Yesterday, my daughter came home with homework on cultural festivals. She invited me into a discussion and asked about the festivals I have experienced within our indigenous culture. I asked her to get a pen, and together we made the following list.
- Ofala festival in Alor and some towns in Igbo land.
- Iri Ji festival in Alor and some towns of Igbo land.
- Odo and Ijele masquerade in Enugu.
- Imoka festival in Awka.
- Ikeji festival in Afikpo.
- Iri Iko festival in Afikpo.
- Afia Olu in Nnewi.
- Nwafor Ogidi in Ogidi.
- Eyo festival of Lagos.
- Durbar festival in Dutse, Jigawa.
- Kokawa wrestling in Kano.
- Calabar Carnival.
I felt happy to have witnessed all of these and to be able to share them with her. I hope these traditions continue to thrive so that future generations can also experience the richness of our indigenous cultural heritage.
Knowing and discussing cultural practices fosters self-confidence and pride in one’s heritage, and children learn best when elders actively pass down knowledge, making culture a living, shared experience.
How many festivals have you witnessed? How many have you shared with the younger generation?
✍️ Amara Ann Unachukwu
