Tuesday 29 May 2012

Osun Osogbo Festival

Osun Osogbo Festival



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         Osogbo which is known as the capital of Osun state is believed to have been founded around 400 years ago. It is part of the wider Yoruba community, divided into 16 kingdoms, which legend says were ruled by the children of Oduduwa, the mythic founder, whose abode at Ile-Ife, south-east of Osogbo, is still regarded as the spiritual home of the Yoruba people. The earliest settlement seems to have been in the Osogbo Grove and included palaces and a market. When the population expanded the community moved outside the Grove and created a new town.

Entrace to the river side.jpgEntrance to the river sideEntrance to the forest grove.jpg        Entrance to the forest grove
In 1840s Osogbo became a refugee town for people fleeing the Fulani Jihad, as it moved south from what is now known as northern Nigeria. The Yorubas retreated further south into the forests and Osogbo, right at the northern edge of the forest, became an important centre for northern Yoruba land. The Fulani attacks on Osogbo were repelled and, as a result, Osogbo has become a symbol of pride for all the Yorubas. During the first half of the 20th century, the town of Osogbo expanded considerably.
In 1914 British colonial rule begun. As it was delivered under a system of indirect rule through traditional rulers, the authority of the Oba and priests were sustained. A greater change was brought about from the middle of the 19th century through the introduction of both Islam and Christianity. Islam became the religion of traders and ruling houses - as it gave contacts to northern trade routes and links to returning former slaves from Central and South America. For a while all three religions co-existed but as time went by it became less fashionable to be identified with the Ogboni and Osun cults as the other 2 religions garnered more followers.
One of the nine worship points along the river in osun grove.jpg
One of the nine worship points along the river
osun-osogbo grove
One of the groves

        By 1950s the combined political and religious changes having marked a detrimental effect on the Grove, customary responsibilities and sanctions were weakening, shrines became neglected and traditional priests began to disappear. All this was exacerbated by a rise in the looting of statues and movable sculptures to feed an western antiquities market that desired them. At around this time part of the Grove was acquired by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry for agricultural experiments. Trees were felled and tea plantations established; sculptures were reportedly stolen, hunting and fishing begun to be recorded - previously forbidden in the sacred Grove. It was at this point in the history of the Grove that Austrian born Suzanne Wengermoved to Osogbo and, with the encouragement of the Oba and the support from local people, formed the New Sacred Art movement to challenge land speculators, repel poachers, protect shrines and begin the process of bringing the sacred place back to life through once again establishing it as the sacred heart of Osogbo. The artists deliberately created large, heavy and fixed sculptures in iron cement and mud, as opposed to the smaller traditional wooden ones, in order that their intimidators and architectural forms would help to protect the Grove and stop thefts. All the sculptures have been done in full respect for the spirit of the place, with inspiration from Yoruba mythology and in consultations with the gods in a traditional context.

Devotees at the river side.jpg
Devotees at the river side                                
      pedestrian bridge crossing the Osun river at the grove
The new work has made the Grove a symbol of identity for the Yoruba people. Many from the African Diaspora now undertake a pilgrimage to the annual festival. In 1965 part of the Grove was declared a national monument. This was extended in 1992 to all the scared groves of Osogbo to protect the 75 hectares where the site has been located.
It is believed that Osun Osogbo festival has been celebrated since 1370’s and the people still hold on to what their fore-fathers bestowed on them. As a mark of the bond that was established six centuries ago, the Oshogbo people gather annually to celebrate what they observe as their Founder’s Day. A unique cultural practice built around the relationship that existed between a river goddess and Oba Gbadewolu Laroye inside the Osun Grove; laid the origin of the Oshogbo ascendancy and kingship institution.
offering the sacrifice to the river goddess.jpg
Offering sacrifice to the river goddess
/Worshippers collecting the river water after the sacrifice have been offered.jpg
Worshippers collecting the river water 
        In spite the proximity of the forest to human habitation, this grove has been traditionally maintained and protected by the indigenous people using the myths and beliefs system. This prevents any form of encroachment which is regarded as sacrilegious and offensive to the gods and the goddesses.
ArugbaThe Votary Maid who carries the calabash of sacrifice to the Osun grove.jpg
Arugba the Votary Maid who carries the calabash of sacrifice to the Osun grove
Osun worshippers at the grove.jpg
Worshippers at the grove
Osun grove was recognized by UNESCO in 2005 as a World Heritage Site and it has been linked to the consistencies that the festival has enjoyed over the years and the protection of the values of the grove by the people. The festival has a two week programme of events starting with the traditional cleansing of the town called “Iwopopo” followed by the lighting of 500 years old sixteen points lamp three days later, called “Olojomerindinlogun.” This is followed by “Ibroriade,” which is the assemblage of the crowns of the past ruler (Ataojas) for blessings and its being led by the Ataoja who is the ruler and votary maid (Arugba) propelled by Yeye Osun, and a committee of priestesses. The Arugba bore the people age-long prayers to the grove in a calabash of effigy which can only be carried by a virgin, which signifies purity. The festival, with its international status, has become a major tourist attraction. Observations over the years have shown that the festive period is the best time to see the city as people parade the streets in their colours. The people look forward to it with great expectation and for the period it last, procession, dance, art exhibition, and colourful carnivals are major attractions of the Osun Oshogbo cultural festival. The event over the years, has given residents and tourists the opportunity to recreate socially, culturally, and economically as they re-enact one of their renowned age-long spiritual and communal feast. Indeed the Osun Oshogbo festival has been and is still one of the most outstanding and preserved cultural heritage of various festivals in Nigeria, Africa and the whole world as a whole.

