Boat Regatta
| Language | Igbo |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Meaning | Local Wrestling |
| Region of origin | Niger Delta region, Nigeria |
The Boat Regatta is a festival celebrated by the riverine people of the Niger Delta region in Nigeria.[1] The festival is celebrated by people from Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State, Bayelsa State, and Cross River State.[2][3][4]
The festival is always staged when the water level is high and during the rainy season to ensure that boats can float with the high wave of the water. Boats are decorated in beautiful colours, with their occupants also dressed in native attire, to showcase the aquatic culture of the people.[5]
Activities
The festival is celebrated by the riverine people in the Niger delta region and is a time of showcasing aquatic culture in the communities. These participants appear in beautifully adorned native wear and use it to showcase the communities defence mechanism before colonization, ceremonies and their religion.[6][7]
Besides dressing in beautiful local wrappers and outfits, other aspects of the festival includes the shooting of canons on boats and masquerade performances to thrill the crowd at the event.[8]
Recently in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike declared that the festival should be celebrated annually on May 27 to mark the creation of Rivers State and also to showcase the culture and traditions of the people of Rivers State.[9][10]
See also
References
- ↑ "With N100 billion economic stimulus, Yibo Koko set to transform Rivers' tourism landscape". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ↑ Tide, The (2017-05-15). "Okrika LGA Wins Best War Canoe Display …As CTC Boss Lauds Wike". The Tide. Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ↑ "National festivals calendar near completion". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ↑ "Boat Regatta Festival Cross River State :: Nigeria Information & Guide". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ↑ "Opobo Regatta". Goge Africa. 2019-06-23. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ↑ Obe, Emmanuel; Perishable (2021-01-02). "Tragedy, as Boy Drowns During Opobo Boat Regatta". TELL. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ↑ "Leveraging Tourism Potentials Of Opobo". The Tide. Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 2010-11-15. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ↑ "Boat Regatta, Opobo". Artsy Moments. 2017-01-23. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ↑ Ada, Ada (2017-05-14). "Golden Jubilee: Rivers holds Boat Regatta to promote cultural heritage". Daily Times. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ↑ "With N100 billion economic stimulus, Yibo Koko set to transform Rivers' tourism landscape". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2023-05-16.