ABSTRACT
This study attempt to investigate the
various cultural festivals in Lagos and its impact on the people of Lagos. Most
especially the Fanti carnival which has become the part and parcel of the
people of Lagos Island. To achieve its aims, the study examines most of the
cultural festivals that being celebrated by the people of Lagos. The study
reveals the various cultural festivals observed in Lagos and the Fanti carnival
celebrated annually in Lagos Island. Also, where and how the carnival is mostly
observed is also reveals. The paper conclude with suggestions that the cultural
festivals including the Fanti carnival should be embraced and celebrated
annually in Lagos Island and the Mainland in order to embrace the Lagos
cultural values.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table
of Contents
Chapter One - Introduction
Background
to the Study
Statement of the Problem
Aims and objectives
Research Questions
Scope
and Limitation of the Study
Significance of the Study
Research Plan
Research
Methodology
Definition
of Terms
References
Chapter Two Introduction
Literature
Review
References
Chapter Three Cultural Festivals in
Lagos State
Introduction
Major
Cultural Festivals Observed in Lagos
Origin
of Eyo Festival
Observing
Eyo Festival in Lagos
What
is Culture Importance of Culture Cultural Festivals?
References
Chapter Four Introduction
Fanti
Festival in Lagos State
Fanti
Carnival in Lagos Island
Factors
That Contributed to the Fanti Carnival
Observation of the Lagos Fanti Carnival
Renewed Lagos Carnivals
References
Chapter Five
Summary
Conclusion
Recommendation
Bibliography
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
Nigeria is very rich in culture. Various
ethnic groups in Nigeria have their own culture which is been communicated
through cultural festivals. Many cultural festivals date back to the time
before the arrival of alien religions such as Islam and Christianity. Today
cultural 'festivals are still being celebrated by the people in various annual
ceremonies such as masquerades and carnivals. In some other areas, it is
extended to cover an enormous range of events, such harvest festivals, and
betrothal festivals, to the investing of a new chief and funerals as well as demonstration
of ethnic prowess.
In Northern Nigeria Durbar festival is
being celebrated by the region that symbolizes strengths and dexterous skills
in riding of horses. Durbars are called up during religious festivals like Id
el' Fitri and Id el Kabir. They are also called up during installation
ceremonies of the Emirs. They are also called up during installation ceremonies
of the Emirs. The Durbars serve as entertainment for very important visitors.
Durbars are also called up during the anniversary of the birth of Prophet
Mohammed (al el Mauled). The horses are colorfully adorned and the horse riders
are in procession. The riders are dressed in aristocratic regalia blowing
bugles and trumpets accompanied by drumming and dancing. They make displays in
riding the horses and come to abrupt bait to salute and pledge loyalty to
Emirs.
Also in Kano and Kats there is the Kalankwa Festival, which usually comes at the end of
the harvest season. At the Kalankwa Festival, traditional boxing, wrestling,
music and dances of different types are performed.
In the present day Benue state, the Tiv
Day is a national day for the Tiv all over the country. During the festival the
people send delegates from other town to converge at the TIV palace for deliberations
on developments strategy among the TIV local government areas. At the same time
old and offensive laws are abrogated and new ones made for the people for peace
and progress. New traditional titles are conferred on the sons and daughters of
the land. It is held annually on the 19th of September to coincide with the day
the first Tor TIV was installed in 1946.
In the same vien, the Eje Alekwu
Festival is an annual festival celebrated to relate with the ancestral gods of
ldoma land, Benue state. Before the Eje Aiekwu masquerades appear, sacrifices
are offered to the gods to appease them and appeal for protection for the
future. The festival is celebrated by different masquerades to represent
various ancestral characters and spirits of the ancestors.
In Bonny, River State we have the
masquerade group known as Owogbo. Each of the major houses in. the Bonny
Kingdom has their end of the fishing season masquerade festival locally known
as Fungus. The masquerade is the traditional way of paying homage to the sea
gods. During celebration, they carry a carved shellfish with masquerade dressed
in brightly colored locally made fabrics. Both men and women take part in the
dancing.
Among the Efik and some Ibibio tribes of
Cross River and Akwa Ibom States of Nigeria, the Ekpe Secret Society occupies a
significant position and functions as an instrument for law and sorder. Mention
of Ekpe brings fear and terror to the people that have not been initiated. The word
Epke literally means leopard and its masquerade are so named for its muIti-colored
Membership of Ekpe Society is seen as a status symbol.
Among the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria,
Cultural festivals play an important role in the social cohesion. There are
such festivals as the Ofala and the new yam festival. The spices of these festivals
are cultural dances and drama while masquerades add mythical splendor. The
Atilogu dances are a very popular form of cultural display in Igbo land. It
comprised of series of systematic acrobatic dance actions like twisting,
somersaulting and building of human pyramids. During joyful occasions the
dancers dress in bright colors but on sorrowful occasion they' dress in dark
attires and their movements are slow and mournful. Because of the rich mix of
ethnic in Ondo state. It presents a wide variety of culture and festival.