Monday 28 May 2012

IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IN TOURISM PROMOTION



          A child whether conceived in Africa, America, Asia or Europe is born without knowledge of “Culture”. From the beginning of time, most pre-literate societies had little or no form of learning system, or what one would ordinarily call school or teachers. As societies grew more complex however, the quality of knowledge to be passed on from one generation to the next became more than any person can know, and hence there must evolve more selective and efficient means of cultural transmission. Education is therefore designed to guide the society in learning a culture, molding the behavioral pattern of the society and putting a society on the right direction. With time, society became ever more importance to education and it also began to formulate the overall objective, content, organization and strategies of education. In this manner, education as a district disciple came into being and it is constantly been defined and redefined in various countries to meet the national goals and aspirations. Nigeria as a country has gone along way in providing good education system to us citizens. Government have for years put more efforts in the development of education both financially and otherwise. These notwithstanding, the Federal Ministry of Education have contributed their own quota for the betterment of our education policy which has yet meet its desirable goals.
However, for a sustainable tourism development in Nigeria, proper education programmed should not be neglected. Education is a very vital option in the development of our tourism industry. Nigeria which is blessed with both natural and cultural attractions has a lot to showcase to the entire world. The most important thing is that about 70% of our tourism potentials are mainly located in our rural areas thereby facing negligence which causes to the destruction and fading of these attractions. Our cultural attractions are one of the best in the world. But it is now facing a big problem of uncontinueity due to poor education of our people. Some of our natural attractions faces the problem of undeveloped, thereby attract low or no tourist to these destinations. We cannot over emphasize on this issue, proper education programme should be put in place in educating the Nigerian public about the importance of tourism both in economic and human resource development of these country.
Without missing words, Nigeria is looking forward in becoming one of the ten richest economic countries of the world by 20, 2020, tourism being one of the fastest growing economic institutions in the world should not be neglected in this aspect. Educating the Nigerian public is very vital on the protection, preservation and maintenance of these wonderful gifts which God has endowened us with. The impediment Nigeria as a country faces in tourism development is un-professionalized staff in the industry. The human resource structure of our tourism industry is not encouraging. Some of the personnel working under this industry both in the federal, state and local government levels know nothing about tourism. This is the major impediment which the tourism industry in Nigeria is suffering today. The cause of this impediment is low education programmes by our federal ministry of culture and tourism, the federal ministry of education, other stake holders and Tourism experts. Education is very important in every aspect of human life. It uplift’s a society and make them a vital tool in the development of any country or state. For our tourism industry to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), our government should consider education as one of the tools for promoting tourism.
For Nigeria to have a sustainable tourism development these facts need to be considered;
·                    Tourism courses should be introduced in the curriculum of various education levels be it primary, secondary and tertiary education programme in Nigeria. This I believe will help to have more graduates capable of putting in place sustainable tourism plan in the country, not only graduates, but also adequate manpower and human resources management in our tourism industry.
·                    The media has relevant role to play in the education of the Nigeria public on the relevance of our tourism potentials. These tourist attractions can be documented and viewed in our various television stations throughout the country. They can be published in our various newspapers, magazines, journals, text books e.t.c. for the education of our people. Educating our people through this medium will make them to become the custodian of these tourist attractions that are found within their community.
·                    Tourism agencies and industries in Nigeria should at least organize a training programme like; seminars, workshops, conferences e.t.c. for their staff, school children, people in the local communities’ e.t.c. This will help in educating the public on how to maintain and manage various tourism potentials within their domain.
·                    Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Nigerian Tourism Development Cooperation (NTDC) and other relevant agencies in the tourism industry in Nigeria should be organizing a workshop especially in our local communities, educating them on the relevance of those attractions located within their community. Making them to understand that these attractions contributes to the economic development of their community and the country at large. The workshop can also be used in telling the local community that these tourist attractions both cultural and natural attractions puts their name in the world heritage list if properly harnessed. For instance, the state that has put their cultural heritage into the world heritage list are Osun State – Osun  Osogbo festival,  The Sukur Kingdom in Adamawa State e.t.c. This will make the communities to look after these materials of great importance.

