Usman A Bello and Abubakar Sadiq Isah
8 November 2009
Abuja — The Gbagyi people of New Karu in Nasarawa State over the weekend celebrated its 2009 cultural festival at New Karu Local Government Area.
In his speech at the occasion the Traditional Head of Karu, Etsu Luka Panya Baba announced that the Gbagyi people have resolved to open a museum to preserve their cultural heritage.
He said the propose museum will house remains of their surviving traditional and cultural artifacts and appliances, in such a manner that will boost the Gbagyi culture, education and inter-ethnic relations.
Etsu Baba further informed that the cultural festival is meant to reawakening the Gbagyi's consciousness through dancing, cuisine, dressing, traditional practices and artifacts, among others
The traditional head lamented that Gbagyi people have always been displaced by civilization, adding that the event was organized because the tradition and values of Gbagyi people are fast eroding.
According to him, the generational gap between the young and old has continued to widen and we see culture as a potent tool to forge unity among Gbagyi people all over the country.
"We have made sure that Gbagyis from Nasarawa , Niger, Kaduna, Kogi and Kwara states were represented in today's occasion.
In his speech, Nasarawa State Governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma urged the Gbagyis not to allow their cultural assets to die, adding that efforts must be made to preserve them by displaying documentaries and disseminating the heritage for the benefit of tourism and posterity.
Highlights of the event were the turbaning of Gbagyi sons and daughters that excelled in their various fields of endeavours.
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