Top five traditional Festivals in Nigeria

Argungu Fishing Fesival

The festival began in the year 1934, as a mark of the end of the centuries old hostility between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom. The Argungu Fishing Festival is an annual four day festival in north-western Nigerian state of Kebbi. The festival usually takes place in Argungu, the capital city of Argungu Emirate Council. The geo-physical nature and characteristics of the festival site in Argungu are river areas (matanfada, mala, gamji), irrigation, and orchards (lambu in hausa). The majority of fishermen are the followers of Islam and Predominant farmers. Kanta mesium is the main historical centre in Argungu for visitors across the globe. Tourists from different destination troupe to Argungu just to witness the occasion. On the final day of the festival, a competition is held in which thousands of men and women line up along the river and at the sound of a gunshot, all of them jump into the river and have an hour to catch the largest fish. The winner can take home as much as 7,500 US dollars. Competitors are only allowed to use traditional fishing tools and many prefer to catch fish entirely by hand.

 

Eyo Festival

The Eyo Festival, otherwise known as the Adamu Orisha Play, is a Yoruba festival unique to Lagos, Nigeria.  In modern times, it is presented by the people of Lagos as a tourist event and due to its history, is traditionally performed on Lagos Island. The first procession in Lagos was on the 20th of February, 1854, to commemorate the life of the Oba Akintoye. The word "Eyo" also refers to the costumed dancers, known as the masquerades that come out during the festival. The origins of this observance are found in the inner workings of the secret societies of Lagos. It is widely believed that the play is one of the manifestations of the customary African revelry that serves as the forerunner of the modern carnival in Brazil. On Eyo Day, the main highway in the heart of the city (from the end of Carter Bridge to Tinubu Square) is closed to traffic, allowing for procession from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran palace. The white-clad Eyo masquerades represent the spirits of the dead, and are referred to in Yoruba as "agogoro Eyo" (literally: "tall Eyo"). A full week before the festival (always a Sunday), the ‘senior’ eyo group, the Adimu (identified by a black, broad-rimed hat), goes public with a staff. When this happens, it means the event will take place on the following Saturday. Each of the four other ‘important’ groups — Laba (Red), Oniko (yellow), Ologede (Green) and Agere (Purple) — take their turns in that order from Monday to Thursday.

Here is a list of Prohibited Items at the festival: Commercial motorcycles, Bicycles, Sandals, Suku: A hairstyle that is popular among the Yorubas, one that has the hair converge at the middle, then shoot upward, before tipping downward, Smoking (The masquerades are known to beat people who use any of the prohibited items at sight with their staffs.)

 

Leboku is the annual New Yam Festival celebrated in Ugep, Nigeria to honor of the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits of the land in Ugep, one of the five settlements of Yakurr. The three week festival is the culmination of many events: the beginning of the yam harvest, a time to appease the gods and ancestors, a public parade of engaged maidens, a commemoration of events that led to the migration from the Yakurr ancestral home to the present site, and a period of holiday in the Yakurr traditional calendar (mid-August through mid-September). According to oral history, Leboku Cultural festival is as old as the Yakurr people. It started with the earliest settlers on the land. Tracing the history of the Yakurr people and the origin of the Ugep International New Yam Festival (Leboku). The Yakurr calendar runs from August to July. During the Leboku, people keep away from intense farming activities and exchange visits with their families. The Leboku is also meant to usher in peace, good health and prosperity. Click for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leboku

 

Igue Festival

The Bini have a long lineage of Obas, and Igue is also an occasion to celebrate Ugie-Evhoba among other occasions. During this period, the anniversary of their deaths is celebrated by the Bini, and for seven days propitiations are made to the spirits of the departed Obas. This is done to invoke their blessing on the reigning monarch and their family and subjects.

