By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
Ebira 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.
Our Correspondent, who witnessed the colourful and electrifying event, reports that it offered the Ebira 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 Ebira people.
“Today, we gather not only to enjoy only music but to honour the traditions and values 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 Ebira story, speaking the Ebira 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 attendees to use the occasion to renew their sense of unity, cultural responsibility, and collective pride.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade, underscored the importance of parents teaching their children their mother tongue as a way of preserving the Ebira 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 Ebira people,a bond said inspired her to add an Ebira name, Ohunene, 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 Ebira people as “courageous, honest, reliable, dependable, and trustworthy human beings.”
According to him, these admirable qualities are why Ebiras 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 Ebira people by partnering with the private sector to invest in various aspects of Ebira culture,such as heritage sites, historical relics, and unique attractions across Ebiraland.
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 Ebiraland.
The highlights of the event include the breaking of kolanut by the Odeyani Anebira of Lokoja, Alhaji 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 UK-based musician, Dan Osisi, alongside other performers, thrilled the audience with captivating Ebira music and cultural displays.
