Royal Costume Exhibition Ignites Cultural Revival
FCT
From Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
Nigeria's culture and tradition got a big boost in Abuja as some of the nation's notable royal fathers brought to Abuja their distintively designed royal garments which have behind them, long years of history relating to traditional rulership in their communities.
The event organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in conjunction with Mambissa Nigeria Limited and the management of Sheraton Hotels and Towers had on display royal attires belonging to both reigning and dead traditional rulers from the six geo-political zones of the country.
Also on display were a pictorial documentary chronicling the long tortuous journey of the nation from the date of independence to our current political dispensation.
Speaking to newsmen during an informal preview of the exhibition, the Executive Director of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Emma Arinze said that the ministry in collaboration with management of Sheraton Hotels is working on an arrangement to put the royal outfits on display at all the Hotels outlets world-wide as a way of showcasing the country's rich cultural endowment.
According to him, these royal costumes have a kind of linkage to the original dressing pattern of the communities.
"The colour and radiance of the ruler's costume also depicts the wealth and majestic grandeur of the king", he said.
The costume is associated with power, authority and spiritual sanctity of the royal throne.
And in recent years, the similarities in these royal garments have come to signify that though we comprise of different people, we have been bound together through cultural fluidity.
A Director in the Ministry of Information, Mr. Sike Alabi, said by recognising and promoting our traditional cultural institutions, it would become clearer that the nation, states and smaller communities, subsisted on remarkable order, hierarchy, majestic grandeur, beliefs and customs that were dutifully handed down from generation to generation.
The main lobby of Sheraton Hotel hosted the exhibition attracting men, women, children, including foreigners.
Some of them who were curious asked questions about the royal instruments as well as the history of the people.
Among traditional rulers whose garments were displayed at the exhibition include, the Amanayabo of Opobo, Are Eggon of Nassarawa, Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Emir of Lafia, Gbong Gwom Jos, Hama Bachama of Numan, Igwe Nnaji of Enugu, Ooni of Ife, Oba of Lagos, Shehu of Bornu, Sultan of Sokoto and Obong of Calabar.
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