The Lake Chad region, which was ranked as Africa’s largest freshwater lake, has also been occupied by some areas with seasonal surfaces from year to year. It is located in west-central Africa and comprises Niger, Chad, Nigeria, and Cameroon. It is noteworthy for important archaeological discoveries, its role in trans-Saharan trade, and its connection with historical African kingdoms and ancient cultural heritage.
Conservatively, the featured countries under the territory were enveloped with historical, bread-and-butter cultural heritage that served as a plausible means of growing those lands and kingdoms.
Meanwhile, there are some other cultural heritage sites which were either artificially created by our forefathers or naturally formed and rearranged to maintain the cultural values of the areas of the Lake Chad region.
Inside a few of Nigeria’s Lake Chad regions, particularly Yobe, Borno, and Bauchi states, several amazing cultural heritages have been preserved as historical sites for the sake of tourism and to honour the younger generations. In ancient times, the region was enriched by various sources of fishing, farming, and rearing of animals, irrigation, how its water sustains people and other economic activities.
The region has developed enormously in maintaining and expanding the value of that vital cultural heritage, but the areas continuously experience challenges of losing attention from people who are likely being colonised by irrelevant cultures, while the majority live with no knowledge of those interesting cultural heritage practices and places. It should be important to give people the full story of how rich in cultural heritage the Lake Chad region was and to reimagine ways to entice them to support those cultures.
The need to revive cultural heritage in the Lake Chad region is important because such places are meant to be historical backgrounds that are keyed to maintaining the image of people living in areas of the region. It easily generates income from tourism management and helps gain knowledge of history.
Specifically, some states, such as Borno, Yobe, and Bauchi, have an enthralling cultural heritage that has a wide origin from the lives of forefathers and that closely brings effective development for the regions, their government, and society at large. For instance, in Yobe State, there are numerous places which were created to enhance the cultural standard of the Lake Chad region.
However, in the local areas of the state, most commonly in the emirate palace, cultural heritage is highly valued.
Places and occasions that underscore the cultural heritage of the state, are Daura Old Settlement, Bade Fishing and Cultural Festival, Old Daniski Settlement, Bakarau Festival, Birnin Ngazargamu, Dokshi Spring Water, Dagona Birds Sanctuary, Dufuna Canoe and Tulo-Tulowa.
The ‘Dufuna Canoe’ was discovered near the region of the River Yobe. The canoe was discovered by a Fulani herdsman in May 1987 around Dufuna village while digging a well. The canoe is almost black wood and is said to be Africa’s mahogany, as entirely an organic material. According to research, the canoe is about 8,500 years old, thus making it the oldest African boat.
In Borno State, places like the Shehu of Borno Palace, Sanda Kyarimi Park Zoo, Rabe’s Fort in Dikwa, Lake Chad Game Sanctuary, Lake Tilla, Jarry Falls, and Borno State Museum are exciting cultural sites.
Nevertheless, government should make efforts to attract tourists to the nation’s tourists site. It will stand it in good stead in the long run.
•Adeyemo is a Mass Communication student at University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID).