Rivers State raised the bar as host of the 31st National Festival of Arts and Culture themed Nigeria: Our Festivals, Our Heritage
HE could well be small in stature, but he’s big on delivering on his promises. Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, had promised that his state would raise the bar of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) and that was what happened from October 21 to 27, when the 31st edition of the unity festival held in the Garden City.
With the theme, Nigeria: Our Festivals, Our Heritage, the week-long event, organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) with the full backing of the Rivers State Government was participatory and beneficial.
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It involved not only the 25 participating states but also people of Rivers State who showed up in impressive numbers at the multiple venues used for the festival. They were the Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Sharks Stadium, Isaac Boro Park, Rex Jim Lawson Cultural Centre, Port Harcourt Tourist Beach Cultural Centre and Government House.
Fittingly, the festival first held in 1970, and which Rivers hosted for the third time also went beyond mere spectacles and competition. It had something for everyone but particularly children and the youth.
The children are coming
Saying that the 2018 NAFEST was for children wouldn’t be off the mark, the young ones had the times of their lives with several competitive and fun activities. The Otunba Segun Runsewe-led NCAC appeared to have taken to heart the Yoruba idiom which recommends involving children in cultural practices lest it dies off. Tales by moonlight, arts and craft competition and essay writing competition were some of the children’s activities, but by far the most enjoyable event was the reception the First Lady of Rivers State, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike hosted them to at the Government House.
Counselling the children earlier after the conclusion of the Essay Writing Competition, Runsewe, who is also President, World Crafts Council (African Region), told them they are all winners who must never succumb to failure. “Continue to be yourself and remain diligent. You might end up being the wife of a governor tomorrow or the governor itself. Think big and achieve big. Somebody is going to host you to a reception, be also ready to host children in the future. Never think twice about helping people,” he said.
The icing on the cake for the children, however, was Justice Wike’s reception where they had their fill of food, drinks, ice cream, cake and fun. None of the about 500 children that the governor’s wife hosted went home empty-handed. While the younger children were given customised school bags, the older ones got goody bags. The lawn of the Government House was turned to a dance arenas the children explored various dance moves under the tutelage of the energetic comperes.
Speaking at the event, Runsewe reiterated the importance of having good role models and never letting an opportunity pass one by. He also expressed gratitude to Mrs Wike for spending quality time with the children.
Youth empowerment
Another of the standout events at NAFEST was the skill acquisition programme that ran for five days. About 600 people, male and female, were trained at sessions held in meeting rooms of the Obi Wali Centre. They were taken through the rudiments of make-up, soap and body lotion, African hair and wigs, shoes and sandals, Ankara bags and bead making.
Having disclosed that it was a core component of this year’s NAFEST, it wasn’t a surprise to see the trainees and their instructors closing after 5 pm daily in a bid to ensure that they got the maximum training.
“Today, the creative industry is the best place to be,” began Runsewe during an interaction with participants in the skills acquisition program. “You don’t have to be indolent because you are unable to get white collar job. It’s what you can do for yourself that matters; God will not come down to help anyone, you need to act. This training is a lifetime opportunity to learn. We want to empower you so that you can also mentor others,” he continued.
The DG added that “Governor Wike gave us support and we’re grateful to him for this. This training is a continuous exercise, and I appeal to you all to take advantage of it. We will be glad to assist further after this exercise.”
Commendably, the trainees were all at the NAFEST closing ceremony where they got their certificates.
‘Sweetest part’
“Welcome to the sweetest part of NAFEST. Food culture forms part of our total heritage as no festival is complete without food. Indeed, festivals end with food,” Dr Liz Ben-Iheanacho, a director at the NCAC and anchor of the indigenous cuisine segment of NAFEST 2018, said by way of introduction at the Rex Jim Lawson Culture Centre.
The task for participating states in the competitive event was to make delicacies from yam, cassava and cocoyam; and none of them disappointed. The crowd that patiently queued after judges and dignitaries had tasted the food also to have their shares attested to the popularity of the segment. While Kaduna’s modest offering comprised, dried sweet potato cooked in beans and various snacks, Ogun State offered ojojo, asaro (yam pottage), ikokore, lafun wrapped in leaves and an assortment of soups, and Delta’s was yam kebab, tapioca and starch amongst others.
Rivers titillated the palates of guests with yam chips, yam balls, roasted yam and cocoyam, apalapa (cassava and plantain), onunu (yam and plantain dough) and mbrakasi (cassava and fish). Enugu wowed people with nkwobi, pounded yam, fufu, achicha, onugbo, abacha and aparata soup.
But truth be told, the indigenous cuisine segment was not only the sweet part. Traditional wrestling at the Sharks Stadium attracted people as did the thoroughly enjoyable command performance where Rivers and Anambra State raised the roof of the Rex Jim Lawson Culture Centre with scintillating dances and songs. The cultural golf tournament sponsored by Airtel equally attracted high net worth people.
Wike’s largesse
Governor Nyesom Wike got a standing ovation from people at the closing ceremony when he announced a gift of five million naira each for the 25 participating states. “You can’t go like that; you can’t just go empty-handed,” he said to shouts of joy from the participants.
The Governor, who had danced a bit to favourite Christian song, ‘Your name is Yahweh’, also commended the NCAC for putting together an excellent festival and disclosed that his wife was extremely pleased with all its components.
Wike further clarified that Rivers State is peaceful and said his state would not mind hosting the festival again in 2019, if possible while underscoring the importance of culture
He said, “I do know that Rivers is a loving, hospitable and secure state. We hosted the People’s Democratic Party, NAFEST and President Muhammadu Buhari some days ago and nothing happened. I see NAFEST, not as a competition, but a showcase of our diversity and cultural heritage. Let us use culture to unite this country. The entire country is here, and we are celebrating in unity. Apart from sports, culture is the uniting factor in Nigeria.”
Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State who attended the closing alongside Gov OkezieIkpeazu of Abia State spoke in the same vein. “From what I saw, culture has not failed us. If politics and religion have failed the nation, culture has not. Let us in unity pursue God’s program for the nation.”
Chair of the event, Chief Ferdinand Alabrabra said that NAFEST 2018 did not disappoint as it achieved its core objectives in line with the theme. “NAFEST 2018 ‘ll remain the standard for future festivals,” he said adding that, “NAFEST provides a unique platform for renewal; it’s a necessary cultural event for the survival of our country.”
Runsewe aligned himself with previous speakers, noting that there’s no basis for disagreements in Nigeria. “This is a beautiful festival that unites the country,” he added while thanking the Rivers State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Tonye Briggs-Oniyide and Wike.
The ceremony featured parades from the states, and the 23 local councils in Rivers, performances from a callisthenics group, Duncan Mighty and Sensational Bamidele before the curtains finally fell, with Edo State set to host the next edition.
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