The Igue festival, which is a period for offering thanks to the gods for sparing their lives and to ask for blessings, is also used for offering sacrifices to some shrines in the palace. During this period, chieftaincy title holders display their Eben emblem in the Ugie dance as they appear in their traditional attire, according to the type of dress the Oba bestowed on individual chiefs during the conferment of title, while the Oba seats majestically in the royal chamber (Ogiukpo). Confirmation and conferring of titles on deserving citizens by the Oba are carried out during the festival, although this could be done any time the Oba deems fit. While it is also a period to drive away evil spirits (Ubi) and bring blessings (Ewere) to every home in the kingdom, it is a period traditionally set aside by the Bini to thank the gods for blessings on the Oba, his palace, harem and subjects. Ancestral gods are worshipped for protection and propitiation done in the various palace societies. The shrines are considered holy and therefore defied traditionally. The Oba pays homage at the shrines and he is accompanied by some of his chiefs. Indeed, it is a period of merriment, rituals and dancing.

During the seven days of elaborate traditional and cultural activities, Bini chiefs are seen in their enviable traditional regalia, including the Iloi (Queens) in their Okuku (hairdo). It is a rare occasion of their public appearance, where the Oba's stalwarts (Ifietes) are seen in active service. Traditional dances like Esakpaide, Ohogho and above all the display of Eben by the chiefs while dancing and paying homage to the Oba in Ogiukpe at Ugha Oba or the Oba's chamber. For more information: http://www.edofolks.com/html/pub142.htm

 

The New Yam festival of the Igbo (Igbo: Iwa ji) is an annual harvest festival by the Igbo people held at the end of the rainy season in early August. The Iwa ji festival (literally "new-yam eating") is practiced throughout West Africa (especially in Nigeria and Ghana) and other African countries and beyond, symbolizing the conclusion of a harvest and the beginning of the next work cycle. The celebration is a very culturally based occasion, tying individual Igbo communities together as essentially agrarian and dependent on yam.

Yams are the first crop to be harvested, and are the most important crop of the region. The evening prior to the day of the festival, all old yams (from the previous year's crop) are consumed or discarded. The next day, only dishes of yam are served, as the festival is symbolic of the abundance of the produce.

Traditionally, the role of eating the first yam is performed by the oldest man in the community or the king (igwe). This man also offers the yams to god, deities and ancestors. It is believed that their position bestows the privilege of being intermediaries between their communities and the gods of the land. The rituals are meant to express the gratitude of the community to the gods for making the harvest possible, and they are widely followed despite more modern changes due to the influence of Christianity in the area.

The day is symbolic of enjoyment after the cultivation season, and the plenty is shared with friends and well-wishers. A variety of festivities mark the eating of new yam. Folk dances, masquerades, parades, and parties create an experience that some participants characterize as "art"; the colorful festival is a spectacle of exhibited joy, thanks, and community display.

Palm oil (mmanu nri) is used to eat the yam. Iwa ji also shares some similarities with the Asian Mid-Autumn Festival, as both are based on the cycles of the moon and are essentially community harvest festivals.

 

Popular Nigerian Soups and their Nutritional Values

Soups are those special sauces that accompany the major Nigerian food commonly known as Fufu. Fufu is a generic name for food you swallow during the eating process. Fufu is generally tastless and rely on the richness of the soups to make the meal delicious. It is common knowledge that Nigerians especially the Igbos from the eastern part of the country must have at least one fufu meal in a day. This is why soups are very essential to Nigerian food recipes. All Nigerian soups can be served with Eba(Garri), Agidi, Amala, Semolina, Pounded Yam or Cassava Fufu. 

Today, we would analyze egusi soup and its calorie content, and all about egusi soup and weight loss. It has both good and bad sides. The basic Egusi Soup enriched with few chunks of stockfish and two pieces of meat contains a total of roughly 700 calories per serving!!! Imagine eating it with about 3 wraps of Iyan which is about 600 calories……….

The largest food group it contains is Fat. Egusi is very high in fat content. It has about 60% fat. It also has about 11 percent carbohydrate of which 0 percent is fibre which is supposed to be good for weight loss. Proteins make up 30 percent while other elements make up the rest. But that’s not all, Egusi actually has good qualities.

