Ilorin Durban Festival And The Spirit Of Ubuntu, By Taofeeq I. M

10th Day of July will mark another milestone in the history of Ilorin Emirate. It is the second day after Eid Al-Adha in which the illustrious sons and daughters of the Community gather for conviviality and fraternize with one another in the spirit of the oneness culture of the people. On this special day, Ilorin becomes a-to-go place for several dignitaries and tourists from within and outside the state to share in the joy and witness the rich culture of the Ilorin Emirate. Indeed, Ilorin Durban Festival is more than a gathering that rests on the pillars of various prominent sons and daughters of the community, that is not limited to the Traditional title holders in the Emirate.

Ahead of the 2022 historic event, The Turaki Ngeri of Ilorin, Mallam Saliu Mustapha joins the prominent sons and daughters towards making sure this year Durban is colourful, memorable and highly successful.

Turaki who arrived in Ilorin this afternoon headed directly to the Emir’s palace to meet with the committee. The committee, led by its chairman, Engr. Alapasanpa was delighted to receive Turaki and headed directly into the discussion. In his welcome speech, the chairman described Turaki as one of the major pillars of the historical annual event since its birth under the able leadership of His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulugambari.

Mallam Saliu Mustapha who is the APC Kwara Central Senatorial candidate for the 2023 election expressed his gratitude and honour for the warm reception by the committee. He described the reception as a rare privilege to serve his community and appreciated the committee for the selfless, thankless and altruistic service to the community. He thereby prayed to Almighty Allah to reward them handsomely as their service can’t be rewarded by any man.

Meanwhile, Turaki donated the sum of 15 million naira and a Sienna Bus to the committee to ensure another outstanding Durban festival.

For every thoroughbred indigene of the Emirate, this is a worthwhile contribution owing to the significant role the festival plays in the Community.
Ilorin Durban festival is a historical event that showcases the rich cultural heritage and tradition of Ilorin Emirate as a people. The festival attracts the attention of people from far and near, including the sons and daughters of the city in the diaspora.

The festival allows the indigenes of the city to invite their friends from far and near the country and outside Nigeria to witness the magnificence of Ilorin culture.

The festival has a lot of benefits it brings to the city and the Kwara state as a whole. Being a festival open to everybody irrespective of religion or ethnic difference, it fosters peace and unity in the state, boosts the economy and attracts investments.

It also provides the youths, especially from the chief’s houses the opportunity to showcase their skills in horse riding. The individual with talents in music, drumming, indigenous poetry etc would also have the opportunity to showcase their gift.

Summarizing the quote of Haile Selassie “We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance, not to nations but our fellow men within the human community.”, Turaki sues for a sustainable peaceful coexistence, the heart of giving to the necessitous people in the community and promoting the cultural heritage of Ilorin emirate.

Turaki had earlier identified the rich cultural heritage of Ilorin as a latent potential that needed to be exploited for the social and economical development of Ilorin and the state in general. He thereby prays for the Emir, the Baloguns and other traditional chiefs, Ilorin emirate, Kwara state and Nigeria as a nation.