This year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) ended in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, last Sunday. It recorded many firsts. Aside having the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, as special guest of honour (first time the Presidency will be so represented),the festival was led by a woman Director-General, Mrs. Dayo Keshi. Also, the host state, Ebonyi, won the giant gong as the overall best state, despite being a first time host. Nineteen of the 36 states attended the festival, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME, who was at Abakaliki.
Like at the opening, cheers from the crowd at the closing of this year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) at the Abakaliki Stadium, captured the mood and great expectation of the art community.
With an early morning rain providing a soothing weather, states delegation filed out in colourful attires as the curtain was drawn on this year’s festival. For states that won laurels, especially the host, Ebonyi, it was dancing and jubilation galore.
It was the first time in the history of the 44-year-old festival, that the Presidency would be represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, who declared the festival open last Tuesday. Expectedly, the host state justified its 18 years’ wait with adequate preparations for this year’s festival described by many as successful, despite seeming low attendance by states. Absenteeism and lateness of states to the festival may have threatened the objectives of the festival.
Observers blamed this on the delay in release of funds to the state art councils as well as the increasing political campaigns. “It has become a recurring decimal that any NAFEST held a year preceding the general elections always suffers setbacks as most governors are more concerned about how to retain or capture power at the polls. Unfortunately, such shift by the governors is always at the expense of the spirit of the festival,” according to an observer. For instance, from the Southwest zone, only Oyo State was in attendance, while Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa were the states from Southsouth zone that attended the festival. Delta State came in the morning of the closing day.
Worried by this trend, the newly appointed Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) organisers of the yearly festival, Mrs Dayo Keshi, said the council would as a matter of priority look into the many challenges of the states including lateness to festival, late release of funds, inadequate preparations among others.
“Over two third of the states attended this year’s festival. But, we will be looking at these challenges of the states. We will connect with the governors on the need for full participation of the states. The few states that come early often emerge as winners. NAFEST belongs to us; it gives us the platform to showcase the rich culture of the people and should be nurtured by all. In fact, I will adopt advocacy as part of methods to spread the message,” she said.
Notwithstanding, Keshi described this year’s festival as very successful because the host governor, Chief Martins Elechi showed special enthusiasm and support for the festival, including provision of facilities and security for all.
She observed that the country’s cultural industry is yet to take its rightful position though music, movie and fashion have made significant impacts on the nation’s economy. She stressed that the success of these genres has proven that if the sector is well structured and funded it would contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy.
“Every local government area has something special and peculiar that can be made economically viable. I am hoping that we would be able to put in place some structures to that effect. Again, we hope to create a market for art and crafts that will attract tourists. But for it to thrive, it needs government support and the creative industry will consequently stem the influx of unemployed youths to the cities,” she added.
On whether she will stick to the existing programmes of the council, she said: “There are always rooms for improvement. Art and Craft Expo and NAFEST are two major programmes of the council. But, I will raise the bar of the programmes. I am quite happy with the concept of NAFEST and AFAC, and I will look at the aspects that will make it economically viable.”
Although the new chief executive appreciates continuity, but she is not lacking in new ideas that would raise the bar. She is considering how to package the different components of the festival as marketing platform to the public all through the year. According to her, having such cultural events that will attract corporate sponsors will be an added opportunity for the growth of art and crafts.
“It will be a private-public partnership (PPP) at different levels while we still seek sponsorship. The idea of running the different components is to enhance packaging. Once packaging is done right, sponsors will come after us,” she added.
The former director, Culture Industry and Heritage at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation said she was excited at her new appointment and that it was good someone from the sector was appointed to continue the job. She noted that having worked on the policy formulation side for over three decades, it is exciting to be on the other side to contribute to the growth of the sector.
Asked what she would be remembered for, she said: “I hope that at the end of my tenure, culture sector would have empowered the artists, raised the bar and every part of Nigeria would see culture as most efficient way to show Nigeria to the world. Then culture would be one of the sectors that will not be looked down upon.”
Director, Human Resource Management, NCAC, Mallam Ado Mohammed Yahuza said the festival events were packaged in tandem with the theme of the festival-Celebrating Nigeria @ 100: The role of culture as a vehicle for national unity. He noted that the emphasis on youths at the festival events underscores that the future belongs to the youths using culture to foster unity of the country. ”.
According to him, Ebonyi State like Bayelsa lived up to expectation despite being a first time host of the festival. “This is not the first time a new state will host the festival. We have been in Bayelsa twice and the festival went well. We always do our survey before the hosting of the festival. In the same vein, Ebonyi State has been generous in providing security and logistics including venues,” Yahuza said.
Earlier at the opening, President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by Vice president Namadi Sambo pledged greater commitment to the development of the nation’s creative industry.
He expressed delight that in spite of numerous challenges confronting the nation, NAFEST was held in a convivial atmosphere. According to him, it has become obvious that the annual festival is not only strategic to the protection of the people’s culture and tradition, buthas great potentials for engaging the teaming unemployed youths.
He said there is a nexus between arts and culture and the economic growth of any nation.
“The event is high profile in nature and the celebration will manifest abundant grace for the nation outside the country”, he said.
He stated that the one-week cultural fiesta would provide another platform to re-echo the Centenery message with which the nation celebrated its 100 years of nationhood.
”NAFEST is affirming that there is a lot from our culture that binds us. As we move into another century, it is our collective duty to leverage on these for promoting our oneness and uniqueness as Nigerians and as a way of moving the dreams of our founding fathers nearer to realisation”, Mr. President stated.
Commending Governor Martin Elechi for taking the challenge of hosting this year’s festival, Mr. President highlighted the place of the private sector in promoting the festival. He, therefore, assured the provision of enabling environment for any organisation or group that picks interest in investing in the nation’s culture and tourism sector.
This year’s festival featured colloquium,
dance-drama, children painting and drawing, traditional cuisine, traditional architecture, story- telling and traditional wrestling among others.
