The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Durbar Festival

  • MTN sponsors Durbar festival

    The eid-el Kabir season we all look forward to yearly has come and gone but the recollections we had of the festivities is still fresh in our memories. The season means different things to different people across the country; for some, it means travelling to connect with family and friends in the spirit of “Ileya”. For the foodies, it is all about the Sallah yummy, while others are excited about the prospect of witnessing the Durbar festival.

    The rejuvenated edition of the Durbar festival in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, was a whole lot of fun, excitement and full of energy as MTN Nigeria threw its weight behind the festival. The information communication and telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, decided to be a part of the new-look Durbar in the State of Harmony which was held on Wednesday the 22nd of August, 2018. Durbar, a century-old festival in most parts of northern Nigeria, is a celebration that involves prayers, parade by the Emir and his entourage as well as accompanying music.

    In Ilorin, the seat of the Emir, Abubakar Zulu Gambari, the Durbar was celebrated with the governor of the state, the Emir and other dignitaries in attendance. This year’s edition lived up to its billing as the Emir had constituted a committee to see to a rebranded Durbar that truly showcased the people’s heritage to the entire world. As a result of this, MTN Nigeria joined in the celebration as part of its effort to promote the rich cultural heritage found throughout the Nigerian landscape under a bigger initiative – Kulture Fest.

    Kulture Fest, an initiative of the ICT company, aims to support, enrich and showcase the diverse culture that is spread all over the country to the world. Under Kulture Fest, important festivals and traditions like the Ofala Nnewi, Argungu and the recently concluded Osun/Osogbo festivals have been aided. The Durbar is yet another festival that the company has brought under the Kulture Fest umbrella. The emirate city of Ilorin played host on Wednesday to culture-conscious Nigerians as well as observers from around the globe with more than 500 horses on display at the annual festival.

  • Politicisation of Durbar festival in Zazzau Emirate

    SIR: The Durbar festivals which are popularly known as ‘Hauwan sallah’ are cultural displays that have been in existence for over 100 years. These cultural festivals are not being displayed only in Zazzau emirate but almost in the entire northern part of the country.

    It is a tradition where the emir and his minsters popularly known as traditional title holders, go round the ancient city of Zaria to exchange pleasantries with their people. The king or the emir would wave at his people and they too would happily wave at him.

    It is a very important festival because people will have the opportunity to see their traditional leaders directly and to exchange greetings. Traditional music and drums are used; horses, traditional attire, local guns, and other traditional instrument are also displayed.

    Unfortunately, this cultural festival is now turning into something very bad and the essence of its existence is being eroded. Our society is facing serious insecurity and the perpetrators are mainly youths. It is disheartening to see that our traditional leaders are the ones that use our youths in a very bad way. Anyone who is familiar with Hauwan sallah will agree with me that the traditional leaders use some intoxicated thugs who normally walk in front of them with cutlass, knives and other dangerous weapons. All these activities are being performed in the presence of security personnel, but they have no right to arrest them because they have immunity on that very day. The question we should ask ourselves is, why is it that the children of these traditional leaders are not there?

    The second aspect of this Durbar festival is the politicisation of the programme. Some of the emir’s ministers are politicians. They actively participate in politics. In fact, some of them are contesting for political offices.

    What is worrisome here is that these traditional leaders who are politicians use this festival to campaign for themselves. For instance, Jakadan Zazzau and Galadiman Ruwan Zazzau used their political posters and billboards during the festival which is totally wrong.

    For this historic and traditional festival to be continued in a very decent manner, the Emir of Zazzau and other authorities concerned should ban the use of miscreants, thugs and intoxicated youths because we should not encourage them in doing such bad things. How can we free our society from all acts of violence and terrorism if we give them the money with which they buy illicit drugs and other intoxicants? Those who are actively in politics should not be allowed to use any campaign materials during the festival because it may likely cause political violence.

