Author
EDEM, E. B.
Abstract
Festivals are common to all human societies, and they vary according to the ecology and the social structure of the people. Nigeria as a country is endowed with lots of cultural activities and festivals, sourced from its multi-cultural communities. These festivals, be it secular, cultural or religious play essential role in any found community. This paper on Social Cohesion through Festivals in Nigeria looks at the Biase New Yam Festival of Cross River State, as a platform for fostering unity, peaceful co-existence and also an opportunity to develop and share culture, showcase values, identity and pride of a people. It analyses the different events that make up the festival, with its contribution to national development. The paper examines the historical trends as manifestations of the people’s culture and assesses its traditional performance space. Many festivals remain undocumented and unexplored in many parts of the country as a theatrical performance, making them loose out in the rich repertoire of drama, dance and music. Moreover, understanding the importance of festival in promoting social cohesion can lead to the development of more effective strategies for preserving cultural heritage and promoting communal harmony. Historical and survey research methods was adopted for the study. It also involved participatory observation of festivals, interviews, documentary analysis, and presentation of pictures. By contributing to knowledge, the paper presents vivid account of the New Yam festival as an occasion that gathers visitors not just from the host community, local government areas and Cross River State at large, but also tourists from different states in Nigeria and beyond, while it contributes to the development of culture. The festival is celebrated due to historical legend, as dictated by men for thanksgiving to the gods for a successful planting and bountiful harvest
Keywords
Social Cohesion, Festival, Culture, Traditional Performance Space
Introduction
Festivals are common to all human societies, and they vary according to the ecology and the social structure of the people. As mostly said, Africans are well known in the world for their rich cultural heritage as expressed in numerous performances, through festivals, traditional ceremonies and cultural displays. Culture in a simple term is defined as the ways of life of people with a set of distinctive material, intellectual, spiritual, social, economic and political identity. According to Elizabeth Henshaw, culture may be defined as “a realm of consciousness, and mind as the totality of consciousness of the individual, the man” (79). Haralambus and Holborn assert that “culture is the whole way of life found in a particular society”, which can be distinguished from society to society although with a close connection between nations. Culture connects individuals and society to each other in language, norms, beliefs, arts, lifestyles, and ways of living together, value system, traditions and so on. Culture cuts across boundaries due to historical relations between groups like trade, inter-tribal marriages and so on. From Wathiongo, “Culture is a way of life fashioned by a people in their collective endeavor to live and come to terms with their total environment, it is the sum of their art, their science and all their beliefs and rituals” (4).
Content
Nigeria is one of the largest and geographically, socially and culturally most diversified African country. In its diversity the Nigerian culture is reflected in over 250 identified ethnic groups, with three large ethno-linguistic entities which are the Yoruba, the Ibo, and the Hausa Fulani (Ekaette Edem, 81). Ekaette recognised that Nigerian culture is being shaped by the multiple ethnic groups of about 1150 dialectics and over 521 languages. The identity of a nation most times lies in the culture and festival they celebrate. Olakunle Ojo asserts that; “a festival is an event usually and ordinarily staged by a community, which centers on and celebrates some unique events and aspect of the community” (16). Festivals tell the past of the people, assist in easy understanding of the present and a projection into their future as an oral literature. Festivals represent the sociological yearnings of the people, social moral, historical and religious deeds. The entertainment derived from festivals satisfies basic aesthetic qualities that insinuate them to indigenous folks, dance, music and many more as everyone looks forward to the performance.
Conclusion
The Biase New Yam festival is a big occasion that gathers visitors not just from the host community, local government area and Cross River State at large, but also tourists from different states in Nigeria and beyond, while it contributes to the development of culture. It brings about Unity in diversity, which is the coming together of people from different ethnic groups and tribes as at the time of the festival. It is an opportunity that creates links with other parts of the state either by road network, air or through the river. The Biase New Yam festival is celebrated due to historical legend, as dictated by men for thanksgiving to the gods for a successful planting and bountiful harvest. During this time, sacrifices, libation, prayers and thanksgiving are offered to the gods and the deities before the festival to renew and strengthen the bonds of unity between the living and the deities. The festival brings people together as a group and family, and strengthens their unity and cohesion.
References
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