Abeokuta – The Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Thursday conducted participants at the ongoing Nigerian Drums Festival holding in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun round major tourist centres in the ancient town.
The maiden edition of the Nigerian Drums Festival which commenced in Abeokuta on Tuesday will end on Friday.
The festival which attracted prominent Nigerians and ambassadors of six African countries at its opening ceremony also drew participants from different parts of the country.
The state commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, led the participants to the tourist sites.
Some of the tourist centres visited are the Centenary Hall, built in 1930 to commemorate 100 years of the settlement of the Egba people in Abeokuta.
They also visited the Olumo Rock which served as the fortress for the people of Egba during the Nigerian inter-tribal war in the first quarter of the 19th century.
The participants also paid homage to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo at his Ake Palace.
The Alake who narrated the history of the Egba people to the visitors also showed them the first Bible in Nigeria given to the people in 1904 by the British.
The Niger and Kano States contingents participating in the festival entertained the monarch with their indigenous music while the Samba Community from Lagos State treated him to some Brazilian music.
Some of the participants who spoke to during the tour called for more specialised national festivals as a means to further strengthen the unity of existing among Nigerians.
“In my life, I have never been to a place outside my state where I have been given this kind of welcoming reception and warm hospitality.
“I feel at home and I am very happy and have learnt a lot about the people of Egba.
“I believe many more of this kind of festival should be held in different parts of the country to strengthen our unity,” Saleh Attah, the lead drummer of the Kano contingents told .
The festival is expected to end on Friday with more performances from different groups from across the country.
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Vanguard