FOCUS ON BAYELSA STATE CULTURE AND TOURISM

                    
                        FOCUS ON BAYELSA STATE CULTURE AND TOURISM

                  "The Pride Of The Nation"
                               



Bayelsa is a state in southern Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region, between Delta State and Rivers State. Its capital is Yenagoa. The four main languages spoken are Izon, Nembe, Epie-Atissa, and Ogbia. Like the rest of Nigeria, English is the official language. The state was formed in 1996 from part of Rivers State and is thus one of the newest states of the Nigerian federation

THE THREE MAJOR CULTURAL FESTIVALS IN BAYELSA

The rich cultural heritage of Bayelsa State is expressed by variety of her festivals through which the people recreate their past and reposition their culture to the present. Virtually every community in Bayelsa State has their own unique of celebrating their cultural feast. Some of the notable ones are;

LAKE EFI FISHING FESTIVAL

This is a major festival that takes place at the Efi Lake in Sabagrela in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. This colourful festival is usually celebrated every seven years subject to the pronouncement of the Chief Priet. It is a form of a home coming for the sons and daughters of the town who use the occasion as a thanksgiving event to the river goddess for a bountiful fish harvest. It involves canoe ride, boat regatta and fishing contest. During the period, visitors are exposed to fish of various sizes caught in the lake and sold at a cheap price.

SEIGBEN FISHING AND FEASTING FESTIVAL
This is an age-long annual tradition held at the Seigben Ogugu Lake in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State. it is usually graced by beautiful dance performances of the Egbelegbele dance troupe among others. Other major activities that accompany the festival include a 'Love Boat Party' and singing. The festival is held every year on the 30th of May . The carnival nature of the celebration attracts people from all walks of life.

OGORIBA FESTIVAL

The Ogoriba Uge festival takes place every July 27. it is celebrated among the people of Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the State. it is a celebration to commemorate the historical killing of a wild Buffalo. The story had it that this Buffalo would mysteriously appear without warning to launch selective attacks on the people of Odi. The tragic events of each attack which usually result in loss of life continued for many years and every effort made to kill the beast proved abortive. It was not until appropriate traditional appeasement ritual had been carried out that it was finally captured. The killing of the Buffalo brought peace to the community and to celebrate this landmark deed, the festival was born involving elaborate cultural performances which draw visitors from far and near.

Bayelsa state festivals:

	FESTIVAL	TOWN/LGA	DESCRIPTION	PERIOD
1	Eremutoru Festival	Peretoru in Ekeremor LGA	Ceremonial	December –  2nd January
2	Ikpai-Kpai Annual Festival	Ekowe in Southern Ijaw LGA	Ceremonial	1st January
3	Oguberi Festival	Ndoro in Ekeremor LGA	Ceremonial	Feb/March
4	Opuaduno Lake Fishing Festival	Akeddei/Opuaduno in Sagbama LGA	Fishing	May every Year
5	Seigbein Fishing Festival	Sagbama in Sagbama LGA	Fishing	27th May
6	Seigbein Fishing Festival	Amassoma in Southern Ijaw LGA	Fishing	28th - 30th May
7	Okolode Festival	Ekpetiama Clan in Yenagoa LGA	New Yam	5th June
8	Uge Adiafa Festival	Atissa Clan in Yenagoa LGA	New Yam	25th June
9	Obunem Festival	Epie Clan in Yenagoa LGA	New Yam	1st Week of July
10	Ogori ba Uge Festival	Odi in Kolokuma /Opokuma LGA	Killing of Buffalo	27th July
11	Odemimom Festival	Otuoke in Ogbia LGA	To Commemorate the Harvest Season	Last Saturday of October Every Year
12	Tungbo Liberation Day	Tungbo in Sagbama LGA	Ceremonial	1st October
13	Izogua Annual Festival	Otuokpoti in Ogbia LGA	Ceremonial	November every year
14	Amasinghan Festival	Aleibiri in Ekeremor LGA	Ceremonial	20th – 25th December
15	Asi Oge Festival	Ekeremor in Ekeremor LGA	Ceremonial	20th – 25th December
16	Ikagi Masquerade	Nembe Bassambiri in Nembe LGA	Ceremonial	Every 20 Years
17	Idumangi Olali	Okpoama in Brass LGA	Festival of Deities	Every Seven Years
18	Igboruma War Canoe	Otuokpoti in Ogbia LGA	Ceremonial	Periodically
19	Lake Ifi Fishing Festival	Sabagreia in Kolokuma /Opokuma LGA	Fishing	Periodically
20	Idumangi Festival	Nembe in Nembe LGA	Traditional	Periodically
21	Eyal Awani Festival	Idema in Ogbia LGA	Ceremonial
22	The Ancient War Canoe Regatta	Nembe in Nembe LGA	Ceremonial
23	Eyal Asigho	Okoroba in Nembe LGA	Ceremonial
24	Isemi Festival	Nembe in Nembe LGA	Traditional
25	Famgbe Beach Festival	Famgbe in Yenagoa LGA	Ceremonial
26	Abadiyai Annual Festival	Tabuama, Twon-Brass in Brass LGA	Ceremonial
27	Okoti Agori Masquerade Display	Diebu in Southern Ijaw LGA	Ceremonial

