5 interesting South-South cultural festivals everyone should know

kehinde omotosho

June 20, 2017 11:20 AM

The South-South part of Nigeria often referred to as Niger Delta have got a whole lot of interesting festival and cultural activities everyone should know. Here are some.

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Nigeria is a country filled with diverse tribes and different culture peculiar to these tribes.

The South-South part of Nigeria is often referred to as the Niger Delta, and they've got a whole lot of interesting cultural activities which includes festivals and local events of various significance. Here are some of the cultural activities.

1. Niger Delta festival for arts and culture

This is an annual event organised to celebrate and showcase the rich cultural heritage of the oil-rich Niger Delta region. With the backing of the government, the event which often holds in Calabar, Cross-River State features boat cruise, art and craft exhibition, food fair, fashion shows, gala night, Face of Niger Delta cultural pageant, acrobatic performances, concerts and masquerade outings among others.

2. Ukwatta festival

Ukwatta is an annual festival that marks the end of the farming activities and ushers in another farming year. The festival which is usually celebrated around February in Delta state features local dances, masquerade outings, feasting, town meetings and reunions between indigenes who came back home from far and wide to rejoin their people.

3. Ikwerre, Kalabari, Okrika festivals

This festival is celebrated by the Ikwerre, Kalabari, and Okrika communities of Rivers State annually to honour water spirits of their region. Masquerades wear headdresses that imitate fish and water birds.

4.Awankere Juju festival

This festival which is usually celebrated in July is done for people of the Niger Delta to give sacrifices and appreciate God for a good harvest, as well as good returns from the Niger River. The first part of the festival involves rituals which are closed to the public, but the second part is a big party with people donning masks.

5. Okere/Okiroro festival

The festival celebrated by the Okere people of Niger Delta and it holds between July and August to celebrate the gods and the ancestors for good life, health, and harvest. During the Okiroro festival, the people gather around the Okere Juju masquerade which represents departed ancestors, singing and dancing.

kehinde omotosho