Preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage

Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage boasts of huge eclectic and colourful festivals that are full of rhythm, brilliant colours, fun and great pace. Their origins are steeped in great traditions of religious obeisance, traditional games, folklore, dance and drama.
These festivals present an ever present reminder of the finest of the country’s heritage which should be enjoyed and appreciated from generation to generation. They also form a great treasure to be continuously showcased to the world with a systematic process where local and international stakeholders in the arts, culture and tourism sectors in both the public and private sphere can enhance their promotional & commercial interests respectively.
The Eyo Festival, also called the Adamu Orisha Play presents one of the most serene and prestigious celebrations in Nigeria. At the time of the festival, the streets of Lagos Island are transformed into stunning white.
It attracts thousands of tourists from around the world who come to see costumed dancers or masquerades called ‘Eyo’ perform.  It is strongly believed that Eyo Festival is the forerunner of the world biggest carnival in the world, the Rio de Janeiro Carnival, with the strong migration of the Yoruba of Lagos to Brazil many years ago.
The Calabar Carnival takes place every December and comes with a lot of fanfare, artistry and scintillating performances. It is a blend of creativity and culture, tradition and modernity. You get to see long feathered head dresses, the colourful costumes, gorgeous dancers and dance steps.
Lagos Carnival is as colourful as the Calabar Carnival but slightly different. Lagos Carnival is one of the most vibrant parties in Nigeria. You can feel the excitement in the air even before the carnival kicks off yearly.  Revelers are seen travelling from different parts of the world to experience this carnival.
We leave the comfort of the bustling city life to experience one of the most regarded cultural festivals in Nigeria.  It usually takes place in the month of July and August every year. Off to the Sacred Forest of Osun, in a one week colourful festival to honour and reverence the river goddess, Oshun of Osun State. Pretty much experience for anyone who has ever come to Sango Festival, this festival is in honour of Sango, the all powerful god in Yoruba’s traditional beliefs. This festival has facilitated an annual home-coming avenue for Yoruba descents in the Diaspora. It brings back the past history and celebrates the culture and tradition of the people, while creating wealth and employment for the people.
Ojude Oba festival is another cultural heritage that is woven from threads of diversity, history, legend and conquest. ‘The King’s front year’ is the literal meaning of Ojuda Oba. The people of Ijebu Ode return en masse to pay their homage to the king, the Awujale of Ijebuland. This takes place on the third day of the Ileya Festival, (Eid-el-Kabir). This festival includes parades, traditional songs, equestrian skill display and lots more.
For seven days, a few weeks before Christmas in the city of Port Harcourt, The Port Harcourt Carnival which combines two carnivals; a contemporary Caribbean style carnival and a cultural carnival changes the ‘Garden City to become very colourful.  Carniriv is Rivers State’s biggest tourism export.
The Ofala Festival is held in Anambra State where the Obi of Onitsha, Dr Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe and traditional rulers who are adorned in their red caps and royal regalia with their traditional staffs paint the whole place red with their parades and display of affluence and power.
You may have experienced some fascinating water activities around the world but if you have not been to Argungu fishing festival, your list may not be complete. The alluring dynamics of the festival, the exciting spectators, and the anxious competitors who are ready to jump inside the river to begin their search for the biggest fish make this fishing festival extraordinary and beautiful.
One festival that is celebrated around the country is the New Yam Festival; from the Leboku in Ugep, Cross River State to the Iriji-Mmanwu festival in Enugu State, the festival is celebrated in pomp and cultural display.  Hundreds of masquerades, dancers in beautiful attires and acrobatic displays make it a festival of great fun.
The Durbar is also an annual festival celebrated in several cities of Northern Nigeria. It begins with prayers, followed by a parade of the emir and his entourage on horses, accompanied by music players, and ending at the emir’s palace. Durbar festivals are organized in cities such as Kano, Katsina, Bida, etc.
Durbar festival dates back to hundreds of years ago before the arrival of religions when horses were used by the emirates in the combats. The festival was intended to be the parade of military soldiers of various northern regiments riding in defense of the emir showcasing their horsemanship, loyalty and preparedness for war. Today, Durbar festivals are also organized in honor of visiting heads of state and it displays the rich northern Nigerian culture and tradition.
The festival is full of colorful procession, pomp and pageantry which are led by the emir and it features a competition between the royal Calvary, drummers, trumpeters, praise singers and wrestlers, making it a widely viewed event in Northern Nigeria. The festival also showcases the full procession of villagers as they gather at the public square or in front of the emir’s palace where this spectacular and amazing event takes place every year. On this day people enjoy the fabulous view of horse race at full gallop across the public squares, especially the fierce riding acts by the emir’s household and reg¬imental guards, the Dogari.
Keshi is the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Abuja