1. The fat in egusi is cholesterol free, meaning it’s not damaging to the heart. You may put on pounds when taking lots of egusi, but you would be sure that it’s not detrimental to your heart directly.

2. It contains certain nutrients which are good for the skin, good for fertility and reproduction.

So in conclusion, egusi has good properties as a food on its own, but for weight watchers and those on low fat diets, I would suggest you stick more to plain okra soups and vegetable soups, and limit your egusi intake.

 

Ogbono is one of our major soups here in Nigeria. It’s a soup we eat regularly. Ogbono is actually good for health, and weight loss, but when used to make soup, what determine the calorie content are actually the additives in the soup, your Palm oil and all that. However, today, we are not talking about the amount of calories in Ogbono soup; Rather, we are going to talk about the medicinal/herbal value of Ogbono Seed. You would be shocked that our very own Ogbono seed is now being sold abroad, as a drug for weight loss.

The scientific name of Ogbono seed is Irvingia gabonensis. They have converted it to powder form and put into capsules, and it is being sold as a weight loss drug!!! A bottle of about 120 capsules is sold for fifty dollars or thereabout. Now how does Ogbono seed work for weight lose? Ogbono seed is said to promote weight loss in various ways. One of the methods by which it does so is via inhibition of the enzyme called amylase. Amylase is responsible for absorption of sugar in the body. By decreasing the level of amylase, less sugar is absorbed by the body.

The second method by which it does this is to increase the level of a hormone known as adiponectin. Ogbono helps weight loss by also increasing the levels of leptin in the body, a hormone that reduces the appetite!

Lastly, Ogbono helps weight loss by inhibiting an enzyme called glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and by doing this, it reduces the amount of blood sugar converted to fat. Case study done Abroad actually showed that the seeds help to achieve weight loss. Who would have ever guessed that our Ogbono Seed would ever become a weight loss supplement?

Although some types of soup are low in calories, afang soup is calorie-dense, as each cup provides 307 calories, which constitutes more than 15 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,000 calories. If you are dieting, you may want a lower calorie soup such as chicken noodle, which contains 120 calories per cup. If you want to lose weight, you can burn off the calories in one cup of afang soup through 32 minutes of jogging or 25 minutes of jumping rope.

Afang soup is rich in fat, which contributes to the high calorie content. One cup of this soup provides 7 g of fat, although just 1 g is saturated. Dietary fat can be beneficial because it provides energy for long exercise sessions and promotes absorption of vital nutrients. Eating unsaturated fat may also help you maintain healthy levels of cholesterol.

Afang soup is rich in carbohydrates, with 20 g per cup. Of these carbohydrates, 3 g come from dietary fiber, while 2 g come from sugar. Afang soup may be more filling than other types of soup, as dietary fiber promotes feelings of satiety in addition to aiding in digestive health and controlling blood sugar levels.

Afang soup is a protein-rich food, as each cup contains 16 g of protein, which is twice the amount in a cup of milk. Protein consumption is important because protein provides your body with amino acids used to build and repair muscle and other vital tissues

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/458106-what-is-the-nutritional-value-of-afang-soup/#ixzz2L4587IZR

In my past posts, i have talked a lot of times about why i think people striving for weight loss should try to avoid Garri, pounded yam, and the likes. Good news for those who have been trying the diet, but are so so missing their soups. Okra soup is a very good soup for people trying to lose weight, but without the pounded yam or Eba oh. Back to Okra soup. You could cook your okra soup with about one or two pieces of meat. Minimal amount of palm oil would be very good, and then eat the okra soup alone. Okra soup alone contains about 105calories only per serving. So imagine how much calories you are saving by taking okra soup!!!It is also high in fiber content; here is a summary of what it contains: Okra has about 2.8g of fiber per serving, 3grams of fat, 4 grams of carbohydrates and 11 grams of protein. So for those trying to lose weight, why not try taking okra soup ALONE as substitute any time you are tempted to eat your pounded yam???

