Traditional African festival performances as a panacea for peace and security: the Obubra urban Ababum (cassava) festival as paradigm

Abstract

ABSTRACT It has been asserted that some African and Nigerian cultural festivals are incapable of equipping community members with the requisite knowledge and skills to confront contemporary socio-political, economic and security challenges that hindered development in their communities. This paper serves as a rejoinder to enlighten the public on the powers of traditional festivals to forestall peaceful co-existence among people. The study seeks to determine whether African and Nigerian community festivals can be used as avenues for building peace, reconciliation and security development among embittered community members using the Ababum (Cassava) festival in Obubra Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria, as a paradigm. The study utilized the participant observation and personal communication research methods for data collection. Data obtained from these sources were analyzed using the textual method. The findings showed that the cassava festivals were avenues where the community members in the Obubra Urban Ward dialogued and exchanged public opinions on how to attain peace and stability. Findings also showed an increase in knowledge, added awareness of the imperatives of peace, reconciliation and security consciousness among members of these communities studied.