The Popular Festivals of The Festival & Cultural Tours in Nigeria
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.
List of Popular Markets in Lagos, Nigeria
In Lagos, Nigeria, there are a number of markets that attract a large number of people for various reasons. Some people go to these markets to purchase items because of their relatively low prices while others prefer them for a quality shopping experience. Take for instance a small scale retailer based in one of the suburbs, he or she may visit these markets to purchase bulk items from wholesalers in order to resell at lower prices at a more convenient time and place. Here are some popular markets in Lagos Nigeria and the kind of products such markets deal in:
1. Yaba also known as Tejuosho Market currently undergoing renovation it is one of the most modern markets in West Africa with standard facilities and infrastructure. Tejuosho market is a densely populated market, with thousands of shopping units and tens of thousands of customers who patronize the businesses that are resident in the complex on a daily basis. Until 2007 when parts of the market were gutted by fire, Tejuosho market was perhaps the busiest market in Lagos Nigeria after Idumota, Balogun, Oshodi, Alaba Market and seme markets.
2. Alaba International Market. The so called largest electronics market in Africa, Alaba International Market is home to the biggest dealers of electronic products in Nigeria. Many of the dealers are big time importers and distributors of electrical and electronic gadgets such as flat screen televisions, generators, home appliances especially refrigerators, fans, air conditioners, even DVD sets, digital satellite dishes and decoders and many more. The market is a beehive of activities on all days of the week except on Sundays when most of the traders go to church.
3. Computer village. Computer village as the name implies is a market that deals primarily in the buying and selling of computers including software and hardware, mobile phones and their accessories. It is home to some of Nigeria’s best phone and computer repair guys with many of them demonstrating remarkable skills in managing, maintaining and repairing phones, computer parts and other related gadgets. However there is a draw back, this market is also notorious for housing some people of questionable character such as touts, pirates, pick pockets and fraudsters. However the market offers many benefits such as affordable prices and quality products but only where such products are purchased from reputable and authorized dealers.
4. Idumota. One of the oldest markets in Lagos Nigeria, this market is the largest market in West Africa and possibly Africa with tens of thousands of lock up shops occupying various buildings in the market. The distinct feature about this market is that it is made up of very many multiple storey buildings some measuring 5 or even more floors. Most of the shops are actually apartment rooms converted into shops. The market is so big that as early as 6 am in the morning it is already recording large volume of transactions.
5. Balogun. Like the Idumota Market, Balogun market is located on the Lagos Island axis. It too is an old market with very many lock up shops however unlike Idumota market it has much fewer multiple storey buildings. Parts of this market extend into Marina and Broad Street (two of the busiest streets in the central business district of Lagos Nigeria).
6. Mile 12. This market is popular for being the hotbed of farm produce and raw foods. Any vegetable or fruit that grows in tropical Africa except those that are alien to Nigerian soil can be found in this market. It is the cheapest market for foodstuff especially vegetables, fruits and livestock other farm produce.
7. Mushin. Mushin market is a market known for having very cheap items when compared with other markets of Lagos Nigeria. The market is both a wholesale and retail market with almost every consumable imaginable available for sale.
8. Oshodi. Known for its rowdiness and large size Oshodi Market is Nigeria’s second largest market after Idumota market. Up until early 2008, Oshodi was a no go area for many pedestrians and motorists as its roads were so jam packed that free flow of traffic was almost impossible. That is a thing of the past following the determination of the Lagos state government to rid the state of rowdiness, lawlessness and disorderliness. Prices of commodities in this market are also relatively cheap.
9. Onyingbo (White sand). This market located in the mainland Yaba axis along with its sister market at Iddo is a prime market in that it serves as a transit point between Lagos and a number of Northern states with foodstuff arriving from Northern Nigeria straight to it through Iddo. Although not as cheap as Ketu Market, oyingbo market has a number of affordable commodities mainly foodstuff and livestock.
10. Alade Market in Ikeja. This market is modern but not as complete as tejuosho. A number of businesses mostly corporate services and retail stores operate in the market offering services such as travel and tour services, bureau de change, resale of consumables and even car hire services exist in this market. Things are relatively expensive owing to its location (Allen Avenue) and proximity to the international airport.