QUEEN’S COLLEGE, YABA, LAGOS , QUEEN’S COLLEGE, YABA, LAGOS , NIGERIANIGERIA

TEAM MEMBERS:TEAM MEMBERS: Nwazota Kene.Nwazota Kene. Suleiman RukayatSuleiman Rukayat Elias YewandeElias Yewande Omeihe OluomaOmeihe Oluoma Adebayo ChristianaAdebayo Christiana

CO-ORDINATORS:CO-ORDINATORS: Elizabeth Oyelola.Elizabeth Oyelola. Chinemelum Anakwue.Chinemelum Anakwue. Oluyemi Adenmosun.Oluyemi Adenmosun.

CULTURAL FESTIVALSCULTURAL FESTIVALS

OUR CULTUREOUR CULTURE

THE LAGOS CLASS

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Festivals are one of the most common heritage Festivals are one of the most common heritage

activities cherished and observed religiously. activities cherished and observed religiously. There are different types of festivals celebrated There are different types of festivals celebrated at different times and seasons and for different at different times and seasons and for different purposes. purposes.

Each festival has rules and regulations that guide Each festival has rules and regulations that guide them. These rules and regulations are strictly them. These rules and regulations are strictly adhered to by all.adhered to by all.

In some cultures, the presence of women are not In some cultures, the presence of women are not required while others, though required the required while others, though required the presence of women, believe they should be seen presence of women, believe they should be seen and not heard.and not heard.

There are various festivals performed in Lagos There are various festivals performed in Lagos which are fun but connotes some traditional which are fun but connotes some traditional implications.implications.

Each festival has requirements which are unique Each festival has requirements which are unique to them depending on the different geographical to them depending on the different geographical locations in the country. locations in the country.

Some of the festivals performed in Lagos are:Some of the festivals performed in Lagos are: AGERE MASQUERADE FESTIVALAGERE MASQUERADE FESTIVAL EYO FESTIVALEYO FESTIVAL EFE/GELEDE MASQUERADE FESTIVALEFE/GELEDE MASQUERADE FESTIVAL ZANGBETO MASQUERADE FESTIVALZANGBETO MASQUERADE FESTIVAL

AGERE MASQUERADEAGERE MASQUERADE Originated from the Originated from the

western part of Lagos western part of Lagos and Kwara states.and Kwara states.

The masquerades The masquerades stand on stilts to give stand on stilts to give them their required them their required height.height.

EYO FESTIVALEYO FESTIVAL The Eyo festival is one of The Eyo festival is one of

the most important the most important festivals in the south-festivals in the south-western part of the western part of the country.country.

The Eyo is to Lagos as The Eyo is to Lagos as Samba is to Brazil.Samba is to Brazil.

The Eyo was introduced The Eyo was introduced into Lagos from Abeokuta.into Lagos from Abeokuta.

It is believed to be It is believed to be introduced from outside introduced from outside the African continent but the African continent but the particular origin is yet the particular origin is yet to be ascertained. to be ascertained.

Our people believe that each Our people believe that each time the Eyo Festival holds, time the Eyo Festival holds, the barren will conceive and the barren will conceive and a variety of private a variety of private problems get solved.problems get solved.

It takes place only on It takes place only on Sundays.Sundays.

The Senior Eyo is identified The Senior Eyo is identified by a black broad-rimmed hat by a black broad-rimmed hat and go to public with a staff.and go to public with a staff.

There are other groups of There are other groups of Eyo masquerades who are Eyo masquerades who are identified by the colour of identified by the colour of their rimmed hat, like Laba their rimmed hat, like Laba (red), Oniko (yellow), (red), Oniko (yellow), Ologede (green), Olokun Ologede (green), Olokun (white).(white).

This is possibly the only This is possibly the only Nigerian festival with Nigerian festival with stringent rules for both stringent rules for both participants and participants and onlookers.onlookers.

Importantly, headgears Importantly, headgears and footwear of any kind and footwear of any kind are not allowed and are not allowed and trousers are not allowed trousers are not allowed for females on the D-Day.for females on the D-Day.

