Exploring The Wonders Of Ilorin Durbar Festival. BY Emidun Temi

Date: 2019-09-09

Nigeria is a nation that is richly blessed with diverse culture, religious and ethnic ties. From the Ojude Oba festival and Eyo festival in the West, the New Yam festival in the East, to the Argungu fishing festival in the North among many others, cultural activities across the diverse groups in the nation reveals the beauty and pride of our heritage. Most festivals celebrated across the nation are done to enhance communal ties, foster relationships and traditions and creates an avenue to communicate handed down traditions.

In this light, it was a spectacular celebration of our African tradition and heritage at the 2019 Ilorin Durbar Festival which saw the assembly of sons and daughters of Ilorin, Kwara state, tourists and tradition-enthusiasts. Ilorin was founded in 1450 and served as a provincial military headquarters of the ancient Oyo Empire. The city is a confluence of cultures, populated by the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Nupe, Bariba, Kanuri and Malian tribes. Every year, people belonging to the Christian, African traditional and Islamic religion, organise festivals that takes place in the ancient city. While a lot of people visit for the beauty that is captured during the festival, photography took me there.

Photography has taken me to uncharted territory. In turn, I have become immersed in the unique peculiarities that encapsulate Nigeria's cultural diversity. The Ilorin Durbar was no exception and I looked forward to another exhilarating display of culture and tradition. A durbar is annually celebrated across Nigeria in several cities and it marks the end of the Ramadan and is also shared with Eid-el Kabir and Eid-el Fitri Muslim Holidays.

I arrived at the venue at Oja-Oba, a suburb in Ilorin Metropolis to behold the Magnificent, Architectural masterpiece of the Ilorin Central Mosque which also is the residence of the Emir of Ilorin. The venue was filled with a mammoth crowd outside the gate with everyone hoping the gain entrance into the venue. Security personnel were on guard to maintain law and order and also to make sure that we all got into the arena in order. The venue was adorned beautifully with all forms of traditional decoration to usher in visitors. There were different cultural dance display as the dancers moved in synchronisation to the drums and music.

I made my way quickly into the inner chambers to get first-hand images of the horse-riders who were getting prepared for the procession. I was endeared to the intricately designed costumes on the horses and the horse riders, each very significant to its tribe.

Horse riders are a significant aspect of the Durbar Festival all bearing peculiar designs, patterns, and adornments.

The Emir rode in company of the royal family, escorts, joined by different family heads each showcasing family regalia on horses and camels all intricately designed.

We started the procession from the Emirs Palace, through General, Taiwo road, Oja Oba road and back to the Emir Palace. At each stop, the Emir was greeted by residents of Ilorin metropolis all chanting "Shehuuuuuu" as a sign of homage and respect to the Emir accompanied with melodious songs, rhythmical dances peculiar to different family represented by their family heads. Among these houses were Ajia Opele of Ilorin, Galadima Ngari of Ilorin, Kannike (So mai Sonka), Sarkin Gambari family, D/Head Fufu, Shitta Alimi, Balogun Fulani of Ilorin.

During this time, I managed to capture some evergreen photos that hold significance to the event.

Source

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Abdullahi Samari     Hussein Olokooba     Tafida Of Ilorin     KWASAA     Zulu Gambari     Mansur Alfanla     Medview Airlines     Hassan A. Saliu     Idowu Aremu     Bukola Saraki     SUBEB     Nnazua     Agboola Babatunde     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     Alliance For Democracy     Issa Baba     Grillo     Aliyu Muyideen     Saka Isau     Kwara State Football Association     Oju Ekun Sarumi     Abdulquawiy Olododo     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Garment Factory     Aliyu Alhassan     Ibrahim Oniye     Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     Ayo Salami     Ajibike Katibi     Pius Abioje     Sulu Gambari     Ilorin Like-Minds     Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa     Bank Of Industry     Ilorin East     EFCC     Laboratory-to-Product     College Of Education     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Olatunde Michaels     SAPZ Project     Sobi Hill     Adedipe     Damilola Yusuf Adelodun     Ademola Kiyesola     Adisa Logun     Y.A. Abdulkareem     Akorede     Malete     Abdulkadir Orire     Bashirat Bola Bello     Apaola     FERMA     Yusuf Abdulraheem     Isiaka Abdulrazak     ENetSuD     Rafiu Ajakaye     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     Abdullateef Abdussalam     Yusuf Ali     Adeniyi Ojo     Twitter     Emir Of Yashikira     Elese Of Igbaja     Government House     Erin-ile     Bola Shagaya     TESCOM 2025     Abdulfatai Baakini     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Abiodun Abdulkareem     Hassan Saliu     Abubakar Olusola Saraki     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     A.G.F Abdulrasaq     Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Millennium Development Goals     BIR     Timothy Olatunde Fadipe     Sa\'adu Salau     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Binta Abubakar Mora     Bibire Ajape     NNPP     Ganiyu Taofiq     Binta Sulyman     Kwara NIPR     Valsolar Consortium     Tunde Kazeem     Tuesday Assayomo     Agboola Babatunde     Kayode Zubair     Atunwa     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Oniwasi Agbaye     Mohammed Abdulahi     Sobi Specialist Hospital     TESCOM     Fola Consultant     Chief Of Staff     Abdulazeez Uthman     VADA     Lateef Alagbonsi     IHS     Olushola Saraki     Principal Private Secretary     Salake     College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies     Samuel Adaramola     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     MAI Akande     Otunba Taiwo Joseph     Ajayi Okasanmi     Kwara Consultative Forum     NYSC     Rihanat Ajia     Ajidagba     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     SAPZ Project     Musa Aibinu     Saliu Ajibola Ajia     Salihu Yahaya     Baba Idris     MMWG     Ilorin West     Yinka Aluko     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     Oke-Kura     Emir Of Ilorin     Gbajabiamila     Bank Of Industry     Sabitiyu Grillo     Roheemat Hammed     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Abubakar Baba     Adewuyi Funmilayo     Adeleke Ogungbe     Harmony Holdings     Tanke     Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria     Olokoba     Shehu Salau     Wahab Femi Agbaje     Belgore     Abdullateef Abdussalam     Asa LGEA School     Olabode George Towoju     KWIRS     Durosinlohun Kawu     3MTT     Lanwa     Garba Ayodele Wahab