BY Godfrey Osejele
Culture, which is the way of life of a people, is the foundation of any viable society. No society can survive and thrive without an established culture. Therefore, it will be completely out of place to trivialize the role culture plays in any modern society. Culture is a creative expression that helps to define who a group of people are, and helps them see the world through the eyes of others. Through culture, people and groups define themselves, conform to society’s shared values, and contribute to the advancement of their society.
Through Edo culture, the people of the State have become famous all over the world for their unique, rich and enviable cultural heritage. The age-long societal norms and values have continued to engender spontaneous development even in this modern period.
It is a well-known fact that culture and tourism contribute significantly to the survival of any economy. Historically, Edo people are very good in the field of commerce, arts and craft, and this caught the eyes of the Europeans as far back as the 15th Century, which made Edo land to be prominent for being the first empire in Nigeria to engage in commercial activities with the Europeans in the pre-colonial days. Apart from the commercial benefits that the Edo culture attract till date, the Edo culture provides a source of delight and wonder not only to its indigenes, but also to the world at large. From museums to theaters to dance studios and to public libraries, the way of life creates opportunities for leisure, entertainment, learning, and sharing experiences with others.
The peace and natural affinity enjoyed by Edo people can largely be attributed to their unique cultural heritage and communal practices. The Edo people hold quarterly and annual ceremonies and other periodic festivals that appeal to their sense of unity and social cohesion, even with those in the diaspora. In Edo, the Binis celebrate the annual Igue festival which is done by the people in the second half of December, usually before and after the Christmas period.
We also have the new yam festival, the Esan Ukpe festival which is similar to the Igue festival, the acrobatic Igbabonelimhin Dance, the Eshile festival of the Afemai people and many others.
The cultural practices of Edo people also contribute to its healthy population, as the people of Edo State are very good in natural herbal remedies and trado-medical treatments for the people. According to history, this is one of the reasons they have a lot of aged people.
In Edo, arts, culture and tourism are intertwined, and they contribute immensely to revenue generation and job creation, especially in the area of tourism. In the same way, Edo State is blessed with numerous tourist attractions and historic sites such as the Somorika hills, the Benin moats, Ososo rocks, Okomu National Park, the Benin National Museum, and the Palace of the Oba of Benin, among others. All these facilities are sources of attraction for tourists. There are also many people who are in the traditional music and creative industry, including dance, drama, as well as bronze and ivory casting and a host of others. When it comes to Brass casting, wood carving, leatherworking, weaving of ceremonial clothes, nobody does it better than the Edo people. Their works of art are so alluring that over 3000 artifacts were looted in 1987 when the British invaded Benin, which was placed in their museums until they were recently returned.
To promote the arts and culture of Edo State, the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki has continued to invest in the arts, culture and tourism sector to ensure that Edo culture continues to thrive and maintain its status as a pacesetter in tourism and cultural affairs. Governor Obaseki has established the Victor Uwaifo creative hub which is a sound stage to help artistes enhance their music, films and creative ability. Similarly, the construction of Museum of West Africa Arts Edo (MOWAA Edo), a world class museum is a testament of the commitment of the State Government towards propagating the rich cultural heritage of Edo people. It is a museum that will also contain the rich, regal and sacred objects of the ancient past where tourists can visit to catch a glimpse of the rich Edo culture.
