EGBIRA CULTURE SHINES AS RADIO KOGI HOSTS MAIDEN CULTURAL DAY
The Egbira culture took the spotlight on Wednesday at the 2025 Maiden Edition of Ebira Cultural Day, organized by Ebira Welfare Association, Lokoja.Okene and Ocheja Chapters at The Radio Kogi Premises, Lokoja,attracting sons and daughters of Ebira extraction across the state.
The colourful and electrifying event offered the Egbira people a vibrant stage to showcase their rich heritage through music, dance, attire, and traditional cuisine.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director General of Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Kogi), Princess Nana Hawa Yussuff, said the event,organized by Ebira staff of the corporation,was designed to celebrate the resilience, artistry, and communal spirit of the Egbira people.
“Today, we gather not only to enjoy only music but to honour the traditions and values those that have shaped generations of Ebira people,” she said.
Princess Yussuff emphasized that culture is not only inherited but nurtured and passed on.
She urged the audience to celebrate proudly by dancing to the rhythms that tell the Egbira story, speaking the Egbira language boldly, and teaching children to carry their identity with confidence and dignity.
She described the celebration as a reminder that a people’s strength lies in their unity, adding that“each drumbeat, each song, each smile shared here today reminds us that we are stronger when we stand together,” she said.
The Director General ,who appreciated Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for providing an atmosphere of peace and support that made the event possible, encouraged the people to use the occasion to renew their sense of unity, cultural responsibility, and collective pride.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Government of Kogi state, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade, underscored the importance of parents teaching their children their mother tongue as a way of preserving the Egbira identity.
“Let us speak our language to our children. When they get to school, they can speak English,” she advised.
Ayoade, who hails from Kogi West Senatorial District, expressed gratitude for the love she has continued to receive from the Egbira people,a bond said inspired her to add an Ebira name, Ohunene, and Ometere to her own.
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The guest speaker, Mohammed Baba Sadiq, presented a paper titled “Preserving Our Cultural Heritage as a Tool for Unity and Development in Ebiraland.”
He described the Egbira people as “courageous, honest, reliable, dependable, and trustworthy human beings.”
According to him, these admirable qualities are why Egbiras naturally resist cheating, injustice, and unfairness, noting that their cultural heritage remains a bond of unity, a source of inspiration, and a treasure that lives in their hearts and souls.
Sadiq, a lecturer at the School of Preliminary Studies, Itakpe Campus of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, explained that culture is inherent and must be preserved for future generations,for its value, entertainment, and tourism potential.
“We must defend our cultural values and identities through self-preservation,the first law of nature. Culture profoundly shapes our understanding and influences our thoughts,” he said.
The guest speaker, who also serves as Secretary of the Kogi Central Think Tank Forum (KCTTF), Lokoja, identified tourism as one of the most effective ways to preserve rich cultural heritage.
He noted that tourism revitalizes traditions, promotes arts and crafts, provides therapeutic benefits, and strengthens the relationship between people and their natural environment.
He urged the Kogi State Government to unlock the cultural potential of the Egbira people by partnering with the private sector to invest in various aspects of Egbira culture, such as heritage sites, historical relics, and unique attractions across Egbiraland.
He emphasized the need for ongoing cultural revival, calling for deliberate efforts to rejuvenate traditional values, norms, and customs as essential tools for preserving the identity of Egbiraland.
The highlights of the event include the breaking of kolanut by the Odeyani Anebira of Lokoja, HRH Abdulkarim Obeito, and the launching of Apapa, a special Ebira delicacy, by the Onobobanyin of Lokoja, HRH Mohammed Otue, followed by Dr. Ayoade and other dignitaries.
The event drew a diverse audience, including top government officials, members of KCFFT and cultural enthusiasts across Lokoja.
Popular musician in Ebiraland ,Dan Osisi, alongside other performers, thrilled the audience with captivating Ebira music,rip-cracking jokes and cultural displays.
Mrs.Bille Avoyi Nwogu, proudly of Ebira extraction, was spotted showcasing the rich and colourful culture of her roots at the event.
Mrs.Nwogu is the SSA to the Governor on Print Media and CEO BAVON Communications Limited owners of MLC Tv.
Thereporter/MLC Tv
