- : Ms Word, Ms Word Format
- : 100 Pages
- : ₦5000
- : 1-5 Chapters
- Click to DOWNLOAD Materials
POKHARNESSING LOCAL FESTIVALS FOR TOURISM PROMOTION IN PARTS OF BENUE STATE
Abstract
Local festivals are increasingly being used as instrument for promoting tourism and boosting the regional economy. This is often reflected in the level of public assistance made available to these festivals. However, it is sometimes difficult to assess the contribution of traditional festivals to the growth of local economies. This study looks at three traditional festivals that take place annually in Benue State of Nigeria (Ejalekw, Igede Agbah, Kwagh-hir ). These festivals have very rich cultural heritage, cultural norms and customs. This research examined them, their tourism potentialities and how they can boost socio-economic development in Benue State.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page – – – – – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – – v
Preface – – – – – – – – – – vi
List of Plates – – – – – – – – – vii
List of Figures – – – – – – – – – – viii
Table of Contents – – – – – – – – – ix
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
- Background of the Study – – – – – – – 1
- Statement of Problem – – – – – – – 3
- Research Objective – – – – – – – 4
- Research Methodology – – – – – – – 4
- Significance of the Study – – – – – – – 6
- Scope of the Study – – – – – – – – 6
- Limitation of the Studies – – – – – – – 7
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Theoretical Literature – – – – – – – 8
2.2 Empirical Literature – – – – – – – 10
2.3 Theoretical Orientation – – – – – – – 12
CHAPTER THREE: BACKGROUND INFORMATION
3.1 Brief Geographical and Historical Background of the Area – 14
3.2 Origin of Cultural Festival in Benue State- – – – 15
3.3 Idoma People and Culture – – – – – – 16
3.4 Igede People and Culture – – – – – – – 22
3.5 Tiv people and Culture – – – – – – – 25
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Cultural Festivals in the Study Area – – – – – 31
4.2 Eje-Alekwu Festival – – – – – – – 35
4.3 Igede Agba Festival – – – – – – – 42
4.4 Kwagh-hir Festival – – – — – – – 52
4.5 Contribution of the Festivals to Tourism Promotion in Benue State 68
4.6 potentials of the Festivals – – – – – – – 70
4.7 Harnessing the Potentials of the Festivals – – – – 71
4.8 Development Agenda of Benue State and Tourism – – – 74
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary – – – – – – – – – 77
5.2 Conclusions – – – – – – – – – 79
5.3 Recommendations – – – – – – – 81
References
CHAPTER ONE
1.1: Introduction
The relationship between tourism and local festivals is one of the most debated issues in tourism studies, some implicitly assume that local festivals promote tourism and tourism generates wealth that will gradually promote development.
Local festivals in Benue State have very rich culture, ritual, dance, that can capture the attention of tourists to a greater dimension. Local festivals can put forward the beauty of our culture and tradition. Festivals such as Eje-Alekwu in the Idoma area, the New Yam festival in the Igede area, and the Kwagh-hir in the Tiv speaking areas. These local festivals have potentially much larger repertoire of tourist products to offer, such as watching religious rituals, tour of historical sites and interactions with local hosts, masquerades of different kind. These local festivals have not been properly harnessed and packaged to unleash its tourism potential and the economic benefits for the local people.
There exists a general agreement among these local festivals in Benue state that projects cultural sustainability and unity amongst the people. However, the festivals can promote local empowerment which can lead to economic profit as they have all factors to attract tourists into Benue State.
The people of Benue State have very rich cultural heritage enshrined in local festivals. These festivals have historical and architectural platform that can converge the huge presence of tourists both at home and abroad if properly organized.
The Kwagh-hir festival of the Tiv has such display of the Tiv culture and traditional rites such as masquerades, dance, songs and Puppetry Theatre. Towns, villages and cities are interestingly keen to share their culture and environment with visitors. This study investigates how local festivals in Benue State can be tourist attraction in their own right and encourage tourists to visit local places in Benue State. This work will examine 3 of 10 festivals held yearly in some part of the state and how it can attract tourist which will lead to boosting sustainable local economic development.
Festivals as celebrated in the early years back are different from what we have in these modern days of civilization, globalization and Christianity. The Alekwu festival in those days were celebrated with a lot of sacrifices on shrine but Christianity made people to do away with some of these shrines, so now Alekwu is mostly made of masquerades of different types and colours come to visit markets on agreed three consecutive market days with a lot of fun, the Igede Agba is celebrated like any normal Christmas day but being concluded by a display in the chosen local government headquarter with invited guests from all nooks and corners of the state or outside state.
In the early days, the Kwagh-hir festivals at their rudimentary level but have now being modernized with other things including masquerades of different types and sizes.
These three major tribes (Igede. Idoma and Tiv)are differentiated from each other by the colour of clothes they use. The Idoma people wear the black and red, the Tiv wear black and white and the Igede black and blue.
