Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi State last week became centre of attraction as a mammoth crowd throng the town to celebrate this year’s Sayawa annual cultural festival, Lepm Zaar.
The spectacular cultural event witnessed unique presence of personalities, cultural groups, the business community and well-wishers from far and near to promote the gospel of peace and unity within and outside the area. It was also to caution youths against ethno religions crisis.
The festival displayed Sayawas political, social and economic lives through cultural attires, music and dances with a view to teach and inculcate the heritage to the younger for sustained future commitment.
Apart from the political class, prominent traditional rulers within Bauchi and neighbouring states with their colourful retinue of guards added pomp to the occasion.
In fact, right from the entrance of the town to the venue of the event everyone would notice the usual presence the host communities and visitors dressed in their respective cultural attires blowing various types of trumpet and playing various cultural instruments to the delight of all.
Daily Trust on Sunday observed that this year’s event focused on changing the narrative of violence, mistrust and suspicion that is prevalent in Tafawa Balewa and the need for peaceful coexistence and tolerance with one another.
The paramount ruler of Gung Zaar Select, Air Commodore Ishaku Komo (rtd), who spoke on peace and unity noted that the festival was meant to appreciate Almighty God for His blessings for the bumper harvest and elevation of his subjects in various ways.
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, represented by Bauchi state Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Sadiq Abubakar urged all ethnic groups in the state to embrace peace and take up the responsibility of resuscitating the state’s valued arts and craft that were highly appreciated by tourists.
He said for any government to successfully implement its policies, there is need for peaceful coexistence among the various ethnic groups of such state.
In her speech, the guest speaker at the occasion, Professor Mary Doni of the University of Jos, also emphasized the need for peace and said youths are greatest asset if they had good mentors and leaders.
Also speaking, the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Aisha Mohammed, called on the people of Tafawa Balewa to live in peace and tolerate one another adding that Nigeria cannot move forward without unity and trust.
On his part, the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Y. Suleiman admonished ethnic groups in Bauchi State to emulate Sayawa in culture preservation. He said that culture is a total way of life thus, whoever abandons his culture has abandoned his original way of life. The Speaker commended Sayawa for preserving their culture in various ways including Lemp Zaar annual festival.
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