The Nigerian Banga Soup or Ofe Akwu is native to the Niger Delta and the South Eastern parts of Nigeria. In the Niger Delta areas, Banga soup is commonly eaten with various fufu recipes: Starch, Pounded Yam, Semolina, Garri and Cassava Fufu. In the South Eastern parts of Nigeria, Banga Soup is referred to as Ofe Akwu where Ofe means Soup / Stew and Akwu means palm fruit and is used mainly as stew for the white rice recipe. The palm fruit oil extract used in cooking Banga Soup / Stew is quite different from the Palm Oil used in cooking Nigerian food recipes. Palm Oil is pure oil extracted from the palm fruit pulp at high temperatures while the palm fruit oil extract used for the Banga Soup is extracted at a very low temperature and is a mixture of oil and water. Palm fruit oil extracted for Banga Soup contains less saturated fat than palm oils.

Bitter leaf soup is a soup prepared with the freshly squeezed or dried leaves of the ever green plant called Vernonia amygdaline. Bitter leaf soup is popularly eaten by the Igbo speaking people of Eastern Nigeria, and The people of Cameroon. Called Ofé Onugbo by the Igbos, the Cameroonians call it Ndolé. As would be expected, there is regional variation in how this soup is prepared. Like most other African soups, this authentic African food sauce is prepared with fish, meat, snail, either in combination or singly, with added spices and other condiments.

Calories	256	Sodium	0 mg
Total Fat	20 g	Potassium	0 mg
Saturated	0 g	Total Carbs	24 g
Polyunsaturated	0 g	Dietary Fiber	0 g
Monounsaturated	0 g	Sugars	0 g
Trans	0 g	Protein	3 g
Cholesterol	0 mg

 

Efo riro, otherwise known as vegetable or spinach soup, is a soup that is native to the Yoruba people of south-west Nigeria. The Hausas call it miyar alaiyahu while the Etsako people of Edo state call it as omhi-efo. It is prepared with green, leafy vegetables (spinach). The soup is a quick and simple way to prepare and enjoy vegetables. Efo riro is cooked with spinach, assorted meats (beef, goat meat, shaki and chicken), fish (stock fish, dried fish, and crayfish), pepper, tomatoes, onions, palm oil and seasoning. To prepare, thoroughly wash and shred vegetables.

Wash, season and cook meat until tender. Add prepared dried fish and stockfish and cook for another ten minutes. Place another pot on fire and heat up oil. Blend the tomatoes, onions and pepper and fry in oil for about ten minutes stirring frequently. Add cooked meat, fish, crayfish and some more stock, if necessary, and simmer for ten minutes. Lastly, add the vegetables, cook for five minutes and serve.

Efo riro can be eaten with just about anything; boiled rice, eba, pounded yam, amala, tuwo or plantain. Efo riro is a rich soup that is relatively cheap to prepare and its health nutritional benefits cannot be overemphasised. Spinach has a high nutritional value and is extremely rich in antioxidants, especially when fresh or steamed. It is a rich source of vitamins and folic acid.

The high amount of vitamins contained in spinach promotes healthy skin and also maintains the strength and density of our bones. It also aids digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low sugar and curbs overheating.

 

 

Get-Away Destinations for Lovers.

An alluring destination makes Cupid’s arrow more poignant. And so, in this period when love is in the air, when love is celebrated the world all over, there are new trends within the tourism industry-the focus in trendy package tours in which the couples are treated as royalties. Now that the St. Valentine’s Day is around the corner, many find it difficult selecting the best destinations to make the day memorable.

Thankfully, Nigeria’s tourism industry is gradually growing. Domestic tour packagings which were to be virtually absent are now some of the options.

Taste Love Garden at Obudu with Experience Cross River.

Experience Cross River, powered by Remlords Group, is putting together a package for the Valentine weekend.

Couples can book and have a memorable experience at the ranch. The bus will depart Calabar to Obudu Mountain Resort on the morning of February 15.

At the resort, couples would be treated to a lunch and candle light dinner at Love Garden. They will also have the opportunity to participate in the Couples’ Swimming competition.

There is also a ride on the cable car, the longest in Africa. However, couples coming from outside the state are expected to come early, so that they can join the bus ride to Obudu.

