Durbar festival

Horseman at Kano Durbar (2006)
Bida Durbar (2001)

A Durbar festival is an annual festival celebrated in several cities of Nigeria. It is celebrated at the culmination of Muslim festivals Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. It begins with prayers, followed by a parade of the Emir and his entourage on horses, accompanied by music players, and ending at the Emir's palace. Durbar festival is celebrated much in kastina Durbar festivals are organised in cities such as Kano, Katsina and Bida, and are considered tourist attractions.

History

The Durbar festival was introduced to Nigeria by colonial adminsitrators with political objectives objectives in mind.[1] The word Durbar is of Persian origin and it was first linked to ceremonial assemblies marking the proclamation of Queen Victoria as the Empress of colonial India in 1877. In Nigeria, the events then were ceremonial in nature, the first Durbar was held in 1911, subsequent ceremonies were held in 1924, 1925, 1948, 1960 and 1972. The ceremonies linked together pre-colonial aspects of martial display, colonist created assemblies and celebrations of important events in Northern Nigeria.[2]

Festac

The Durbar festival featured prominently in the 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture sometimes known as Festac 77. Since Festac, the colonial origins was gradually phased out and the events was linked with pre-colonial traditions such as the importance of horses for military purposes and ceremonies in the Bornu Empire and the ceremonies of 'Hawan Sallah' and 'Hawan Idi'.

See also


  1. ↑ Steinmetz, George (1999). State/culture: State-formation After the Cultural Turn. p. 217.
  2. ↑ Augi, Abdullahi (1978). The History and Performance of Durbar in Northern Nigeria. p. 1.
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