Last Saturday, Januray 2nd, 2016, Gbagyi cultural dancers thrilled Abuja residents as their fascinating costumes, rich artifacts and throbbing drums made the Gbagyi annual festival colourful.

Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), comprising elders, youths, women, traditional rulers, under the auspices of the Karu Gbagyi Development Association (KGDA), in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), converged in front of the chief’s palace of Karu to showcase their culture and tradition.

The Gbagyi cultural festival attracted some ethnic groups such as Gwandara, Gade, Bassa, Gbari, Amwamwa and Tiv, who all came out with their different kinds of cultural dances and paraded masquerades in colourful attires.

MPX @metropolexpress correspondent, who covered the event, observed that the cultural festival was heralded by a sacrifice, where a fowl was slaughtered, which was meant to appease the “gods” of the land to seek their permission to carry out the cultural festival.

In his keynote address, the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Professor Andrew Zamani, described Karu as the cradle of education in the FCT, adding that it is a designated tourist village, which he said was captured in the original masterplan of the territory.

He noted that Karu owed the rest of the FCT the responsibility to retain her pride of place as the cradle of western civilisation in the territory, adding that the Land Use Act and the law establishing the FCT have been grossly manipulated by successive governments.

He, however, expressed concern over the lack of seriousness on the part of natives to sustain and imbibe the culture and tradition left behind by their forefathers, which he said was almost going into extinction.

“One needs to worry about our culture, especially with the mass influx of people, which has led to socio-cultural relations. This has affected us significantly, such that our people have lost some significant part of our culture,’’ he said.

He further noted that a significant part of the Gbagyi culture had virtually gone into extinction because dominant ethnic groups have almost eclipsed Gbagyi since Abuja became the capital city of the country.

He suggested that culture and tradition of the people be included in the curricula of various schools.

Zamani, who is a professor of Psychology, further stated that the indigenes of the FCT had suffered a lot of socio-political marginalisation by successive administrations since the establishment of Abuja in 1976.

He said it was quite worrisome that the nation was not grateful to natives of the territory for providing a peaceful atmosphere for national growth and development to take place.

He said there was the need for the present administration to diversify the country’s economy in order to touch the lives of every citizen.

“I believe you are all eyewitnesses to the fact that many people, especially from the majority ethnic groups, begin to threaten fire and brimstone as soon as they feel a sense of alienation. Right now, we are seeing an increase in kidnappings by people who feel politically and socially marginalised, just to make a point that they need to be carried along,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari would address some of the issues concerning Gbagyi people.

He therefore appealed to President Buhari to carry the natives of the territory along so that they can also contribute to the development of the FCT and the country in general.

Also speaking, the Sakaruyi Karu, Mr. Emmanuel Kyauta Yepwi, said the Gbagyi cultural festival was organised to promote the people’s culture, which he said had gone into extinction due to the influence of western civilisation.

He said the cultural festival was also an avenue to bring people together from various ethnic groups to also showcase their culture, adding that it was aimed at sustaining peaceful co-existence among the Gbagyi and other ethnic groups.

He noted that most of the indigenes, especially the youth, hardly speak in their local dialect.

He said the cultural festival would enhance unity, peace, progress and development of the Gbagyi people in the FCT.

“I am calling on my people, especially our youth, to follow the proper channel when seeking the attention of government. The Gbagyi are peace-loving people,” he said.

On his part, the youth leader of the Karu Gbagyi Development Association (KGDA), Mr. Dangana Jimiko, said the people cherished their culture and would work hard to preserve it.

“We are trying to preserve the norms and values of the Gbagyi culture so that the whole world will know that we have been in existence for many years,” he said.

The youth leader, however, stated that the greatest threat to the survival of the natives of the FCT was land administration, adding that the land swap policy initiated by the immediate past administration has not brought any respite to the original inhabitants of the territory; rather, it has brought hardship.

The festival was heralded by sporadic gunshots from local hunters while incantations were made during the slaughtering of fowl.
http://metropolexpress.com/entertainment/festivals/item/5761-gbagyi-tribe-celebrates-new-year-festival-in-abuja-with-fanfare