Like always, Nigeria’s prime destination-Cross River-still offers other options like Tinapa Resort and its surrounding and many other places.

La Campagne Tropicana, Ikegun, Lagos is a kind of luxury hideaway that has the stamp of class. The resort prides itself on being a paradise beyond imagination. One could understand the reason for the sentiment. With beautiful decorated rooms that are steeped in African motifs, a lush sandy beach , one could understand why the claim of being a paradise.

Lagos is one state that one is spoilt for choice on where to go.

As always, the islands and peninsulas that surround the state beckon. For those who may not have the money to places like Obudu, with a little planning ahead of time, one could plan a low budget Valentine experience and still have a swell time.

Apart from well-rehearsed and much trumpeted sites, there are some emerging tourist sites that possibly, with time, would become full destinations. For families, they could strike out to discover their own beach fronts to enjoy a perfect Valentine. From Maiyegun beach front down to Ikegun and further are beautiful beach fronts brimming with coconut trees. There are so many safe and isolated beaches to go .

But for those who love to be in places where the booze is on, private beaches such as Oniru and Elegushi beaches are options.

For those in Ekiti State, the number one spot for Valentine would ordinarily be Ikogosi Waterfall. But due to the renovation activities currently on in the place, the waterfall is closed. But nearby, the water might not be warm, but sparkles and brims with life.

The Arinta Waterfall is one of the alluring places I have visited.Its surrounding with the pristine, huge trees that hold the rocky hills in warm embrace is always exhilarating. Here, couples and families could have a good time.

Facorp Mangrove Park at the outskirts of Warri, Delta State have all it takes for lovers and family to have a good time at a rather modest cost. But for those looking for the upscale resorts in Delta State, Abraka Turf Club, one of Nigeria’s leading destinations would not be a bad idea.

Ada, the idyllic town in Osun State, is the home of MicCom Golf Club. The resort offers everything for relaxation for the Valentine. Here, one is sandwiched by nature and the peace it brings.

The Olumirin Waterfall, Erin Ijesa is undergoing renovation, but that may not dissuade people from going there. The surrounding may not be bad to spend the time in.

culled from:http://thenationonlineng.net/new/saturday-magazine/travels-on-saturday/valentines-day-a-time-to-savour-nature/

Seven most stylish monarchs in Nigeria

The Alaafin of Oyo Empire, his imperial Majesty Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is undoubtedly a monarch not with only wit but also with class. To say he is an enigma by every standard is an understatement, as many who had an interaction with him testify that “a moment with him is like an exploratory adventure through the school of history”.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi III, no doubt, one of Africa’s most powerful and most influential kings, has lived two decades and over half a century into decades of heeding the natural call of the gods and his people.
Here is an X-ray into the life of the great Traditional Icon, who has held the Oyo Empire together in response to the covenant he made with his people and the gods.

Like the saying goes, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. http://bit.ly/11Ax6sS

His Majesty lgwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe was born in Onitsha on 14 May, 1941, the first child of Akunne Anthony Chinwuba, and Chukwuebuka Winifred Ogbenyeanu Achebe. He is a direct and unblemished descendant of Ezearoli, through the lineage of Chimedie, Oreze Obi, and Aguzani. His mother hails from Umu Olisa in Odoje, whilst his wife Chinwe Ngozi (nee Ononye) is from Umu Osodi, Inosi Onira of Ogbeabu. His paternal grandmother is from Umu Onuma of Obikporo whilst his maternal grandmother hails from the royal Ornozele Sineage of Umu Ezearoli. He has six children - four daughters and two sons - Ezennia Odiakosa, Chinedu, Eziamaka, lfunanya, Uchenna and Chinwe.

