Eminent Nigerians including the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and traditional rulers have hailed the on – going African Drums Festival in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as one that would “foster greater unity and Cooper action among Nigerians and African nations.”
The festival featured an array of performing troupes from five countries and over 15 States of Nigeria including the Konkere beats troupe run by a University of Lagos lecturer, Dr. Tunji Sotimirin, with all showcasing their unique drums and dances to thrill of enthusiastic crowd of dignitaries, tourists and participants.
Amosun who declared it opened with the beating of the acclaimed 18 feet tallest drum in the world, said the event which began as Nigerian Drums festival last year, was upgraded to African Drums Festival because of the national and continental support the maiden edition received.
The Governor said the festival was an avenue to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Gateway State and project it to a global reckoning.
“The need to sustain the legacy of the maiden edition and provide platform for participation of the states in Nigeria, African countries and the world made this administration to further expand the scope and call it African Drums Festival 2017.
“We therefore, believe that this event will among other things, project the uniqueness of African culture in a more positive light; open up new vistas for African cultural artifacts as viable tool for social-economic development as well as broaden the knowledge of all and sundry to the varied drums and dances that are peculiar to multi-ethnic groups in Africa.
“It is expected that this platform will also re-energise the cultural zeal in the minds of our people and the resultant cultural resurgence will in the long run, help us to appreciate our African culture more than before and forge ahead culturally on a united front,” Amosun said.
In his remarks, Soyinka who noted that Ogun State is always first in pioneering best and great things in Nigeria, said it should not be a surprise that a festival to that has a unifying force for all tribes and Africans was initiated in Ogun.
He recalled that the Afro beat music originated by the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti started in Ogun State before he spread to Lagos and the rest of the world.
Also, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was represented by the Director, National Troupe, Mr. Tar Ukoh, said the festival has great potential to unite Nigerians as well as promote pan-African unity and increased inter – African economic trade.
Mohammed urged other states to walk the path of Ogun state in its bid to use arts and culture to reinvigorate the tourism potentials of the state for socio – economic development and investment.
The Minister reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to diversify the nation’s economy from oil to non-oil sectors like agriculture, solid minerals and tourism.
In their separate goodwill messages, the royal fathers – the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, all pushed for the promotion of African cultural values and norms by governments.
The Alake, Oba Gbadebo urged governors of other states to identify other aspects of Nigerian culture and propagate them.
He said the era where states have depend free oil money from Abuja is gone for good and charged governors to develop the tourism potentials of their respective states and turn them in foreign currency earners.
In his message, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi highlighted the place of drums Yoruba ethnic nationality, saying drums are used as a veritable tools to remind obas to responsible and accountable to the affairs of their domains.
“Drums are important tools that accompany monarchs and warriors to the war-front and act as source from which they draw encouragement and courage as well as indicate to them when to withdraw or advance into battle.
“Drums are also used to announce the deaths of some important personalities in Yoruba land.” Alaafin said.
In an interview with The Nation, Sotimirin, said the festival is an opportunity to reinforce the place drums in the traditional lives of the people.
He cited gbedu and bata drums as having significant place in the traditional setting of the people.
“The gbedu drums are used in palaces to herald an Oba. Once you hear the sound, no matter where you are, you know it is for royalty. With other countries like Haiti, Congo, Burkina Faso and others participating, it shows that the importance of drums have gone global. Therefore, it is time to intensify the celebration for both social and economic gains,” he said.
