For three days, Abeokuta, the capital of the Gateway State of Ogun, attracted thousands of lovers of tourism and entertainment with this year’s African Drum Festival which, for many, remains one of the big tourism events in the country.
The annual festival which had its maiden edition in 2016 is aimed at promoting the culture and traditions of African people through drums, as a way of sustaining the rich cultural values of black nations.
The importance of drum which comes in different types and sizes cannot be overemphasized among African people, as it has been best described as one of the means of communication. The 2018 edition was an improvement on the previous ones with the inclusion of conferences, workshops and exhibition, just as Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, was appointed the festival’s consultant.
The theme for this year’s festival was tagged “Drumming for Advancement” with the sub-theme “Drumming for Socio-Economic Development”.
For many tourism and culture enthusiast, the festival since inception has been contributing in boosting Nigeria’s economy in no small way. No fewer than 15 African countries, including Cameroon, Ghana, Republic of Benin, Congo Brazzaville, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Togo, Cote D’Ivoire, 22 states of the federation, the National Troupe as well as over 80 troupes were in attendance.
This year’s edition was superlative in the real sense of it as the scope of the festival was broadened for wider participation. There was parade of participants which added glitz and glamour to the event.
Welcoming the audience, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Muyiwa Oladipo, maintained that the festival “is not in any way a jamboree as being speculated by critics of this administration, but rather a way of reviving African culture through drums.”
He noted that the entire continent of Africa was indeed proud of the festival, which according to him, was the best out of the previous ones, adding that the festival had become a flagship event in Africa.
Oladipo noted that a lot was learnt about acquiring knowledge as regards other people’s culture and tradition, while classifying musical instruments in Africa into four typologies: the membranophones which are based on membranes (drums); the chordophones based on strings; the aerophones that are dependent on blowing the air and Idiophone which makes music by striking and shaking nature.
“The drum which is an important aspect of our culture has a deep meaning to each and every one of us. However, what the drum means to one person may be different from what it means to the other. Therefore, what the drum means to our royal fathers who are custodians of our culture and tradition is different from what it means to other people.
“It is better to learn the importance of the drum to us as individuals and Africans, thus the African Drum Festival is the best place on the African continent and indeed in the world to learn about what the drum stands for and the potentials that can be derived from it.
“We are drumming to advance the cause of art and towards revitalization of socio-cultural education, economic growth, human development and integration,” he said.
Traditional rulers unite to celebrate the essence of the drum
The festival, no doubt, has continued to enjoy royal endorsement with the presence of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Bassey Ekpo Bassey, members of the Ogun State Traditional Council under the chairmanship of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.
In his goodwill message, Oba Ogunwusi said that the festival was a tourism haven and a boost to unity in the country and Africa as a whole. The revered traditional ruler added that numerous benefits were attached to the festival, especially the economic value that it brings to the state, thereby commending the state government for organising the event. He added that culture in every sense superseded religion, admonishing the Yoruba nation on the need to promote culture, emphasizing that “our culture must not die.”
In his presentation, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi, called for the sustainability of the festival considering the fact that the Amosun-led government which initiated the idea of the festival had few months left in office. He decried lack of continuity in government policies and programmes as one of the bane of underdevelopment being witnessed across the length and breadth of the country, advising successive governments to maintain and sustain this legacy.
He further averred that celebrating cultures and traditions would strengthen the bond among the various tribes that make up African, sustaining unity of purpose.
The Obong of Calabar described the drum festival as spectacular in all ramifications and urged other governors to embrace the festival, noting that Cross Rivers State also has so many festivals being celebrated to promote culture. He promised that his state would be fully represented during the next edition of the event.
For Oba Gbadebo, the festival has come to stay, just as he lent his voice to that of Oba Adeyemi, that anyone succeeding Amosun should continue with the festival, submitting that “drums are means of communication and therefore Africans must continue to promote our values.”
It was also a night of fun with various drum enthusiasts entertaining the whole crowd with different sounds from the drums. The audience including both young and old could not hide their joy watching the various performances.
The troupes from Kwara and Katsina states opened this year’s event as the drums kept rolling to the delight of the Honourable Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, representatives of governors of Lagos, Balyesa, Gombe, Chief Bola Ajibola, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, the Nollywood community which included Olu Jacobs, Jimoh Aliu, Fred Amata, Kareem Adepoju among many others.
The consultant to the festival, Soyinka, commended governor Amosun for the initiative which, according to him, brought another glory to the state, for recording another first.
