20th Edition, April 2009 sights that make these events Strive to remain the most unique, not only as a means of authoritative information data cultural expression but as part of bank of the rich and diverse Nigeria's contribution to global Arts, cultural and tourism culture-tourism. potentials of Nigeria. As you enjoy these scintillating JOIN US!!!!!!!!!!! sights and experience, we wish t o u s e t h i s m e d i u m t o acknowledge the following sources, Vanguard Online Edition, Daily Trust Online, Seaway Blog and Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia. At NACD, OUR MISSION IS TO TAKE YOU TO THE LAST FRONTIERS OF CULTURANA NIGERIA, as we EDITORIAL TEAM The 19th Edition of the NACD Newsletter provided a glimpse Editor-in-Chief of Abuja, the Centre of Unity Prince Chinedu Obi and the hub of tourism in Africa. In this 20th edition, we take you Editor on tour of yet another cultural Ben Oti adventure. This time, we give Script you a preview of Nigeria's Chidinma Iwuoha foremost cultural festivals; the Argungun International Fishing Photography and Cultural Festival, Eyo Godswill Ayemoha Masquerade Festival in Lagos, Boniface Ezenwa the Amazing Minna Sallah Graphics D u r b a r , a n d t h e O s u n Jude Eziuka Oshogbo Festival coming up soon. Marketing Team Caroline M. Ojeonu The essence is to bring to your Hauwa Sambo doorstep the inside stories, the Ekerebi Brenda glamour and unforgettable Nigeria is a country with a people's life: fertility, t h e y h a v e b e c o m e festivals are even more large expanse of land, economic prosperity, necessary for ethnic interesting because of the populated by about 120 health, clement weather, groups to showcase their diversity, depth and the million people and over bumper harvest etcetera. cultures; if for no other season each festival is 250 ethnic groups. Each All these were reasons for reason, to preserve their staged. The time frame ethnic group is endowed festivity. More recently, cultural identity from a v a i l s l o c a l a n d with a unique cultural these festivals have obliteration. To do this, international tourists the h e r i t a g e , d i f f e r e n t become means of forging each ethnic group stages opportunity to go on dressing, arts and crafts, unity among the people its festival at a particular excursions round the occupation and behaviour and engendering the spirit period of the year as country and capture live, but who exist as a single of oneness. However, if dictated by their taboos the rich and entertaining nation. Through these there is any period in and other peculiar festivals that take place at ethnic groups comes a which these festivals have reasons. Besides the different times and parts of plethora of festivals which become necessary, it is s o c i o - p o l i t i c a l a n d the country. Some of the are unique in themselves. the present, in light of the religious dimensions of festivals are: In the past, most festivals t r e n d t o w a r d s the festivals, they have in Nigeria were used to pay globalisation. Festivals b e c o m e v e r i t a b l e obeisance to deities for are even more interesting instruments of cultural almost every aspect of the because of the diversity, tourism. Nigerian FISHING FESTIVAL The Argungu International Fishing Argungu Festival was not always a Religious rites prior to the time of Festival 2009 has since come and fishing festival. What a surprise Surame Gungu of Kebbi kingdom. In gone; a resounding success it was this will be for many to hear! other words, it began as an informal too. The NACD Project however family and communal affair. Since deems it fit to provide some The Argungu International Fishing that time, the festival has undergone information on the ethos of this all- and Cultural Festival is the several changes and modifications. Its important event of the art, culture culmination of a four-day cultural evolution at Argungu seems to go hand and tourism sector to our teeming event in the north-western Nigerian in hand with the socio-economic readership.This in other words; is state of Kebbi. It predates the development of the Kabawa (people taking a look at the historical 'conquests' of Kanta of Kebbi in the of Kebbi) generally. Since the 16th background of the festival as well as early 16th century. The festival century (Kanta's days), the festival as a brief of what actually took place. started initially in the form of we know it today has become more elaborate and stylish. At the same devoid of the usual Bori and Tsafi That year, the