lgwe Achebe has had a sound preparation for life through his education. With excellent results from his primary and secondary schools, he gained admission in 1963 to the prestigious and world famous Standford University in California, USA, where he took a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry. This was followed with a Master's degree in Business Administration in the equally famous Columbia University in New York City, also in the USA. He continued to develop his 'skills and abilities through the opportunity of many local and overseas in-service training programmes during his entire career. His educational attainment was crowned when he was nominated in 1979 to the maiden set of the Senior Executive Course of the exclusive National institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Jos, which is aimed at developing high-level leadership in the public and private sectors in Nigeria. For more details http://bit.ly/WoT52X

Ado Ibrahim Atta:
He is the highly influential paramount traditional ruler of 1gbiraland in Kogi State. Alhaji lbrahim Atta is one traditional ruler that is highly respected by his subjects. Since he ascended the throne, he has made tremendous efforts in attracting foreign investors to his domain. Apart from his traditional role, the traditional monarch is reputed to be a top-rated boardroom player with considerable interest in top-rated companies.

Sir Alhaji Dr. Ado Bayero (CFR, LLD, JP) (born July 25, 1930) is the current Emir of Kano in Nigeria, a position he has held since 1963. He is a former ambassador to Senegal. He is the son of the previous emir, Abdullahi Bayero dan Muhammad Abbas Bayero is the 13th Fulani emir since the Fulani War of Usman dan Fodio, when the Fulani took over the Hausa city-states. He is renowned for his abundant wealth, maintained by means of stock market investments and large-scale agricultural entrepreneurship both at home and abroad.

The Oba of Benin, or Omo N'Oba, is the Oba (king) of the Edo people and the Supreme Ruler Of The Benin Kingdom. The Benin homeland (not to be confused with the modern day country of the Republic of Benin, which was formerly known as Dahomey) has and continues to be most significantly populated by the Edo (also known as the Bini or Benin ethnic group).

The title of 'Oba' was created by Oba Eweka I, the kingdom's first 'Oba'. The current capital is Benin City, which is in modern day Nigeria.
In 1897, the British launched a Punitive Expedition, sacked Benin city and exiled Oba Ovonramwen, taking control of the area in order to establish the British colony of Nigeria. The expedition was mounted to avenge the defeat by the Binis of a British invasion force that had violated Benin territory earlier in 1896. It consisted of both indigenous soldiers and British officers, and is still remembered by the Edos with horror today. To cover the cost of the expedition, the Benin royal art was auctioned off by the British. Ovonramwen died in 1914, his throne never having been restored to him.
The present Oba, Erediauwa I, is the 39th Oba of the dynasty.

Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade was born on 1st January 1930 in Ile-Ife to the Ogboru ruling house, grandson of the Ooni Sijuwade Adelekan Olubuse I. He studied at Abeokuta Grammar School and Oduduwa College in Ile-Ife. He worked for three years in his father's business, then for two years with the Nigerian Tribune, before attending Northampton College in the United Kingdom to study business management. By the age of 30 he was a manager in Leventis, a Greek-Nigerian conglomerate. In 1963 he became Sales Director of the state-owned National Motor in Lagos. After spotting a business opportunity during a 1964 visit to the Soviet Union, he formed a company to distribute Soviet-built vehicles and equipment in Nigeria, which became the nucleus of a widespread business empire. He also invested in real estate in his home town of Ile Ife. By the time Sijuwade was crowned Ooni in 1980 he had become a wealthy man. from Sijuwade is a Christian. In November 2009 he attended the annual general meeting of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria accompanied by 17 other traditional rulers. He declared that he a was full member of the church, and said all the monarchs who accompanied him would now become members. At his birthday celebration two months later, the Primate of the Anglican Communion described Sijuwade as "a humble monarch, who has the fear of God at heart". http://bit.ly/VKvrfi

The King of Lagos is the traditional, yet ceremonial, sovereign of Lagos, a historical Yoruba kingdom that went on to become one of the largest cities in Africa after first giving its name to Lagos State, the acknowledged financial heart of contemporary Nigeria. The king has no political power, but is sought as a counsel or sponsor by Nigerian politicians who seek support from the various residents of Lagos. Among other ceremonial roles, the Oba also plays a central part in the Eyo festival as well as indulging in tourism advertisements often stating, "you've gotta goto Lagos".