There is no better way to explore and experience Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage than joining in the colourful celebration at the cultural festivals.

With a lot of inimitable cultural festivals for you to choose from; the Africa’s biggest street party in Calabar, the worship of the goddess Oshun in the Sacred Forest of Osun, or witnessing the stunning white Eyo masquerades and lots more, we have selected 10 colourful cultural festivals in Nigeria that would blow off your mind; you can plan your next trip to Nigeria to revel at one of these colourful festivals.

all information and photos are culled from http://www.travelstart.com.ng/blog/10-colourful-cultural-festivals-in-nigeria/

cc: seun, mynd44, ishilove, lalasticlala, odumchi , Fulaman198 and bigfrancis21 front page please

1. Eyo Festival
Witness one of the most unique and fabulous celebrations in Nigeria. Some people called it the Adamu Orisha Play, a Yoruba festival that transforms the commercial Lagos Island to be stunning white. It attracts thousands of tourists from around the world who come to see costumed dancers or masquerades called ‘Eyo’ who perform during the festival. The processions are colourful and a lot of major roads are closed. It is strongly believed that Eyo Festival is a forerunner of the world biggest carnival in the world, the Rio de Janeiro Carnival.

2. Calabar Carnival
No festival can ever beat this Calabar Festival when it comes to amazing performances. This is the celebration of creativity and culture that blends with both the traditional and modern lifestyle of the people of Cross River State. The long feathered headdresses, the colourful costumes, the mesmerizing dancers and dance steps, the street parades and the bands attract thousands of people to it.

3. Lagos Carnival
This is just so colourful. Like the Calabar Carnival but slightly different, Lagos Carnival is one of the most vibrant parties in Nigeria. You can feel the excitement in the air even before the carnival kicks off yearly. Revellers are seen travelling from different parts of the world to experience this carnival. You can join in the fun of the Carnival. Make new friends and share those memorable moments with family and friends.

4. Osun Festival
We leave the comfort of the bustling city life to experience one of the most regarded cultural festivals in Nigeria. It usually takes place in the month of July and August every year. Off to the Sacred Forest of Osun, in a one week colourful festival to honour and reverence the river goddess, Oshun of Osun State, people come here to get their solutions to their problems.

5. Sango Festival
Pretty much experience for anyone who has ever come to Sango Festival, this festival is in the honour of Sango the all powerful god in Yoruba land. This festival has facilitated an annual home-coming avenue for Yoruba descents in the Diaspora as a form of pilgrimage. It brings back the past history and celebrates the culture and tradition of the people, while creating wealth and employment for the people.

6. Ojude Oba Festival
Ojude Oba festival is a cultural heritage that is woven from threads of diversity, history, legend and conquest. ‘The King’s front year’ is the literal meaning of Ojuda Oba. The people of Ijebu Ode return en masse to pay their homage to the king, the Awujale of Ijebuland. This takes place on the third day of the Ileya Festival, (Eid-el-Kabir). This festival includes parades, traditional songs, equestrian skill display and lots more.

7. Carniriv
For seven days, few weeks before Christmas in the city of Port Harcourt, The Port Harcourt Carnival which combines two carnivals; a contemporary Caribbean style carnival and a cultural carnival changes the ‘Garden City to become very colourful. Carniriv is Rivers State’s biggest tourism export.

8. Ofala Festival
The Ofala Festival is held in Anambra State where the Obi of Onitsha, Dr Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe and traditional rulers who are adorned in their red caps and royal regalia with their traditional staffs paint the whole place red with their parades and display of affluence and power.

9. Argungu Fishing Festival
You may have experienced some fascinated water activities around the world but if you have not been to Argungu fishing festival, your list may not be complete. The alluring dynamics of the festival, the exciting spectators, and the anxious competitors who are ready to jump inside the river to begin their search for the biggest fish make this fishing festival extraordinary and beautiful.

10. New Yam Festivals
One festival that is celebrated around the country is the New Yam Festival; from the Leboku in Ugep, Cross River State to the Iriji-Mmanwu festival in Enugu State, the festival is celebrated in pomp and cultural display. Hundreds of masquerades, dancers in beautiful attires, acrobatic displays and fetish activities make it one festival that you should not miss.



So, with these colourful festivals in
their full swings, it seems like a good
time to pack your bags and visit
Nigeria to experience some of these
cultural festivals. Let us know what
your favourite festivals are.

Always reading abt em, I need to see one at least.

I love colourful non-fetish festivals.

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Wow!!

This is beautiful

lovely thread, I love culture

Nigerians beautiful people, beautiful culture. Let's bring Nigeria pride back and take it to where it belongs in the league of Nations

March 4 General and we shall see more beautiful festivals

........Op na GEJ festival go detonate Nigeria tumoa

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Number 10

Please, are those carnivals part of our culture I taught its for the Brazilians... May culture diffusion though!

That's really wonderful

Those masquerades running around yaba-Ojuelegba area of Lagos are also celebrating yaba-left cultural festival.

Gej till i die

fetish...

APC witchcraft festival

All the id.iots that commented above me are high on weed.

Nice one Op, its good to know the festivity of our great country. Buh would have been better if all the dates were mentioned, so that we that want to attend anyone might know when its time for it.

My favourite is the Argungu Festival
Looks like great fun

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Ojude Oba Festival should be No 1 on the list. Proudly Omo Ijebu.

eyo festival is the only festival I've attended

[img]http://nationalmirroronline.net/files.php?file=/Some_Eyo_masquerades_dancing_at_the_carnival._999785913.jpg[/img]


Very beautiful with cute kid too

If I may add a few Durbar festival pictures please.

How about the Olojo Festival in Ile-Ife?

nice
that argungu beats all of them and to think that place is a desert is beyond Hunan comprehension
of you've been there you know what am talking about

#Arewa 4 life