University of Nigeria Research Publications ENEMUO, Ogechi Blessing Author PG/MA/02/33629 The Role of Cultural Carnivals and Feasts in Tourism Development: A Case Study of Abia Title State Arts Faculty Archaeology Department October, 2004 Date Signature TITLE PAGE THE ROLE OF CULTURAL CARNIVALS AND FEASTS IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF ABIA STATE ENEMUO OGECHI BLESSING PGlMAl02133629 A PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.) IN ARCHAEOLOGY SUPERVOSOR: PROF. V.E.CHIKWENDU OCTOBER 2004. APPROVAL PAGE (5Lriwm&-.l PROF. CHIKWENDU V.E (Thesis Supervisor) (EXTERNAL EXAMINER) DEDICATION This work is specially dedicated to my dear husband Mr. Emeka Edo and my hearty kids Purity, Excel and Splendor Edo and finally to my beloved parents Mr. and Mrs. Paul Aboajah. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am grateful onto God for his divine mercies through out the period of this research work. I acknowledge with immense gratitude the financial and moral support of my dear husband Mr. Emeka Edo towards the accomplishment of this work. The effort of my dear supervisor Prof. V.E Chikwendu towards advising and correcting me while canying out this work can not be left out. I also acknowledge the advise of my lecturers including Prof. A.1 Okpoko, Dr. P.U Okpoko, Dr. (Mrs.) P. Ezeuzoamaka, Dr. A Ibeanu, Dr. Ezike. I am grateful to my sisters Eberechikwu, Chinwe, Oluchi, Amarachi, my only brother lfeanyichukwu and my in-law Mr. John Ogwo, for their moral support and encouragement during this research work. t also acknowledge Mr. Okoji for supplying me with a good number of material. I also wish to acknowledge Ugwunebo Ben-Bruno. 0. for plates 4, 6,8, 18,30,33, 34 and 35. Finally I am grateful to my course mates Emeka Oknonkwo and Uchenna Ojiakor for their encouragement during this work. PREFACE Tourism is an unexplored Goldmine in Nigeria but recently it has gained interest by the government and non organization in the country. The introduction festival of Arts and Culture, by the National Council for Arts and Culture have helped in the development of cultural tourism in Nigeria and Abia state in particular. The Ugwuabia cultural carnivals and the local feasts that are conducted in the various local government .in the state, has really helped in the development of tourism industry in the state. It has also helped in the development of the state economy and the upgrading of the standard of living in Abia State. In the light of the above fact, this project has elucidated how these carnivals and feasts have helped in the development of tourism industry in Abia State. This research work is sub-divided into six chapters. Chapter one is an introduction. The chapter discusses the statement of problem, research objectives, methodology, scope and limitations of the research. Attempts are also made to defining the basic terms used in this research work. Chapter two is literature review which is divided into two the first part is the theoretical literature which embodies the development theory used in backing this research work. The second part is the empirical literature that centers on different definition and meanings some authors give these words-cultural carnivals, Tourism and development. The last part on this chapter is the theoretical orientation. Chapter three presents the general background of Abia state, covering such special areas as the historical background, geographical location, the people and culture: Abia State Council for Arts and Culture, an overview, then the natural resources in Abia state their location and utilization. Chapter four centers on the Abia state council for Arts and Culture, the history of ugwuabia cultural carnival, Ugwuabia of 94' to 2000 Ugwuabia lecture series, children's carnivals and the different local government in Abia State and the local feasts they celebrate. Chapter five deals on the role of cultural carnivals and feast in tourism development in Abia state. These roles were sub-divided into, social/political role organizational and Artistic role, Economic. Monetary role. Chapter six which is the last chapter presents the future of carnivals and feasts in tourism promotion in Abia State, culture and tourism as aid to development in Nigeria. The effect of tourism on Abia state and the work ends with suggestion and conclusion. TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. * i Approval Page ...... ... ... ... ... ... ... ii ... Dedication ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 111 Acknowledgement ... ... ... ... ... ... ... iv Preface ...... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... v Table of Contents ... ... ... ... ... ... ... vii List of plates ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ix List of map ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... xi CHAPTER ONE ... ... ... 