THE coast is clear now that the South/South geo-political zone will be hosting the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) for two consecutive years. Akwa Ibom hosted it last year.Recently in Calabar, at the 36th Meeting of the Chief Executives of Culture of the Federation (CEC), Cross River State government secured the hosting right for the festival this year. One of the resolutions reached at the end of the four-day meeting was the date of the festival billed to run from October 22 to 29, 2011 at the capital city of Calabar.Early this year, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mr. M.M. Maidugu, stated that due to Nasarawa State's inability to host the festival, the hosting right would be granted any state that indicates interest and also has facilities irrespective of the its geo-political zone.It could be recalled that Akwa-Ibom State took the gantlet and hosted the festival to the admiration of the art community last year after Delta State unceremoniously declined the hosting right granted them.Maidugu in his welcome address, urged stakeholders in the sector to be prompted by the present day reality and come up with innovative cultural programmes and projects that would contribute meaningfully towards tackling the problems of unemployment, youth restiveness, societal indiscipline, corruption and other vices.A total of 24 states including Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno and Delta, attended the meeting. Others are Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe, and the Federal Capital Territory.Declaring the meeting open, the Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, represented by his Special Adviser on Tourism Development, Mr. Gab Onah, stressed the need to sustain the nation's tradition as a vehicle for societal advancement and wealth creation. He further enjoined the Culture Executives to continue their various quests for the nation's economic development through culture, adding that it could only be achieved through quality delivery.He however assured of a colorful NAFEST adding that 'the festival has come home to roost'.With Nigerian Traditional Music: A Vehicle for Economic Transformation and Unity as this year's theme, Onah said it would give Nigerians an opportunity to reflect on the gradual neglect of once rich and cherished traditional music culture.With almost every state of the federation prepared for the festival, Onah said the focus would be on how to establish a heritage society that would attract the public/private sectors partnership in the promotion of culture.When taken on the security challenges in the country and how the state intends to ensure the safety of participants, he said: 'Security is second to nature to us. NAFEST 2011 would be a period of fun for all.Speaking to The Guardian later, Maidugu said the state was granted hosting right not only on account of their outstanding achievements in the promotion of culture and tourism but also because of the serenity of the environment and the peaceful co-existence of the people of the state.According to him, this year's festival would focus on documentation and stage presentation of Nigerian traditional music peculiar to each state of the federation. Other events include Food Fair, Wrestling, Traditional Furnished Apartment, Drama, Cultural market, the Festival Colloquium. Children's component would feature essay writing competition with a view to inculcating cultural values and patriotism among the youths.Maidugu emphasized that four decades after, NAFESTshould transcend a platform for preaching unity to also serve as avenue for job creation and revenue generation.'We must go beyond staging the festival only for the purpose of national unity, though national unity is a major issue but we want to see how we can translate the activity of the festival into creating jobs, transforming rural economy as well as empowering youths and women.'On the need to promote indigenous music, Maidugu said: 'In every small ward of this country, there are some forms of music for entertainment purpose. What we are trying to do is to reflect on how to identify some of these musical performances and bring them out with the aim of developing and projecting them before the international community.'The traditional wrestling, which has attracted much attention lately, will feature two categories - Junior Category comprising children of between 35 and 44 kilogram weight the Intermediate Category for children weighing between 45 and 55 kilogram. Meanwhile, essay writing competition is strictly for senior secondary school students.Away from NAFEST preparations, it was unanimously agreed to postpone the National Culture Quiz Competition for secondary schools earlier slated for November to the first quarter of 2012 while the 5th edition of African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC 2012), holds between May 29 and June 16.Other decisions reached include the need for a close collaboration between culture officers in active service and the retirees. The synergy, they believed would create an opportunity for younger officers to tap from the wealth of experience of the older ones.While commending state governors for sponsoring delegates to national cultural events, an advocacy visit led by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and Chief Executive Officer of NCAC, to Governors, whose states have not featured prominently in the recent times, was recommended.The Culture Executives used the opportunity to congratulate the recently appointed Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and pledged their support for him.
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