way, spectators are immersed in a sensory feast, surrounded by the hues and infectious energy of cultural tapestry.
Elders adorned in traditional regalia lead ceremonies, passing down sacred knowledge to the younger generation, fostering a strong sense of continuity and identity.
However, the 2024 festival was celebrated low key after it was suspended for four years due to the security challenges that bedevilled the area.
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Speaking at the festival, the paramount ruler of Kagoro, Chief Ufuwai Bonet, said the festival served as a platform for promoting unity and preserving their culture.
Chief Bonet stated that the last four years were the most trying period for Kagoro Chiefdom owing to the unrelenting attacks in the area.
He lauded the state and federal governments’ efforts in restoring peace in the area and called on the people to maintain the peace.
He appealed to Gov Uba Sani to among other things revisit the Kagoro Hills Resort project, noting that it would increase the revenue generation base of the state.
In his remarks, Gov Sani, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Prof.Ben Gugong, lauded the exhibition and display of the rich cultural heritage of the Kagoro people and enjoined the people to continue to live in peace with one another.
Also speaking, Prof Duniya Gambo, the National President of the Gworok Development Association, said the festival was an opportunity to thank God for a successful farming season.
Gambo called on the government at all levels to compensate victims of attacks in the area.
He also called on the government and the private sector to partner with the association to reorganise the festival in order to meet its socio-cultural and economic potentials.
Earlier, the Chairman of Kaura LGA and Chief Host of the occasion, Siman Mathias, said the festival was a beacon of the collective spirit and commitment to preserving tradition and cultural heritage, serving as a platform for promoting peace, harmony and collective community life.
He, therefore, urged the state government to ensure peace and security was restored in the zone.
A former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Martin Luther Agwai, said Nigerians should seek fundamental ways of addressing the drivers of conflicts and their escalation to prevent destruction, noting that synergy between the community and the government was imperative.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State, Reverend Joseph Hayyab, explained that the festival represented peace and communal harmony.
Hayyab said, “People are out there in their different attires and different cultural displays, dancing, celebrating and rejoicing. What they have not done in the past three or four years, and so for us we find this very important and it’s a commitment and a challenge. We have to encourage this in every community in Southern Kaduna and every part of Nigeria.
“If you have this massive crowd, it shows you the importance of peace; it shows you why people should make sacrifices to have peace, because the absence of peace destroys everything people will love to have.”
The highlight of the event was a spectacle of performances that seamlessly blended ancient traditions with contemporary influences. Dancers adorned in vibrant attires moved in graceful unison, creating a mesmerising visual display that captivated the audience and emphasised the enduring cultural legacy of Kagoro.
As the sun set on the day of the festival, leaving behind a trail of memories and shared experiences, the people of Kagoro carried forward the spirit of their cultural celebration.
The festival attracted visitors from the neighbouring states of Plateau, Nasarawa, Kano, Bauchi, as well as friends of the Kagoro Chiefdom.
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