festival was time, it has since the jihad period exhibitions. Dignitaries from attended by a non-Argungu notable been getting progressively enriched neighbouring riverine areas dignitary in the person of Sarkin with the fielding of more events for featured regularly as guests even Musulmi; Sultan Hassan Dan the entertainment of the attending in those early days of the Mu'azu. In response to an earlier public. Sometime between the 16th festival's history. The 1934 invitation extended by the Emir of century and 1934 (particularly during edition was the turning point of Argungu; Muhammad Sama, the Kanta's days), the festival assumed a the festival, during which the newly appointed Sultan of Sokoto nationalistic character, achieved f i s h i n g c o m p e t i t i o n w a s paid a visit to Argungu as a special through the spectacular rallying introduced to compliment other guest. The fishing competition was powers of Kanta himself. From 1934, cultural events that constitute its included as part of the events to it assumed a non-religious tone, entertainment segment. entertain the Sultan, the host haven considered that only such as “Noodling” in the United States). expenditure at the festival according an uncommon display would be The fisherman who makes the to NTDC was N1.3 billion out of which befitting a visitor of his calibre. It biggest catch wins a prize of 7500 food and drinks alone accounted for marked the end of the centuries- dollars. In 2005, the winning fish half a billion naira, transportation old hostility between the Sokoto weighed 75kg, and needed four men f e t c h e d N 7 8 m i l l i o n w h i l e Caliphate and the Kebbi kingdom. to hoist it onto the scales. With over accommodation at Argungu, Sokoto Between 1934 and 1950, the 21 nations in attendance at this and Birnin Kebbi brought in N146 festival began to record a certain year's edition, the Argungu million. The report also indicates that degree of consistency in terms of International Fishing Festival is now at least about N206 million exchanged d a t e s a n d a t t e n d a n c e . assuming the status of a globally hands for shopping particularly for Thousands of fishermen line up preferred tourist destination. souvenirs, mementoes, decorations, like an ancient army, carrying According to figures released by the textile materials and crafts; while their traditional nets and gourds. Nigerian Tourism Development N50 million was realized from At the sound of a gun, they pound Corporation, a total of 262,386 packaged tours both by air and land. towards the narrow river and leap visitors witnessed this year's edition Speaking to journalists in Abuja on the into the water, having just one of the famed fishing festival, out of report, the Director-General of the hour to catch the biggest fish. In which about 400 are from abroad. Nigerian Tourism Development 2009, more than 30,000 fishermen The figures indicate that visitors Corporation, Otunba Olusegun participated. People from all over from Niger, Mali, Chad, USA, Runsewe commended the Kebbi State West Africa attended the main Germany and Britain top the list of government for utilizing to the event which is the fishing contest foreign tourists at the event which f u l l e s t , t h e p u b l i c / p r i v a t e in the waters of River Mata Fada, was held in Argungu, Kebbi State, partnership initiative for the success using nets and calabash gourds for North West of Nigeria from March of the festival. He urged other states catching and storing. Only 11th to 15th. True to their reputation to bring up products that can be traditional fishing tools are as the most travelled tourists in the promoted and marketed by the NTDC allowed and many prefer to catch world, a total of 40 Germans as part of its holistic approach to fish entirely by hand (a practice attended the show followed by developing Nigeria's tourism industry. also popular elsewhere and known Americans and the British. Total Lagos residents, local and foreign visitors trooped Going down memory lane, the first performance of the out in their numbers to watch and enjoy one of the most prestigious, cultural masterpieces on display; Adamu-Orisha parade in Lagos Island took place on the Eyo Masquerade Festival, otherwise known as September 11th, 1852 and was staged in memory of late Adamu-Orisha masquerades. Eyo as it is popularly Chief Dosunmun Ashogbon while the last Eyo masquerade known is perhaps the most popular social parade in the city was on August 2nd, 2003, in memory of masquerade in Lagos.