The ancient town of Kaltungo in southern part of Gombe State was a beehive of activities during 2019 Christmas festivities. A courtesy of colourful display of rich cultural heritage of the ancient chiefdom.
It was the annual Pan-Mana Cultural Festival, a carnival organised by the Mai Kaltungo, Engineer Saleh Muhammad, to celebrate and maintain the history and traditions of the Kaltungo and Shongom people.
On the chilly morning of December 26, the Olusegun Obasanjo Stadium in Kaltungo Township, venue of the epoch making event, was filled to capacity with guests from within and outside the state.
Among the guests were Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, his Deputy, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Abubakar Sadiq Kurba, members of the state assembly and federal legislators from the state as well as members of the state executive council.
Also in attendance are Emir of Gombe and Chairman of the state Council of Emirs and Chiefs, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III; Emirs of Askira in Borno State, Alhaji Mai Abdullahi Muhammadu Askirama, Jajere in Yobe State, Alhaji Hamza Mai Buba Ibn Isa Mashio and the Amna Shelleng, Adamawa State, Abdullahi Isa Dasong, and Mai Tula, Alhaji Abubakar Buba Atare II, as well as other prominent persons from the chiefdom and beyond.
The high point of the event was when the entourage of the Mai Kaltungo, dressed in colourful traditional regalia, entered the venue to a standing ovation from spectators.
Different ethnic groups from across the chiefdom, each dressed in their respective traditional regalia which showcased their customs and culture, welcomed the revered monarch with cheers signifying the commencement of the event.
During the ceremony, the ethnic groups comprising men and women, young and old displayed their cultural heritage in measured dance steps to the amazement and resounding applause from the audience.
In a speech, Mai Kaltungo, Engineer Saleh Muhammad urged both Muslims and Christian faithful in the chiefdom to embrace peace and preach love and unity among themselves.
He said the event tagged “Pan-Mana” 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.
Engineer Muhammad said the annual cultural festival was initiated to preserve the cultural heritage of the people of Kaltungo and to promote unity and intercultural cooperation.
“The Pan-Mana is an occasion for all of us to come together for peace and unity and to share our common heritage,” he said.
The monarch welcomed his subjects who came back home to Kaltungo for both Christmas and New Year celebrations and urged them to imbibe the spirit of sharing and to live in peace with each other.
In his address, Governor Yahaya restated the commitment of his administration towards promoting cultural values and heritage as a way of strengthening the bond of unity and harmony among the diverse people of the state.
The governor, who was the Special Guest of Honour, said such events are needed to promote unity in diversity as well as to ensure that young people get acquainted with the historical and cultural values of their communities.
While praising the Mai Kaltungo for sustaining the annual cultural fiesta, Governor Yahaya urged other traditional rulers to emulate the monarch and initiate programmes and events that will help to entrench peace, unity and tranquility among the different ethno-religious groups in their respective domains.
“All of us are products of our own cultures and traditions. So we must strive to maintain our historical values and heritage; advance them and encourage our young ones to imbibe our good cultures.
“I commend His Royal Highness, the Mai Kaltungo for maintaining this tradition for quite a while and I enjoin other traditional rulers to emulate him and replicate this in their domains,” Yahaya said.
The governor described the Kaltungo carnival as a symbol of unity, not only for the people of the state, but for the North-East and the nation as a whole.
Governor Yahaya also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for placing the country on the path of economic prosperity through his “grow and eat made in Nigeria products” policy, which he said his administration has already keyed into. He also said he supports all people-oriented policies and programmes of the federal government, aimed at bettering the lots of the citizenry.
The Commissioner of Information and Culture, Ibrahim Alhassan Kwami said the ministry will continue to encourage and promote culture and tourism for the socio-economic development of the state.
Our correspondent reports that the Kaltungo carnival also witnessed the presentation of awards of honour and appreciation to dignitaries for their support towards the success of the event as well as their steadfastness in promoting culture and traditions.