Finally, development cannot be completed without education. Education is a vital tool in the sustainable development of any country. For our tourism industry to compete favorably with its counterparts across the world, good education policy should be endorsed for the promotion of our tourism industry. We cannot continue loosing what we have because of illiteracy among our people, but let us all join hands together to make our beloved country Nigeria tourist heaven.
         

FROM: EZEANI JOHNPAUL.E
 WROTE FROM: ENUGU
                            CORPER
                     08063502100

Friday 25 May 2012

TOURISM A KEY FACTOR TO OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE.




Nigerian’s cultural heritage is our greatest asset for tourism. Hence the concept “ cultural heritage which connotes a cherished and preserved tradition has emerged and broadened the idea or culture so much that in practice it now includes almost everything that is a record of people’s upheld behavioral pattern” whether indigenously developed or extremely instigated. Our cultural heritage consist of both the material and non-material art forms which are testimonies form the past, including cultural landscape and historic objects. Since the social, economic and geographical environment in which the cultural materials survived are parts of the heritage. Tourism as a factor, had helped in a very big way in the promotion of these cultural heritage which the country posses. Consequently, the recently staged Abuja carnival, Argungu fishing festival, Osun-Osogbo festival, Masquerade festival of the south-east of the country etc is most welcome. These festivals have contributed in the upliftment of our tourism industry. These festivals have attracted both domestic and international tourist respectively.
     
                
                    

  Positioning our tourism industry towards the sustainable development of our cultural heritage is a very welcome development. Tourism promotion in Nigeria will help in marketing our rich cultural heritage. Nigeria is one of the richest countries in terms of culture. Almost all the 36 states that make up the Nigerian country have one or more cultural heritage to show the entire world. It is quite unfortunate that these our cultural materials are facing destructions because of lack of knowledge. Christianity in this country has lead to the destruction of our cultural heritage. Christians sees these cultural material and activities as fetish, thereby preach against them. We cannot continue this way because these cultural materials and activities have something to showcase. Let’s take Abuja carnival as an example; this is a carnival that have attracted tourist in and outside the country. This is also a carnival that has showcased the rich cultural heritage of this country, thereby bringing the entire ethnic group in the country together. 

                         

With this carnival and other cultural carnival in the country, we can boost for our cultural ingenuity among our people. It suffixes to say that Tourism being the movement of people from the place they reside to another destination for the purpose of Leisure, Business, Sport, site seeing, Meeting etc can help in the promotion of our cultural heritage. A tourist visiting a particular destination to experience the culture of the people will spend what he/she has in order to enjoy him/herself. This situation will boost the economy of the destination visited. Tourism being a factor of development will help to develop a destination where people visit for cultural activities and their natural attraction. Provision of access road, good drinking water, electricity and security will be in its earnest for the satisfaction of the tourist, thereby attract more and more tourist to a particular destination because the type of attraction in a giving destination will determine the type of tourist that will visit the destination. Making tourism a priority to our cultural heritage will help in continuity of our various cultural heritages. The Nigerian community should have it in their mind that these cultural practices are the only thing that makes us the most popular black African country in the world. We should protect what the almighty have given us and work towards harnessing them. Christians should stop the destruction of our cultural materials and activities because it is wickedness to what our fore- fathers have left for us to look after.
                          
                      
      Conclusively, Making Nigeria tourism friendly will help in the preservation and protection of our cultural heritage. Tourism industry in Nigeria should provide a conducive environment for our cultural materials and activities so as to attract more tourists. Many countries has benefited in this context, Nigeria should bear in mind that our cultural heritage is being cherished by people all over the world. Tourism knows no doubt is the key factor in harnessing of our cultural heritage. Therefore, Nigeria government and other tourism experts should map out a strategy in promoting our cultural heritage.

Facebook: Johnpaul_ezeani@yahoo.com





BY
EZEANI JOHNPAUL
08063502100