The Eyo Masquerade The Eyo Masquerade Festival occurs during the Festival occurs during the coronation of a new king, coronation of a new king, the death of the king or the death of the king or an important dignitary.an important dignitary.

The staff (Opanbata) The staff (Opanbata) they hold is placed on an they hold is placed on an individual for prayer or individual for prayer or logging offenders.logging offenders.

The senior Eyo (Eyo The senior Eyo (Eyo Adimu) comes out first in Adimu) comes out first in the procession then the the procession then the others follow in their others follow in their order of seniority.order of seniority.

Before the Eyo comes Before the Eyo comes out, sacrifices have to out, sacrifices have to be carried out to be carried out to appease the gods for appease the gods for prosperity, peace and prosperity, peace and love.love.

GELEDE / EFE FESTIVALGELEDE / EFE FESTIVAL It is celebrated by It is celebrated by

certain Yoruba certain Yoruba subgroups in western subgroups in western Nigeria and Republic of Nigeria and Republic of Benin.Benin.

It highlights the It highlights the importance of women importance of women and serves as an and serves as an occasion to recognize occasion to recognize their spiritual powers.their spiritual powers.

It is generally It is generally performed over a two-performed over a two-day period.day period.

EFE / GELEDE EFE / GELEDE MASQUERADEMASQUERADE

Efe festival is performed on Efe festival is performed on the first day in the market the first day in the market area - a setting of social, area - a setting of social, religious and economic religious and economic activity primarily involving activity primarily involving women.women.

Gelede festival is performed Gelede festival is performed in the afternoon following in the afternoon following the Efe festival to embody the Efe festival to embody an approach to the mothers an approach to the mothers that appeal to their positive that appeal to their positive attributes.attributes.

The main performers for The main performers for Gelede festival are Gelede festival are masquerades.masquerades.

ZANGBETO ZANGBETO MASQUERADEMASQUERADE

The zangbeto The zangbeto masquerade is masquerade is celebrated in Badagry celebrated in Badagry every year and the every year and the duration is for nine duration is for nine days, during which the days, during which the people make merry and people make merry and do not work.do not work.

The Zangbeto festival The Zangbeto festival includes males and includes males and some females who have some females who have passed child-bearing passed child-bearing age.age.

The Zangbeto serves The Zangbeto serves as a cult and are said as a cult and are said to have magical to have magical powers. They dress in powers. They dress in raffia only.raffia only.

They serve as the They serve as the traditional Police to traditional Police to Badagrians to solve Badagrians to solve disputes and ensure disputes and ensure that the law takes its that the law takes its course.course.

Festivals in WichitaFestivals in WichitaAnd where they come from And where they come from

By Trea Gadbury Alissa Farley Keith Simmons

Flight Festival celebrates the fact that Flight Festival celebrates the fact that we are the air capital of the U.S.A. we are the air capital of the U.S.A.

It can involve lots of stunt planes It can involve lots of stunt planes performing aerial tricks.performing aerial tricks.

This years performances will be This years performances will be performed by Red Eagle Air Sports, performed by Red Eagle Air Sports, Red Barron Pizza Squadron, and Red Barron Pizza Squadron, and Oregon Aero Sky Dancer. Oregon Aero Sky Dancer.

The date will be August 22, 2008 - The date will be August 22, 2008 - August 24, 2008.August 24, 2008.

This festival is celebrated merely for This festival is celebrated merely for public enjoyment, and to celebrate public enjoyment, and to celebrate our dominance in the airplane our dominance in the airplane making business. making business.

River Festival River Festival The River Fest is about when the The River Fest is about when the

pioneers decided to have a year pioneers decided to have a year long celebration of the 100long celebration of the 100thth anniversary of Wichita.anniversary of Wichita.

It was called the River Festival, It was called the River Festival, because the Arkansas River was because the Arkansas River was such an important resource. They such an important resource. They had the last day of the year long had the last day of the year long fest along the river. fest along the river.

They held a carnival, hoe-down, They held a carnival, hoe-down, hometown fair, water shows, a hometown fair, water shows, a pow-wow and a fishing contest.pow-wow and a fishing contest.