1.2: Statement of Problem
Traditional Festivals can be events usually and ordinarily staged by a local community that centers on some unique aspects of culture, music, plays, dances, acrobatics, puppetry, myths, rituals etc. Festivals are usually organized annually or at agreed period, where people of a particular community come together to dine and wine in order to celebrate and share common traditions. Traditional festivals in Benue state have not gained tourists attraction as a result of the way it is celebrated by the people. Enough awareness is not created to attract tourists and neither does the government encourage traditional festivals. This has relegated traditional festivals to the background; as a result it has created a gap in what is and what should be. Also other organizations have not contributed enough to uplift traditional festival in Benue state. This has created a vacuum in tourism development in Benue state.
1.3: Research Objectives
The objectives to be accomplished in this research are as follows:
- To study these festivals in their socio-cultural context.
- To highlight the tourism potentials of New yam festival, Kwagh-hir and Eje’ Alekwu
- To show how these festivals could be harnessed to improve the life of the people.
- To show case the intrinsic tourism potentials of local festival in Benue state
1.4: Research Methodology
Ethnographic research method was used in this research. The researcher participated in all the festivals. I went to Orokam during the Eje-Alekwu Ogwa on Ukwo day in June, 2013 and Eje-Alekwu Ono in Ugboju.
I also traveled to Obi and Oju Local Government Areas (Igede speaking area). The Igede Agba was celebrated on the 3rd of September, 2013 and the researcher and my mechanic went to witness the event myself with Mr. Sunday interpreting the Igede aspects. The Governor, Suswan Gabriel and his entourage were there. The Ministry of Tourism and Culture was also there as one of the contributors.
I also traveled to Makurdi, Gboko and Katsina-Ala for different Kwagh-hir rehearsals and display. The researcher snapped with one of the masquerades display in Gboko shortly before Christmas, 2013.
I also traveled to Otukpo-Icho and Igbanomaje to witness the Ekwu-afia perform the burial of two elders who are elderly members of the cult. The Alekwu cult is stronger in the Otukpo part of Idoma than other parts. There are some stages in the rites that prohibit women from being present. In such places I used my son to get the information required. The researcher used her camera to snap some of the scenes.
Interviewer – Interviewee verbal interactions and conversations were also used. In Oju the researcher interviewed Inyangbe Ode, an elder on why they celebrate this festival and he told me that they do this to remember their great father Agba.
I also spoke to Adam Onche the son of Ada-Alekwu. He told me that no other person is permitted to bury their members as the Idomas believe in the souls of the departed to be somewhere taking care of the affairs of their living relatives.
In Gboko the leader of the C Terh Kwagh-hir said that the Kwagh-hir is a picture of the Tiv culture and heritage.
Another sub research method is the documentary type. The researcher gets her data from unpublished and published materials such as books, newspapers, magazines, journals etc. information were downloaded from the Internet to support the work.
1.5: Significance of the Study
This work will be of paramount importance, not only to the local people of Benue State, and the government also to researchers interested in the study or management of cultural resources and cultural heritage. Local festivals in Benue State lead to social, educational, political and economic purposes to the people of Benue State and also to the people around the world.
This research work would help create awareness to tourist both local and international alike that there are festivals of international repute; it will also create awareness about the economic benefits of local festival of the people of Benue State.
This work will also be of immense importance to tourism potentials, as it will show case the rich cultural heritage of the Tivs, Idoma and Igede people of Benue State.
1.6: Scope of the Study
This work focuses on Eja’Alekwu festival in Idoma land, New yam festival in Igede land and Kwagh-hir festival in the Tiv land, all in Benue State of Nigeria; with a view to bringing them to limelight as well as highlighting their economic importance to the local people.
1.7: Limitations of the Study
The researcher encountered various problems during the exercise.
Firstly, I was directed to get approval from the chiefs and elders of the community before any exercise will be allowed in the place. The process of getting the approval was time consuming.
The distance posed a problem to the researcher. From Nsukka to far Benue where these festivals take place is about six hour’s journey. These festivals are done by three different ethnic groups that stay very far from each other. The transport fares were high. I equally made use of motorbikes because most of the villages are not accessible to motor cars and the cost is quite high.
Another problem encountered was language. The three common languages spoken in Benue state are Idoma, Igede and Tiv which are their vernacular. The researcher has no knowledge or background in two of the languages. Most often an interpreter was employed to help in the work. People like Sunday Ikwue did the Igede side, Ayede A.S. for the Tiv and Adama Onche supported me even in the Idoma.
In addition to these, sex barrier is another limitation as female(s) are not allowed access to some stages of the festivals especially Alekwu and Kwagh-hir.
POKHARNESSING LOCAL FESTIVALS FOR TOURISM PROMOTION IN PARTS OF BENUE STATE