Bayelsa State tourism

There are 8 local government areas in Bayelsa State and several ethnic groups like the Igbriran, Atissa, Kolokunu, Biseni, and Ekpetiama, although the majority of the people are of Ijaw extraction. The four main languages in the state are Ogbia, Nembe, Izon, and Epie-Atissa. The people are mainly into fishing, local gin brewing, trading, palm oil production, palm wine tapping, weaving, and lumbering among others.

The major tourist attractions in the state are –

1. Oxbow Lake


The Oxbow Lake is located in Yenegoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. It is a waterfront that presents a coastal view of the capital city, and it has facilities that make it a tourist delight at all times. The waterfront is lined by local traders selling local cuisines with various BBQ grills to choose from. The lake is cool and calm with a natural mien that makes it suitable for pleasure-seekers and tourists.

The Oxbow Lake is close to a galleria of arts and cinemas, and it is also close to a five-star hotel that tourists to the lake can use. You can swim in the lake or use the boat rides among other recreational facilities within the lake park. It is open for visitation anytime of the day or year, and you only need to visit to enjoy the best that Bayelsa can offer fun-seekers.

2. Peace Park


Peace Park in Bayelsa State is located close to the government secretariat and seat of power. It is a wide body of water that is specially made to facilitate tourism potentials; it is made to boost the economic needs of the oil-rich state. It serves as an amusement park, and thousands of people visit the park for vacation and recreational purposes, and it has served the needs of everyone within the state by its strategic location at the heart of the state capital.

There are boating activities, water biking, and other water fun that can be done at the park; and do not forget that social events like wedding reception, birthday parties, and state reception could hold within the park. There are also hotels close to the hotel at which tourists and travelers could lodge in and use for accommodation purposes.


3. Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro Monument


There is the Isaac Boro Park in neighbouring Port Harcourt, Rivers State, but the Isaac Boro Monument is built in Kaiama, his hometown in Bayelsa State. Both the park in Rivers State and the monument in Bayelsa State were put up to remember Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, a campaigner for social justice and environmental responsibility shortly after Nigeria’s independence.

Isaac Boro took up a fight against the federal government in 1966 with just 160 men – as a way to protest the natural exploitation of this town by the government and foreign oil companies. He fought against oil spill and environmental degradation and a destruction of the people’s farms for economic gain. He lost the battle against the government and lost his life and that of his fighters, but he remains a hero to his people; and over 5,000 Ijaw youths gathered at his monument in December 1998 to reveal the Kaima Declaration – demanding that oil companies clean up oil spills and stop destroying the environment.

4. Akassa Lighthouse


The Akassa Lighthouse was built in 1910 but actually relocated to its present location in 1912. It is located close to the seaside in Akassa, and is about 60 meters tall – making it one of the tallest lighthouses in West Africa. Its original purpose was to guard distant ships to dock at the inland port, and it served as a delight to distant navigators as they approached shallow waters at the town of Akassa.

The Akassa Lighthouse has an architectural structure with iron staircase leading up to the lighthouse. It was constructed like modern telecommunication masts, but quite purposeful in serving the needs of sailors in the distant past and the tourism needs of the Bayelsa people today.

5. Akassa Slave Transit Camp and Tunnel


Situated at Ogbokiri, close to Akassa in Brass LGA, the Akassa Slave Transit Camp and Tunnel was used as slave camp during the slave trade, and from here the slaves were shipped to the Americas and the Caribbean in the New World.

The houses were made of solid iron and bricks, and the restraining chains that were used to fetter slaves as they awaited shipment are still visible at the camp, and the tunnel through which slaves were stoked away can still be seen at the tourist destination today. Anyone can visit the slave camp today and revisit the old days when our people were stolen away to foreign nations.

Tags: Bayelsa state Government
        : Nigerian bulletin