This is now an annual event and This is now an annual event and attracts people from all over attracts people from all over Kansas adding up to about Kansas adding up to about 350,000 people.350,000 people.

The 8th Annual WSU Car ShowThe 8th Annual WSU Car Show This is a car show This is a car show

created by the Kansas created by the Kansas W.S.U college students.W.S.U college students.

This is all the college This is all the college kids showing off there kids showing off there ‘Hot Rods’ for everyone ‘Hot Rods’ for everyone else.else.

This is funded by the This is funded by the college students mostly, college students mostly, and occasionally the and occasionally the college funds some of it.college funds some of it.

Last years’ winner was Last years’ winner was Wayne Bagby with a Wayne Bagby with a 1949 Chevy Truck.1949 Chevy Truck.

Conclusion Conclusion

In all, Wichita does not have the In all, Wichita does not have the largest amount of festivals but largest amount of festivals but it does have some of the most it does have some of the most entertaining.entertaining.

CULTURAL FESTIVALS AND CULTURAL FESTIVALS AND HERITAGE HERITAGE

OF SOUTH AFRICAOF SOUTH AFRICA

By Salvatore and GabriellaBy Salvatore and GabriellaHomeschooled in Johannesburg South Africa by Homeschooled in Johannesburg South Africa by

PennyPennyiEarn ppm1iEarn ppm1

January – May 2008January – May 2008

HUMAN RIGHTS’ DAYHUMAN RIGHTS’ DAY21 MARCH21 MARCH

Sharpeville massacre happened on 21 March 1960. People in South Africa Sharpeville massacre happened on 21 March 1960. People in South Africa have commemorated the Sharpeville Massacre ever since it happened, have commemorated the Sharpeville Massacre ever since it happened, often in secret or in exile. The day is now commemorated as Human Rights often in secret or in exile. The day is now commemorated as Human Rights Day.Day.

Pass laws required that Africans had to carry identity documents with them Pass laws required that Africans had to carry identity documents with them at all times. These books had to contain stamps providing official proof that at all times. These books had to contain stamps providing official proof that that the person in question had permission to be in a town at that time. that the person in question had permission to be in a town at that time. Initially only men were forced to carry these books, but soon law also Initially only men were forced to carry these books, but soon law also compelled women to carry the dreaded documents.compelled women to carry the dreaded documents.

Freedom parkFreedom park

The Freedom Park Trust was mandated to build The Freedom Park, a Presidential legacy project which is envisaged to bear witness to our struggle for humanity and freedom.

The project was initiated when government received requests from civil society, NGOs, academics and various political interest groups for some kind of symbolic reparation as well as to celebrate our achievements as a nation. One of the exciting ways in which these aspirations are brought to life is through Sikhumbuto, a memorial dedicated to those who have laid down their lives in the struggle for humanity and freedom, cutting across eight conflict areas.  These are Pre-Colonial, Genocide, Slavery, Wars of Resistance, South African War (Anglo-Boer War), First World War, Second World War and the Liberation Struggle.

This memorial comprises a number of indoor and outdoor elements.  These are the Amphitheatre, The Eternal Flame, Sanctuary, The Gallery of Leaders and the Wall of Names.  By inscribing the names of those who have fallen on the Wall, the nation will not only be able to remember, but also to honour them.

http://www.freedompark.co.za/index.html

FREEDOM DAYFREEDOM DAY27 APRIL27 APRIL

Freedom Day marks the liberation of Freedom Day marks the liberation of our country and its people from a long our country and its people from a long

period of colonialism and white period of colonialism and white minority domination - which means minority domination - which means that we no longer have the situation that we no longer have the situation in which political power is enjoyed in which political power is enjoyed and exercised by a minority of our and exercised by a minority of our population, to the exclusion of the population, to the exclusion of the

majority. Freedom Day is a day for all majority. Freedom Day is a day for all South Africans. South Africans.

