By Atiegba

Culture has been subjected to various definitions by different school of thoughts including, ‘the complex collection of knowledge, folklore, language rules, rituals habits, lifestyles, attitudes, beliefs, and customs’ that link and give a common identity to a particular group of people at a specific point in existence.

Mostly, festivals are celebrated to propagate the cultural heritage and highlight various aspects of a society. For instance, the celebration of religious and cultural events summons the emotions and happiness of the people concern thereby, appeasing peace in togetherness.

Peace, to some people is a state of being mentally and spiritually at alignment or the state of justice, good health, safety, well-being, prosperity, equity, security, good fortune and friendliness, while others look at peace of mind, serenity and calmness as descriptions of a disposition free from the effects of stress in  society.

As the perceptions differ, something that is obvious about peace is that, it is an experience of knowing oneself associated with traditions.

Although, peace is widely perceived as something intangible, various organizations have been making efforts to quantify and measure it. Peace focuses on the risk of instability or violence and does not have singular, correct definition therefore, it should be perceived as a plurality.

For the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO)    Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma to indoctrinate the staffers of the Institute for harvest of peace through the people’s culture is an act of relentless gratefulness to the givers and the consumers of culture which balances the scale of peace.

For example, the 2013 57th edition of Patigi Regatta and Nupe Durbar coming up on 20th April, 2013 at 10.00 with its venue at Patigi Regatta Gbaradogi organised by Patigi Emirate Council, is not only a symbol of peace for the host community and Kwara State alone, but the country as a whole.

This is true because if traditional festivals are performed to observe certain rituals and/or a type of event that communicates important cultural themes, usually by use of special forms of language, music, and dance, the government should also be mindful of the fact that, such public events do not only express, but also reflect and reinforce community social relationships and cultural values.

This community rite of passage accomplishes a change in the society or the status of the community concern. For example, festivals are of various types, some with religious origin, others have their origin from seasonal change and cultural significance but, Patigi Regatta and Nupe Durbar festival of Patigi Emirate Council of Kwara State is organized to mark some significant occasions in the history of the existence of Nupe kingdom.

Among the other festivals celebrated which are as old as Patigi Emirate Council, Patigi Regatta is the only festival of Nupe people with the highest assembly of people from all works of life and shade of opinion for unity of purpose.

The coming into existence of Patigi Regatta in 1935 and its formal inauguration by the then colonial administration of Northern Provinces in 1953 was to put right what the kingdom of Nupe saw to be wrong.

And today, the Patigi Regatta festival has not only provided moments for the elderly to share stories and the transfer of certain knowledge to the next generation, but also provided a reason for the unity among families, communities, state and the nation as a whole.

The claim of ownership of the community traditional territorial boundary water where the members do their fishing became a source of conflicts and for the respect the then people had for their traditions which among other things, put the fate of the future generation into consideration, came out with Patigi Regatta festival.

Thank God for this early initiation of the people by the people and for the people to capture peace alive, to foster and encourage good relationship among members of the Nupe Kingdom and their friends, to uphold and encourage the development of river transport, to serve as a sporting arena for whoever have an affair with water etc.

It is for this one of the ways of peaceful co-existence that cultures, festivals etc, of every community remain in the heart of NICO. It is no wonder therefore, that among the objectives of NICO, is to serve as a focus for orientation in cultural matters for Nigeria’s policy makers and other government officials.

Today and Now, Government and its officials irrespective of their categories, has a choice to either take undue advantage of the political climate and continue to sponsor and equip youths from indigent homes with all kinds of arms and ammunition against political opponent which explains cowardice on the part of the sponsors, and the recruited constitutes societal monsters as we are experiencing in good portions of our country today,

Or aid the likes of Emir of Patigi HRH Alh. Ibrahim Chatta Umar and also sponsor festival like Patigi Regatta and Nupe durbar festival of peace, conflict resolution so as to provide cultural and educational opportunities’, foster a feeling of cultural community pride, help conserve sensitive, natural and cultural environments and contribute to sustainable development.

The rate of suicide and other crimes committed by youths today seriously defines distance away from our enviable values.

Festivals are for PEACE and THUGS are for chaos.

Atiegba writes from NICO North Central Zone Office, Ilorin.