Afemai group during their perormance
It was a wet Friday but the various traditional dancers from Afemai land (Edo North Senatorial District) defied the rains to showcase their colourful cultural dances and masquerades.
Cultural groups that participated in the display included Aimi Masquerade from Ogbona in Etsako Central Local Government Area, Aigbeloje Cultural troupe from Owan West Local Government, Agbogio Troupe from Etsako West and the Oyase (a folklore soloist) from Ayoguiri also in Etsako West Local Government Area.
The Artistic Director, Afemai Heritage and Cultural Studies, Prince Usman Abudah, urged the Federal Government to hand over the running of the Skill Acquisition Centres built by the National Council for Arts and Culture to serious managers for the centres to meet the essence of their being built. Abudah lamented that none of the centres built several years ago are functioning today, a development he said has made them unable to meet the reasons for setting them up.
He made a passionate appealed to government, saying, “Structures of governance at all levels should sincerely have a change of mind towards their attitudes to anything that has to do with promotion, propagation and documentation of the creative artistry of the people. “While there is not a court of adjudication, government officials should try and stop the cheating meted out to traditional troupes when invited to participate at government functions by being given stipends that are not worthy of mention, but what is officially recorded as what was released to them is criminally offensive. It has to stop.”