Nasarawa: FG Accords Irehwa Hunting Festival International Recognition, Incorporates it into Nigeria’s Cultural Calendar
On Saturday, December 28, 2024, the Egbira communities in Shafa-Abakpa, widely recognized as Sofiyo, in Toto local government area of Nasarawa State, celebrated a memorable occasion. This event showcased the cultural importance of the Egbira people, highlighting their rich heritage through traditional practices.
This celebration is integral to the annual Egbira 2024 Irewha hunting festival, which fosters community unity and cultural awareness. Attendees participated in varied activities showcasing their customs and traditions, highlighting the significance of cultural preservation in the face of modern-day challenges.
The historic and ancient town in Toto LGA of Nasarawa State, Nigeria was in high spirits as the people celebrated culture and tradition to its fullest.
Although organized by the indigenous Egbira tribe, the event was set in Sofiyo, a town whose name is derived from the English word ‘survey’, a testament to the white settlers who surveyed the entire region.
The occasion was marked by the attendance of neighboring tribes, including Gade, Gwagyi, Hausa, and Tiv, from within and outside the States of Kogi and FCT, who came with their traditional rulers, masquerades, and dancing groups to show solidarity.
The Irewha Hunting Festival, as per the people’s tradition, was proclaimed by “Adugbe”, a war lord and king of hunters who died decades ago, and was said to have made a proclamation regarding the festival before his demise.
He was reported to have proclaimed that in order for his people to continue enjoying peace, unity, and prosperity, the Irehwa Hunting Festival must be upheld and preserved, as it will remain the source of the people’s peace, unity, protection, and progress.
The 2024 event commemorates 269 years of existence, with this year’s celebration featuring Two Pythons and a Porcupine among other wild animals that were the day’s catches.
The event was attended by notable personalities from the area, including Business Magnate Arch. Abu Seze, Alh. Usman Shehu Osidi, Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank, Retired Supreme Court Justice Abuja Suleiman Galadima, Executive Chairman Toto LG Pharm. Ahmed Baba Yahaya, Legislators, Commissioners, Barr. Muhammed Tanko Musa Osuku of Kogi State Civil Service Commission, and Dr. Musa Muhammed Maikaya, Barr. Yakubu Galadima, as well as APC Chairman of FCT Abdulmalik Usman, among others.
While addressing the gathering, Dr. Anaman Ben Ugo, Director of Cultural Industry and Heritage at the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism, who deputized for the Minister, declared that all arrangements have been completed to officially document Irehwa in Nigeria’s Calendar of Culture and bestow global recognition upon it.
He lauded the people for preserving unity in diversity through their rich cultural heritage.
Speakers at the event consistently highlighted the festival’s role in uniting people and enhancing peace, emphasizing the necessity of preserving it.
Besides the presence of prominent politicians, traditional rulers, and praise singers who added colour to the event, guests also received gifts of various animals caught, and hunters with the highest catches were rewarded with different categories of prizes.
Recall that the Miss Irewha Beauty Pageant was held on the eve of the event, featuring eight contestants, where contestant Number Five and third-term serial participant Saliha Yunusa, a 23-year-old student from Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, emerged as the winner and was crowned Miss Irewha 2024, with a reign lasting until December 2025.