1. 1 Introduction...... ... ... 1.2 Statement of Problem ...... 1.3 Research 0 bjectives ... ... 1.4 Methodology ... ... ... 1.4.1 Scope of Research ... ... 1.5 Limitations ...... ... ... 1.6 Definition of terms ...... ... 1.6.1 Cultural Carnival ...... ... 1.6.2 Feasts ... ... ... ... 1.6.3 Tourism ...... ... ... CHAPTER TWO ... ... ... Literature Review ... ... ... 2.1 Introduction...... ... ... 2.2 Theoretical Literature... ... 2.2.1 Development theory ... 2.3 Empirical Literature... ... 2.3.1 Cultural Carnivals ... ... 2.3.2 Tourism and Development . 2.3.3 Forms of Tourism ... ... ... Vlll 2.3.4Theoretical Orientation ...... ... ... ... ... 21 CHAPTER THREE ... ... ... ... ... ... 22 3.1 Historical background ... ... ... ... ... ... 22 3.2 Geographical Location ...... ... ... ... ... 22 3.3 The people and their culture ...... ... ... ... 23 3.4 Abia State Council for Arts and Culture; An overview ... 26 3.5 Natural Resources In Abia State: their location and utilization.... ... ... ... ... ... ... 28 CHAPTER FOUR ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 4.1 History of Ugwuabia ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 4.2 Ugwuabia 94' to 2000 ....... ... ... ... ... 33 4.3 Children's Carnival.... ... ... ... ... ... 39 4.4 Ugwuabia lecture series ...... ... ... ... ... 40 4.5 Different L.G.A In Abia State and their feasts .... ... 50 CHAPTER FIVE ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 53 The role of these Carnivals and feast in Tourism Development: 53 5.1 Educational Role .... ... ... ... ... ... 53 5.2 Social/Political Role ... ... ... ... ... ... 54 5.3 Organizational And Artistic Role ... ... ... ... 55 5.4 Economic/Monetary Role .... ... ... ... ... 56 CHAPTER SIX ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 58 6.1 The future of Carnivals And Feasts in Tourism Promotion in Abia State .... ... ... ... ... 58 6.2 Effect of Tourism on Abia State ... ... ... ... 60 6.3 Culture And Tourism as aid to development in Nigeria Sources And Bibliography ... ... ... 62 Lists of Informants Bibliography LIST OF PLATES 1. Oke Nkwa dance group 2. Ekpo Nkalu 3. Ugbonga Buyedance group from Umuahia North L.G.A 4.Argurugu Buihe dance group from Umuahia North LGA 5. Blugwu dance group from Arochukwu 6. Torotoro masquerade from Nsukka 7. Ogbogo nta dance group from Ngwa 8. Ekpo Obinkita from Aro-0 keigbo 9. Abiriba dance group 10 Ite 0kpom masquerade 11. Ekpoisi from uzuakoli 12. Egioumgbed dance group from lsiala Ngwa 13. Atiogwu dance group 14. Ekpo Nmohu from lsiukuata 15. Youth dancing group from lkwuano LGA 16.0 hafia war dance 17 Different dancing groups from different LGA of the State 18. Abiriba dancing group 19 Mgbadike dancer 20. Different masquerades from different LGA of the State 21. Nkwa Ukwu from lbem Ohafia 22. Atilogwu dance from Ukwu LGA 23. Ohafia dance group 24. Ukwa Umu agbogo 25. Eketesni Dance group lyalu Ubere lkwuano LGA 26. Wresting group from lkwuano LGA 27. Ekpo Masquerades from Ogbodiukwu Umuahia South LGA 28. Nkwu Umuagbogo 29. Nmaburu dancers from lsikuata 30. Children's art work 31. Different dancing groups 32. Different dancing groups 33. Display of artistic drama 34. Different dancing group 35. The magic dancer LIST OF MAP Map of Abia State of Nigeria showing the Local government areas. (God's Own State) CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Abia State is one of the State that have high regard for the lgbo Culture and they are also proud of it. Abia State occupy a prime in the heart of the Igbo. The people of the State are cultural people and there are many tourist attraction created during these cultural activities. According to Mr. Onyeabo 0.N one of my informant, Abians recognize that a people without a vibrant and self-justifying culture become nothing but "Slaves" to more articulate race this mad the sate government to institute an all embracing cultural feast in different local government areas and the general "UGUWABIA" cultural carnival and the Children Carnival to sensitize the people and resuscitate their dying cultural traditions and through this improve the tourism industry of the state. Ugwuabia being the major source of tourist attraction in the state. In cultural wise, have been celebrated three times since the creation of Abia State. The first "Ugwuabia" Cultural Carnival took place in 1994, the second one was in 1996 and the third was in the year 2000. According to Mr. Kanu the director of Cultural affairs in the state, "the carnival represent an assemblage of all the cultural dances and arts from all local government areas of the sate. Mr. Kanu further explained that "the Carnival can be described as a melting pot for all the cultural heritage of the people which are expressed in dances. Masquerades, Arts and cultural embellishments (See plate 1 & 2). Colloquium are normally