Today, the world has become a global village and different world federations try to develop different tourist attractions in different countries. Keeping this idea in mind, UNESCO has chosen Sukar Cultural Landscape as a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is located in the Northeastern part of Nigeria. Nigeria has unique position in Africa because of its unique tourist attractions but Sukar Cultural Landscape was selected because of its unique structured palace, beautiful villages and terraced fields etc. Every year several tourists try to get flights to Lagos, Nigeria to step in to such a unique cultural landscape.

UNESCO included Sukar cultural Landscape in the list of world heritage site in 1999. By visiting this place physically, you would come to know the critical stage in human settlement and its relationship with its environment that’s why the Citation calls this site an exceptional landscape. Cultural Landscape of Sukur is witness of continuing spiritual and cultural traditions that are being tolerated for many centuries. It is located on the Mandara Mountains so apart from the historical information you can also enjoy the inclined land with its grassy soil.

Sukur is quite different from other World Heritage sites in that it is not as much recognized, throughout the world, as other sites are. Its recognition is far behind its instant area. This site is being developed with the passage of time to introduce Sukur to all over the world by collecting as much information as available in records and publications. Data composed by Nic David and Judy Sterner in the background of the Mandara Archaeological Project and data from Sukur themselves can also be useful in developing the Sukar Cultural Landscape.

As it is mentioned above that Sukar Cultural Landscape is not as much popular as other UNESCO World Heritage Sites are so, to make it famous among international tourists there should be a proper plan for its marketing. Nigerian Government should start some new projects with collaboration of different world recognized federations for the development of cultural heritage. For that, Government can make it a park that should fulfill international standards. For that, they should bring some wild animals to enhance the interest of tourists. However, zoo cannot be called safari park but still it does not appropriately fulfill the needs of a wild life lover. Government can also make a museum over there to depict the real culture and history of the region.

Nigeria is a federal constitutional republic in West Africa. The rich historic traditions and culture of the country made a mark as one of the popular tours of travelers from other countries. The cultural and festival tours in Nigeria offer a wide variety of cultural hotspots from luxury to budgeted trips. The two major hotspots are the cities of Abuja and Lagos. These are the two important places and major centers of sightseeing in Nigeria. Some of the popular festivals of the Festival and Cultural Tours of Nigeria are:

Argungu Fishing Festival: The Argungu Festival marks the end of the fishing period and the old opposition between the Kebbi Kingdom and the Sokoto Caliphate . It is held annually from March 12 to 15 in the northwestern state of Arugungu, Kebbi. The festival began in August 1934 when Sultan Dan Mu’azu visited the place. The festival is one of the major cultural celebrations in Nigeria. A grand fishing festival was organized and joined by hundreds of local men armed with fishnets to harvest fish. There are also canoes filled with drummers. People rattle large seed-filled gourds so as to take the fish towards shallow waters.

Argungu Fishing Festival offers many fish competitions as well as canoe racing, bare handed fishing, wild duck hunting, swimming and diving competitions. The final day of the festival showcases a competition of hunting the largest fish. Winners can take home as mush as $7,500. There were also singing, dancing and drinking after the event.

Benin Festival: The Benin Festival is held at the end of every rainy season after harvesting. It is also called a harvest festival but it focuses mainly on the acquaintance of the men and women of the village. The matchmaking ceremony occurs once every four years of the wealthy families. Girls are adorned with heavy armlets and ornaments and coral beads on their hair. Boys take part in the tug-of-war game to demonstrate their strengths. Both girls and boys have paints on their bodies.

Durbar Festival: Durbar (military parade) Festival is a parade of horsemen dated back hundred of year ago. This is the time when the Emirate uses horses and invited regiments in the north during warfare. The festival is held in Katsina and Kano. It was organized in honor of Emir. A parade showcases their horsemanship as a tribute to their loyalty to the Emirate and the preparedness for war. Now, it is being celebrated as an honor for the heads of State and the end of the two Muslim festivals such as Ide-el Kabir (sacrificing a ram instead of Prophet Ibrahim’s son) and the Id-el Fitri (end of Ramadan month).

The celebration has many performances of drummers, singers, royal cavalry and wrestlers. Id-el-Kabir or Sallah Day begins with a prayer followed by a horse procession to the public square. Each district and village group takes their assigned place racing across at full gallop and swords sparkling up. Emir was the last to arrive wherein the people passes and stop to salute him raising their swords. There were lots of dancing, singing and drumming after the event with small bands performing shadi.

Sharo or Shadi Festival: Shadi (flogging meeting) Festival is about age-old initiations originated among the Jaful Fulani culture. There are bare-chested unmarried men who enter the center of the ring escorted with beautiful girls trying to frighten his opponent. Cheers and drumming are present as the challenger comes out handling a whip (belt) to flog his opponent without showing pain. Nigerian festivals were the origin of the traditional religious and cultural heritage of Nigeria. The Festival and Cultural Tours offers great celebrations and fun filled experiences of singing and dancing as well as information on the past history of Nigeria’s culture.