We pledge "Never again would a minority We pledge "Never again would a minority government impose itself on the government impose itself on the

majority"majority"South Africans are "One people with South Africans are "One people with

one destiny". It is therefore one destiny". It is therefore imperative for South Africans of imperative for South Africans of diverse political and economic diverse political and economic backgrounds to work towards a backgrounds to work towards a

common objective. On Freedom Day common objective. On Freedom Day we celebrate the relentless efforts of we celebrate the relentless efforts of those who fought for liberation, of the those who fought for liberation, of the many men and women who took up many men and women who took up

arms and courted imprisonment, arms and courted imprisonment, bannings and torture on behalf of the bannings and torture on behalf of the

oppressed masses.oppressed masses.

Freedom Day means something very valuable, the necessary Freedom Day means something very valuable, the necessary condition for us to achieve the vital andcondition for us to achieve the vital and

fundamental objective of a better life for all.fundamental objective of a better life for all.

On Freedom Day, we On Freedom Day, we commit ourselves to commit ourselves to ensuring the defense ensuring the defense

of the sacred freedoms of the sacred freedoms that we had won as a that we had won as a

result of a long, result of a long, difficult and costly difficult and costly

struggle. We remind struggle. We remind ourselves that the ourselves that the guarantee of these guarantee of these freedoms requires freedoms requires

permanent vigilance. It permanent vigilance. It is our pledge to devote is our pledge to devote ourselves to continue ourselves to continue

to work to wipe out the to work to wipe out the legacy of racism in our legacy of racism in our country. We need to country. We need to ensure that all our ensure that all our people enjoy these people enjoy these

freedoms not merely freedoms not merely as theoretical rights as theoretical rights

but they must form the but they must form the daily life experience of daily life experience of

all South Africans. all South Africans.

                          

                                                                                                                        

                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

YOUTH DAYYOUTH DAY16 June16 June

When high-school students When high-school students in Soweto started in Soweto started

protesting for better protesting for better education on 16 June 1976, education on 16 June 1976,

police responded with police responded with teargas and live bullets. It teargas and live bullets. It

is commemorated today by is commemorated today by a South African national a South African national

holiday, Youth day, which holiday, Youth day, which honors all the young honors all the young

people who lost their lives people who lost their lives in the struggle against in the struggle against Apartheid and Bantu Apartheid and Bantu

Education. Education.

http://africanhistory.about.com/library/http://africanhistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa060801b.htmweekly/aa060801b.htm

http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/governence-projects/june16/index.htm

Contribution by Jack, Luke, Adam Contribution by Jack, Luke, Adam and Jasmine from Pentrehafod and Jasmine from Pentrehafod

School, Swansea for the Cultural School, Swansea for the Cultural Festivals project by Queens College, Festivals project by Queens College,

Lagos, Nigeria.Lagos, Nigeria.

In Wales we celebrate March 1In Wales we celebrate March 1stst every every year, it is where all the welsh people year, it is where all the welsh people dress up,sing and eat traditional welsh dress up,sing and eat traditional welsh foods such as Welsh cakes, lava bread foods such as Welsh cakes, lava bread and drink Cwrwand drink Cwrw

Schools normally have a special Schools normally have a special assembly and normally have some assembly and normally have some readings how St.David came upon his readings how St.David came upon his journey through life.journey through life.

An Eisteddfod is a Welsh festival of literature music and performance. The tradition of such a meeting of Welsh artists dates back to at least the 12th century when a festival of poetry and music was held by Rhys of Deheubarth at his court in Cardigan in 1176, but with the decline of the bardic tradition it fell into abeyance. The present-day format owes much to an eighteenth century revival arising out of a number of informal eisteddfodau. The word Eisteddfod is derived from the Welsh word eistedd, meaning "sit".

The Swansea summer festival from May to September the area around the fabulous sweep of Swansea Bay is alive with a myriad of fantastic events, shows and carnivals for everyone to enjoy. 

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society was formed in 1904, and the first Event was held in Aberystwyth

in the same year. Wales & the Society have come a long way since those early days, and now the

annual Royal Welsh Show is one of the biggest events in Wales' Calendar.

This year the Abergavenny Food Festival will be launching its first Fringe programme. Local businesses and community groups have been invited to put on special events and promotions between 13 and 21 September.

The aim is to highlight the diversity and quality of what Abergavenny and the surrounding area has to offer to both visitors and residents.