It was African culture at its best at the third edition of the Africa Drum festival currently going on in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital, as drummer groups from 33 states of the country as well as other African countries performed to the delight of the audience.
The festival was the third edition tagged, ‘Drumming for Advancement’, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
The opening ceremony of the festival which was held on Thursday at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, was graced by royal fathers from the South West and the Eastern regions of the country. The royal fathers included the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi ; Obong of Calabar, Etubom Ekpo; Akarigbo of Remo land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, and many others. Nollywood stars who attended the event included, Olu Jacobs, Richard Agbor, Wole Sodimu, Wale Dada, Adaku, Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande), Kunle Afolayan, among others.
Also in attendance were the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka who was charged with the execution of the workshop at the Olumo Rock Complex on Friday.
According to the Minister, the festival has become a pride of the nation and Africa at large, hence the decision of the government to include it among the country’s festivals, assuring that the Federal Government would continue to identify and support Ogun State to revive the rich cultural heritage of the African continent.
Mohammed reiterated the importance of the festival, saying it would help attract global tourism and showcase our rich cultural heritage to the world.
The State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun on his part said that the African Drum Festival, organized by the State, was aimed at showcasing the African rich cultural heritage to the world. Amosun noted that the festival was not only about Ogun State, but the entire African continent, saying that preserving Africa culture must go beyond rhetoric’s, as it requires practical and concerted efforts.
While calling on Africans not to allow outsiders to interpret our culture, the Governor submitted that the festival was mainly private sector driven, assuring that the State would benefit economically, as about 20 states, 70 Private Troupes, 15 African countries, as well as others from the Caribbean Island are participating this year.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, said the festival has become part of him since its inception because of its potentials to open doors for economic development. Oba Ogunwusi, in his goodwill message at the festival said, Ogun state Governor Ibikunle Amosun was chosen by God Almighty for the people of Ogun State.
He said, Yoruba were the first tribe to make a drum, saying God gave Amosun the knowledge and understanding to keep the legacies of our fore fathers.
Alafin charges Amosun’s successors to sustain Drum Festival In his remark, the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, highlighted the importance of Drums in modern society, saying the instruments were philosophical and go beyond dancing, as the Yoruba fore-fathers used them to communicate, entertain and even pass message during wars. ]
Also speaking at the event, the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Bassey Ekpo, expressed delight for witnessing the festival, appealing to other state governors and particularly, traditional rulers, to give attention to their cultural values pledging to ensure that his State was fully represented in subsequent editions.
In his goodwill message, Nobel Laureate and the 2018 Festival Consultant, Prof. Wole Soyinka, appreciated Governor Amosun’s efforts for building the state and developing its cultural values, urging the people to continue to respect and preserve the cultural values of the State. Professor Soyinka said the royal fathers should not hesitate to offer advice to politicians whenever they go astray.