Imo Govt Moves To Regulate Masquerades, Festivals

By Gele Agb be

Imo State government has set up a committee to produce general rules of engagement for masquerades, festivals, and cultural events in the state.

The state Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mazi Uche Ohia disclosed this in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Ben Uwakwe.

According to Ohia, the effort is geared towards rekindling the fire of Igbo values and heritage in the young people.

He added that it is also aimed at projecting the positive aspects of Igbo culture and thereby developing the festivals and cultural events into modern tourism events that would attract more tourists to the state.

Performing the inauguration, Ohia stated, “the committee in appraising the festivals should come up with general rules of engagement. The Ministry is expected to regulate the operations of festivals so that people do not ridicule or desecrate our culture, for example, masquerades should not stand before moving objects like vehicles, degrade themselves publicly or be desecrated”.

Ohia further stated, “Promotion of our culture is not a return to yesterday; it is in preparation for tomorrow, not projecting the repugnant practices of our forefathers but rekindling the positive aspects of our heritage and our traditional values which a lot of young people do not understand these days”.

He charged the committee to “examine and determine which cultural practices deserve preservation and projection and which ones that do not meet the standards and realities of modernity”.

:: NIGER DELTA Connect