Maiden drum festival to promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage, unity, says Amosun

http://www.gatewaymail.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Ogun-State-Governor-Senator-Ibikunle-Amosun..jpg

 

NIGERIA: THE maiden Nigerian Drum Festival will be used to promote the nation’s cultural heritage and unity of the people, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has said.

Amosun, who stated that participants from the 36 states of the country would attend the event, explained that the festival would also be an avenue to showcase talents and skills on drum beating, dancing and performances.

The governor further said that the event would similarly enhance tourism opportunities in his state, which in turn would create job for the teeming unemployed youths.
Amosun, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, on Tuesday night at the Cultural Centre unveiled the logo and launched the festival’s raffle draw scheduled to hold between April 19 and 21, 2016 in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The governor also added that the festival would enhance the nation’s growth and unity, specifically being the first festival of its kind in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Muyiwa Oladipo, had expressed optimism that the festival would turn around the face of culture and tourism not only in the state but the country and Africa.

Oladipo maintained that the drum event would promote cultural heritage of the country, which would make other African countries to borrow a leaf from.
The commissioner said: “Drum is a common factor that links tribes and ethnic groups with different cultures in Nigeria and the Nigeria Drums Festival will be an avenue to showcase the different types of drums.”
According to him, the festival logo was unveiled to begin and place an official stamp on the planning and organisation of the festival, while adding that the Culture and Tourism Ministry had commenced necessary plans to ensure the success of the festival.

He said: “This is purely an initiative of the Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism supported by the state government and some stakeholders, but more stakeholders and sponsors are welcome on board, the more the merrier.”
Oladipo, a one-time Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, added that the raffle draw was launched to create awareness and promote the festival amongst the grassroots.

He added that the event would be an opportunity for buyers to win fascinating prizes to commemorate the festival.
“This is part of the side attraction of the festival, there are other side attractions and they will be unveiled as time goes on,” Oladipo explained.
Also earlier at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Culture and Tourism Ministry, Mrs. S.O. Otun, noted that the festival would showcase to the people of the state and the country the rich cultural heritage as exhibited through different types of drums available for different festivities.
“This is a bold step to revive our cultural heritage by showing the importance of different types of drums,” she said, adding: “In the same vein our social cultural aspect that connects us to the native background will be revived.”
She stressed: “I urged you not to underestimate the relevance of this festival which is to expose the innate potentials of the participants who will come from different states of the federation.”