Prominent among them are the Beta Dance, the Itilum Maiden Dance, Ajabore Igogo,
Oluwa and Ogun festivals. Animals such as dogs are offered to the god of iron,
"Ogun" during the celebration. The Akoko and Ekiti areas are well
known for cloth weaving while Owo is popular for its special cloth of royalty.
The Benin Kingdom the best known center
of in the pre-colonial days, has the Oba as the traditional head. The Igue
festival is celebrated annually in December for the Oba and his subjects. It is
a combination of nine principal ceremonies during which animals especially
goats are sacrificed. The celebrants dress in their finest attires and join in
songs and dances.
In Lagos State, the Eyo masquerade is of
traditional importance and it has a historical background. It is the pride of
the Oba, Chiefs and people of Lagos. It was first performed in Ikoyi in the
18th century as a traditional play. It now features during special ceremonies.
Eyo is hooded and. robed in flowing white gowns. These cover his hands and
feet. It carries a special staff known as the Opabata. The Eyo is barefooted
and spectators who want to see the Eyo must be barefooted in order not to incur
the anger of the masquerade. The offender is beaten with Opabata.l0 unpopular
in Lagos state but very likely, is no longer been observed regularly and
glamorously in it a native community.
In this vein, this study will delineate
the importance and significance of cultural festivals to Lagos state and its
people using Fanti Festival as a case study. The study through descriptive and
observatory survey will present the various electrifying features of the Fanti
festival and its role in branding and disseminating the cultural values of its
commemorators. Further, the study will identify the factors that are'
contributing to the dwindling love for observing cultural festivals like Fanti
Carnival in Lagos State.
STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
Cultural festivals owe their origin to
the traditional religions of Nigeria. The festivals are being celebrated with
the practice of the major traditional religions in Nigeria. The various
cultural festivals in Nigeria are celebrated throughout the year and are
celebrated with gaiety. These Nigeria festivals are denotative elements of
Nigeria culture.
However in recent times, cultural
festivals are declining and the memories of their significances are fading. One
of the documented con1ributory factors to the decline in cultural practices is
the adoption and embracing of foreign religion. The emergence of Christianity
and Islam has led to a massive shift in belief and attention of existing belief
systems which has led to a sporadic decline in the commemoration and
celebration of cultural festivals in Lagos state and Nigeria as whole. Other
researchers opine that colonization, civilization and globalization bas led to
a shift and superimposition of cultural values and this has led to loss ·of
interest in cultural heritage and festivals especially among youths in this
part of the world. One of such festival that is unpopular in Lagos state is the
Fanti Festival.
The Fanti festival is usually observed
by the Lagos indigenes that are residing in the Lagos Island. Fanti Carnival
was widely accepted and practiced annually by Lagos However, there is a loss of
zeal for this once electrifying and-admirable occasion.
The concern of this study is to
contribute to the much needed literature on cultural festivals in Lagos state
with special emphasis on the Fanti Carnival. The study will examine the
rationale behind the carnival, its significance and feature of the carnival.
The study will also identify the factors that have led to the decline in the
number of observers and the regularity of the festival.
AIMS
AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of this research work is to
examine the introduction and celebration of Fanti Carnival by Lagos Islanders
and the significance of the festivals to natives of Lagos Island as well as
Lagos state as whole. This will be achieved under the following specific
objectives
i.
To examine the various cultural
festivals in Lagos and their significances
ii.
To investigate the origin and importance
of Fanti Carnival
iii.
To examine if the Fanti Carnival and
other cultural festivals are widely accepted in Lagos state
iv.
To understand the factors that contributes
to decline in the participation in cultural festivals as well as dwindling love
for commemorating our cultural heritage.
RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES
Keeping in focus the above objectives
this study will ask and answer the following research questions:
i.
What are the various cultural festivals
in Lagos State and what are their significances?
ii.
Where is Fanti carnival originated from
and of what importance is Fanti Carnival?
iii.
Is the Fanti Carnival and other cultural
festivals are widely accepted in Lagos state?
iv.
What factors con1nDute to decline in the
participation in cultural festivals as wen as dwindling love for commemorating
our cultural heritage?
SCOPE
AND LIMITATION OF THE SI'UDY
The horizon of this study covers the·
cultural festivals in Lagos State and their Significances with special emphasis
on the Fanti Carnival in Lagos. The study will also present theoretical and
empirical underpinnings of the relevance of cultural festivals to a nation. A
descriptive and observatory survey will be carried out in some selected areas
of Lagos Island that have been associated with the Fanti carnival.
This study is based on the use of few
primary and secondary data. Thus, a major limitation was the paucity of literature
and h materials on the subject matter.