Mohammed in his own view noted that the festival was getting better as it grew older, joining others to appreciate the government of the state for the noble idea.
The minister promised the unalloyed support of the Federal Government to take the festival beyond Africa, submitting that the yearly event would be listed in the national tourism calendar in Nigeria.
“I have personally been attending this festival since it started. We will ensure that it is included in our national calendar when the calendar is ready. This festival will improve the state and nation’s economy.
“I therefore urge the corporate world to support the festival through sponsorship. This festival is important to showcase our rich heritage. The preservation of this drum festival is for future generations,” he said.
“For us in Ogun State, this annual drum festival is our own contribution to cultural quest. As we move into the fourth year, the event will be majorly private sector driven. As government, we will continue to create the enabling environment,” he said.
“Festival, a rallying point for artistes”
He expressed delight at the emergence of female drummers, saying they had equaled the drumming prowess of their male counterparts.
“Apart from the electrifying performances from a large number of troupes from different places, states and countries, the festival has been a rallying point for people with artistic gifts. We will continue to see the emergence of female drummers who have equaled their male counterparts in drumming,” he said.
He thanked the academia led by Professor Soyinka, for introducing intellectual depth into the festival, adding that the general acceptability of the festival was evident by the presence of royal fathers from different parts of the country.
The second day of the event was colourful with various exhibitions mounted on the famous Olumo Rock with different speakers stressing the reasons drums should be valued, just as they highlighted that drums “are an integral part of Yoruba and African culture.” Professor Soyinka added that “drum entertainment is best enjoyed when various indigenous musical instruments are played together.”
Governor Amosun commended the drummers for igniting the spirit of the audience and also the efforts of 91-year-old, Mr. Tony Odili, for consistently drumming for 70 years. He mentioned that drum education would produce a culturally informed Africa as the governor climbed the rock with other dignitaries to behold a gallery of young and adult drummers on exhibition, just as he promised that his administration would build a 20,000-capacity amphitheater for the annual festival.
He said that the amphitheater would be ready by December and expressed confidence that the 2019 edition would be held within the facility. Amosun also added that his government was using the festival to create wealth for the youths as well as to promote social and economic development.
To Mr. Sylvanus Kuwor, a master drummer, drum and dance scholar at the University of Ghana, “words are stored in drums,” adding that Africa’s forefathers stored their experiences in drum beats. “Every drum beat represent words,” he said.
Another drummer, Mr. Laolu Akins, advised that drum education should be introduced to the youths, saying that African youngsters prefer the European culture to theirs. “If the youths are not informed on the hazards of neglecting the African culture, our rich indigenous heritage might go into extinction,” he said.
Landry Louba, a performer from Cote D’ Ivoire said for drumming to be sustained, trees in the forest should be preserved. According to her, “Without wood, more African drums will not be produced and production of more drums will improve the economy.”
However,Tourism Ambassador, Mr. Wande Akinboboye advised the state government to expand its event centre into a festive resort.
The grand finale of the three-day fiesta was another day of glitz and glamour, as all the participating troupes and individual performers displayed their best to the admiration of the audience.
Although, the time allocated for performances was inadequate, the audience was thrilled with Kwara, Enugu and Ogun winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions respectively in the State Category. The troupes went home with N2m; N1m and N500, 000.
In the private troupes’ category, Unique Singers came first and carted away N2m; Ijo Easy, second position with N1m and Footprints of David, third position with cash prize of N500, 000.
Congo Brazzaville came first in the foreign troupes’ category and went away with $5,000 followed by Cote d’Ivoire in the second position winning $3,000 and Togo coming third with $2,000.
The best African Drummer Individual Category was won by Slyvanus Kuwor of Ghana ($3,000); Individual Performance Female Category was won by Ayanyinka Olowogangan (N1m) while the male category was won by Lewis Ndlovu from Zimbabwe ($1,000).
Winners on the Special Recognition Category included Anthony Odili; Pa. Adewole Oniluola; Ogun State Cultural Troupe; Alhaji Mosaku Makuta; Ogunde troupe; Muideen Olatunji; Are the Drummer; Ekinimi Cultural Troupe from Akwa Ibom. They went away with N500, 000 cash prizes with plaques.
The last category was the Best Nigerian Upcoming Performing Troupe with Ijo Easy coming first; Osogbo Oroki and Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library second and third respectively.
and then