Kebbi holds Zuru cultural, agricultural show

By Zika Bobby

The 2024 edition of the Zuru Cultural and Agricultural festival was held at Zuru township stadium, Kebbi State. The annual event, which celebrates the rich cultural heritage and agricultural practices of the people of Zuru is an aged long and time-honoured tradition that showcases the customs, traditions and values of the Zuru people.

The significance of the festival is that it marks the end of the planting season, and the beginning of a new year. As the people of the area are known to be brave and hardworking farmers, the agricultural show dominates the first two days of festivities and climaxes with other spectacular events, such as the Yadato dance, wrestling competition, Gulmo race, the bicycle race and archery competition.

The Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Aisha Adamu Angie, who represented the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, in her remarks, highlighted the historical significance of the Zuru Cultural and Agricultural festival, which has deep historical roots that date back to centuries. The Minister acknowledged the importance of preserving and promoting such cultural heritage, as it provides a platform for cultural exchange and interaction between different ethnic groups and communities by encouraging and promoting peaceful coexistence and understanding. “Festivals of this nature foster unity and harmonious relationships among diverse groups. This inadvertently brings about peace, which is an index of development, as economic and socio-cultural activities increase productivity,” she said.

CBAAC Director-General, who was also the chairman of the gala night, emphasised the significance of the Isgogo Slave Market, which she said served as a place where slaves were bought and sold. “It was also a transit route for transporting slaves to other countries. The Isgogo Slave Market, located in a village in Zuru Emirate, about 12 kilometres north of Zuru town in present-day Nigeria, was one of the largest slave markets in West Africa during the transatlantic slave trade. It rose to prominence and played a significant role in the capture, trade, and transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas and Europe. The market was a hub for the exchange of goods, including human beings, and was a site of immense suffering and exploitation. The Isgogo slave market serves as a reminder of the dark chapter in African history when millions of people were forcibly taken from their homes and sold into slavery,” she said. She added: “Interestingly, CBAAC was established as an offshoot of FESTAC’77, to rekindle interest in preserving, promoting, and propagating Black and African cultural heritage. The centre’s mandate, which aligns with the vision of the Zuru festival with particular reference to the Isgogo slave market; a historical monument, needs to be preserved and projected to attract both domestic and foreign tourists.”

CBAAC contributes to the preservation of African cultural heritage, as well as educating and creating awareness through research and documentation.”