Prof Florence Orabueze, Director, Institute of African Studies (IAS), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), says the revival of African culture will help to restore the rich cultural dignity of the continent.
Orabueze stated this in Nsukka, while
briefing newsmen, ahead of a two-day cultural event being organized by the institute.
She said that one of the core mandates of the institute is to promote African culture and traditions, adding that IAS would on March 27 and 28 showcase the rich culture of Africa.
“The UNN Business School, Enugu, is collaborating with the institute in the two-day event aimed at reviving and promoting the African culture, especially that of Nigeria.
” On March 27, at Princeliness Alexandra Auditorium (PAA) at 10.am, a lecture titled: ‘Cultural Revival in Multi-Ethnic Society’, will be delivered by Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of Enugu Anglican Archdiocese.
“On March 28 at Freedom Square, there will be cultural carnival that will feature cultural dance competition, traditional wrestling, cultural fashion contest and masquerade from different parts of the country,” she said.
“This carnival will be first of its kind in universities in the country,” she added.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Prof. Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, will be the Chief Host.
Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Obarevwori, and Mrs Clara Chime, wife of former governor of Enugu State will be special guests of honour.
“It’s unfortunate that as a result of neglect of our cultures, some of our children cannot speak our local languages, not to talk of knowing the culture of their places,” she said.
Orabueze blamed the high rate of violent crimes and suicides among youths on the neglect of and ignorance of African culture and tradition.
“Today we talk of a high rate of incest, rape, banditry, suicide, terrorism and other violent crimes because our children have lost connection with the culture and traditions of their people.
“This cultural carnival being first of its kind among universities will help to reconnect our children to their language culture as well as their traditions
“There will be debate among students in their native languages as a way of promoting local language,” she said.
The director disclosed that student associations in UNN, from different states of the federation, have been mobilised to showcase the culture of their various states.
“If we fail to reconnect our children with their cultural heritage now, in the next 50 years some languages, culture and traditions will go into extinction,” she said. (NAN)