     

    • Hasheem B Ahmad,

    <hashimbahmad@gmail.com>

  • 500 horse riders for Ilorin durbar

    This year’s durbar festival in Ilorin promises to be memorable. No fewer than 500 dignitaries are expected to mount their horses and gallop around in that familiar atmosphere with a large crowd cheering them on.

    The durbar is a hugely popular festival in the North, attracting guests from far places.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki donated N20 million for the celebration.

    The event aimed at commemorating 2018 Eid el-Kabir, will take place at the palace of Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

    Alhaji Gambari will lead the fiesta.

    The Director General of ABS Constituency Office, Ilorin, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi said Saraki sent his goodwill message to the organisers of the event, urging  residents, the horse riders and spectators to conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner before, during and after the Eid el Kabir and durbar celebrations.

    About 500 dignitaries are expected to ride on 500 beautifully decorated horses in the durbar

    The chairman of the durbar committee, Yahaya Alapansanpa, an engineer, told reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, that unlike in the past, this year’s durbar will be extended beyond the emir, and royalty.

    “Durbar is the unique ceremonial display and cultural processions of well decorated and garrisoned horses usually and beautifully mounted by the royals, chiefs, princes and some other eminent citizens of a given emirate to celebrate an important cultural epoch or religious event or , sometimes ,the presence or visit of an August dignitaries. Thus ,the forthcoming durbar cultural festival has no any political intention’,’ he said.

    Alapansanpa said the event was being organised to promote the rich cultural heritage of Ilorin emirate and guard against cultural imperialism that was fast eroding the cultural values of the people.

    “Durbar is to prepare the entire Ilorin emirate community against the deep danger inherent in unguarded Cultural dynamism of our contemporary time and the threat of growing cultural imperialism which if left unchecked may destroy the fabrics, essence and organic foundation of our basis as a unique people within the context of the Nigerian nation.”

    “The organisation of durbar will also discourage the penetration of foreign culture into the psyche and consciousness of our often impressionistic younger ones who opened and often exposed to “attractive “but destructive cultural products of the western world and their allies. With the continuous future and regular organisation and their participation in one way or the other by our growing population they will surely develop affinity for what it is ours and do away with what is detestable”.

    “Durbar will also douse the acrimonious tension and socio-cultural apathy the perennial haphazard staging of baseless, meaningless and pernicious social carnivals by some restive, and poorly guarded youthful groups across the emirate and halt the appalling tendencies of promoting cultural illicitness, drug addiction, thuggery and sexual misdeamour that come with it and among participants and which are sometimes visited on innocuous, helpless and innocent young members of our community ,” he said.

    According to the committee chairman, “on that day, the emir will ride on his decorated horse through Isale -oja to General hospital along Baboko through Taiwo Oke to Taiwo Isale, Emir’ s road and to the palace where he will be welcomed by all and sundry.”

     

  • FG promises to revive Durbar Festival

    FG promises to revive Durbar Festival

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the Federal Government will collaborate with Bauchi State to resuscitate Durbar Festival and other cultural heritage in the state.

    Mohammed Made this known when Gov. Mohammed Abubakar, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He noted that Durbar was unique not only for its pageantry and colours but for its exclusivity to Nigeria.

    The minister said he was already talking to United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for a global recognition of durbar.

    He recalled that he attended a book launch on durbar recently in Paris where the festival was celebrated and rated high.

    The minister noted the Dubar would take a centre stage in the agenda of his ministry to reposition the tourism sector and harness it for economic development.

    Mohammed, who noted that the Yankari Games Reserve had been handed over to the state, commended the efforts of the governor at developing the tourist site and tourism in general.

    He discloses that the ministry would commence its nationwide tour of tourism sites with Bauchi state.

    The minister also said that his ministry would collaborate with the state in restrategising information and communication.

    Earlier, the governor commended the efforts of the minister in the management of the of the Federal Government information apparatus.

    He said the minister “is a trailblaizer” who had demonstrated his skills and ability as the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress.

    The governor solicited the assistance of the minister in rejigging the information machinery of his state.