ByCHRIS ONUOHA

What is the place of culture, how can it be used to drive the transformation of Africa and its Diaspora in a new global order, these were some of the topical issues that brought many cultural enthusiasts and practitioners, royal fathers, top government officials and Nollywood stars to the city of Yenagoa for the 2014 edition of the International Cultural festival and Conference organised by The Center for Black and African Arts and Civilization CBAAC,held at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

It was indeed a potpouri of cultural performances and display of colours and parade of stars as the centre welcomed guest to this year’s International Cultural Festival and Colloquium with a theme: “Using culture to Drive The Transformation of Africa And Its Diaspora In A New Global Order” to the fast growing tourist destination of Bayelsa State amidst pomp and pageantry.

This year’s event which was segmented into 3 days affair had an entertaining cultural and masquerade dance from Enugu and Anambra State, music and dance presentation by selected schools from Bayelsa State, royalty parade in a carnival style by the Actors and Actresses from Nollywood and others.

In attendance were the Chairman of the occasion and the Traditional ruler of Opume, Obigbo Mikimiki, His Royal Majesty, King Amalate Johnnie Turner, Bayelsa State Governor ably represented by the State Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affair,Dr. Felix Tuodolo, the Chairman Governing Board of CBAAC,Senator Brimmo Yusuf, CBAAC DG,Mr. Ferdinand Anikwe,Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph A. Ajienka represented by Prof. Onyee Nwamkpa of the Department of Music, members of Uniport Alumni Association , Pete Edochie and Chika Okpala of the Nollywood and a host of other Nollywood stars.

The second day followed with a colloquium from the academic community at the Ijaw Hall, Yenegoa discussing various issues of cultural interest with key note address by Prof. Sule Bello Suleiman, Chairman, African Research and Development Agency, Kano, Kano state, with a site seeing to some famous tourist sites in Bayalsa State on the 3rd day signaling the end.

In his address titled A Dynamic Insight into Culture as an Index of Power,The Director-General, CBAAC, Sir Anikwe Ferdinand, who described culture as the power base from which the sum total of the existence of a people derives, stated that culture presents itself as both the foundation and the root of human development, whether as individuals or groups.

Anikwe used that opportunity to give insight of the heavy presence of the Nollywood stars in the event. He said these stars have contributed immensely to the growth of our economy and what they are doing is more powerful for the image of Nigeria than the oil and any other thing we choose to empower. He said these great characters and actors have created a chance for us in the whole world and in the map of the country and called on Diaspora Nigerians and Africans to endeavor as much as possible to promote African fabrics and food.

He also commended the exploits of the fathers of African Literature such as Chinua Achebe. Wole Soyinka, J. P. Clark, Ngugu Wa Thiongo, Chimamanda Adichie, and a host of others for pioneering African writers series with its robust cultural background, that capture the minds and attention of our youths,” he said.

On his part, Senator Brimmo Yusuf, the chairman Governing Board of CBAAC, commended the Centre for organizing the event, noting that, “No method appears more effective in tackling the continent’s numerous challenges than using culture and making a culture of the examples set by the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan through the transformation agenda specifically tailored at addressing the problems our country Nigeria faced before his assumption of office.”

In his opening remark, His Royal Majesty, A. J. Turner represented by one of his Palace chiefs who expressed his joy of been honoured by CBAAC to chair the august stated that the theme is in tandem with the federal government’s transformation agenda which continue to impact positively on our lives. Drawing attention to the success recorded by the programme which informs the Centre’s decision to build the theme around culture as a transformation tool, he believes, the agenda, no doubt has corrected the problems of growth and development of Nigeria.

The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, represented by the State Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affair who declared the 3 day event open said, “Time has come for African countries to begin to use the platform of culture as a veritable instrument of a socio-economic development and international diplomacy.” He said, “African nations must begin to perform this using their nationals in Diaspora to propagate their culture abroad and also contribute to national development in their respective countries.”

While commending CBAAC as government agency in the cultural sector who has propelled to drive and coordinate this in various African continents, he said that Culture and language have been defined as an essential ingredient for national development.

Speaking further, he said, “Nigeria with over 250 ethnic groups should utilize this unique ethnic diversity to foster peace meaningfully for the progress of the nation. We should deploy available cultural practice to meet the challenge of social integration, peace, unity and national development. He opined that at the international level, we should begin to deploy our famous Nollywood actors and actresses as cultural ambassadors given their level of popularity and acceptability.

Dr. Anthony Onwumah, Director of Research of Publication, CBAAC in a chat with journalists said you cannot drive the economic development outside of culture. If you look at the Asian Tiger, you find they have built big financial empire because they paid attention to their culture. He said we should remember that we are a mono-cultural economy where oil almost controls everything and that we have failed to incorporate culture into account in everything we do especially in our economic development. “We are neglecting our culture to our own peril” he said.

It was indeed a parade of colours as His Royal Majesty, King Diette Spiff gave the arena the most adequate royal grandeur in company of other monarchs. Not left out are the actors and actresses from Nollywood Movie industry who arrived at the arena in a chauffeur driven motorcade dressed in various ethnic royal regalia with great cheers from the crowd. Among them are Pete Edochie, Ejike Asiegbu, Alex Osifo, Keppy Ekpeyong, Yakubu Abubakar, Patience Ozokwo, Ejiro Okureme, Chika Okpala (Chief Zebrudaya alias 430) of former National TV drama series “The Masquerade”. Others are Jibola Dabo, Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki), Charles Inojie, Francis Duru and host of others stars making the scene more culturally alluring.