In addition, the study bas the following
limitations:
Tune: the academic schedule of the
researcher limits the extent at which the research can be carried out. A research
of this magnitude requires adequate time. In fact it would have been more
suitable if the researcher carried out the research during the festive period.
Finance: the institution does provide
grants for undergraduate research work. The research requires a large amount of
finding for it to be carried out extensively. Documentaries and. unearthing of
historical and archival data would have helped in covering a reasonable scope
of the study. Thus, the research approach was restricted to interviews,
questionnaire administration and observation due to lack of funding
However the outcome of the research is
tenable and reliable.
SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
The different uses of festivals in
cultural life have been able to popularize in many parts of the world where all
members of tile religion society are involved, into segmented events for
specific audiences through selective procedures. The research is important
because it focuses on the Fanti Carnival in Lagos. This will help in giving explanation
on how the carnival is been observed and how it was introduced to Lagos. The
perceived audience that will benefit from the outcomes of this research work
includes:
Schools:
Schools will encourage their students to organize such festivals which can
cultivate a sense of acceptance of the cultural elements of their own and the
others too. It will bring to mind that a cultural loss is a national loss in
fact, a loss of the entire mankind. This necessitates an effort to protect it
from extinction by drawing attention of the people towards their culture
Policy
Makers and leaders-will see the Visions of culture,
wording, cultural identity, cultural heritage, globalization, multiculturalism
vs. transculturally; cultural diversity, civil society etc. must be well
defined in Cultural Policy of the nation. This is the main uniting and
encouraging guides for the people and artists to organize cultural festivals.
The
society; Not only People of Lagos state or Nigeria as a
nation but the whole world get an open opportunity to understand and realize
the sublimities of the glorious tradition of the culture exhibited in during
the festival. Hence, the prestige and pride of people are enhanced and expanded
in the world by the documentations in this study. Also national integration is
strengthened.
Host
Communities: The natives, residents and organizers
of the Fanti festival to rebrand the festival in such a way that it opens a new
prospect for the due recognition of arts, artifacts and artists in the world
This expands opportunities for cultural exchanges.
Tourist
managers and facilitators; They will see the opportunity to
attract more foreign tourists to the host Communities and the Fanti carnival
and this will result in foreign income earning by the widening of opportunities
for export of the art and handicraft pieces.
RESEARCH
PLAN
This study is segmented into five
chapters, chapter one introduce the topic of study, statement of problems, aims
and objectives, research question, scope and limitation of the study,
significance of the study, research plan, research methodology and concluded
with definition of terms.
Chapter two of the work is where the
literature review of the study is located. In the chapter some existing world
related to the course of study is review, so also some related concepts like
culture and some socio cultural festivals are review.
Chapter three focuses on the cultural
festivals in Lagos State and how they are being observed.
Chapter four review the origin .of the
Fanti Carnival in Lagos and where and how it’s being observed in Lagos State.
Chapter five involves summary,
conclusion and recommendation.
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
The research methods and procedure
adopted in collection of data for this study was carried out to make an
historical overview of cultural festivals in Lagos most importantly the Fanti
Carnival.
Secondary sources of data collection
were used for the study. These were extracted from academic journa1s, annual
reports, annual workshop/seminal papers, internet. Browsing and various
textbooks on cultural festivals in Lagos.
DEFINITION
OF TERMS
Culture:
according to Edward Taylor (1871), he stated that "Culture is that complex
whole which includes knowledge, belief, arts, morals, customs, laws and other
capabilities including tools acquired by man as a member of the society".
Culture is also a developed understanding of literature, art, music etc.
Festival:
The word 'festival' comes from the Latin word 'festivus'. The word 'festivus'
is explained as lively, say, festive, joy gladsome and merry. A festival is
defined as "a specia1 day or period, "finally in memory of a
religious event, with its own social activities, food or ceremonies, or an
organized set of special events, such as musical performances or plays, usually
happening in one place". In a festival there are a series of
presentations, or a gathering of exhibitors in one or more of the fine arts, or
craft, or such a gathering based on a central theme food, season etc.
Fanti
Carnival: Fanti is a cultural even the Carnival that takes
place four times a year on Lagos Island.
Lagos State is an administrative
division of Nigeria, located in the southwestern part of tile country. The ~ in
area of Nigeria Lagos State is arguably the most economically important state
of the country, containing Lagos, the nation's largest urban area. The actual
population total is disputed between the official Nigerian Census of 2006, and
a much bigger figure claimed by the Lagos State Government.
Lagos Island is the principal and
central local government area of the Metropolitan Lagos in Nigeria. It is part
of the Lagos Division. According to the preliminary 2006 Nigerian census, the
LOA had a population of 209,437 in an area of 8.7 km2. The LOA only covers the
western half of Lagos Island; the eastern half is under the jurisdiction of the
LGA of Eti-Osa
Click “DOWNLOAD NOW” below to get the complete Projects
FOR QUICK HELP CHAT WITH US NOW!
+(234) 0814 780 1594
Login To Comment