Visit Nigeria

Ever thought about visiting Africa, more precisely, Nigeria? You should! Put aside all stories you must have heard; the violence, the corruption etc. they're simply stories so don't let them get to you.

why Nigeria you may ask, here's the thing; Nigeria is blessed with so many natural endowment and it's beauty is spread across every state and locale you may think of. But the most sought for is the festivals.
Nigeria has many local festivals that date back to the time before the arrival of the major religions, and which are still occasions for masquerade and dance. The local festivals cover an enormous range of events, from harvest festivals and betrothal festivals, to the investing of a new chief and funerals. Here are some of the most prominent and I strongly suggest you consider any of them in your travel plans.

Dubar (Katsina, Kano):
The Durbar festival dates back hundreds of years to the time when the Emirate (state) in the north used horses in warfare. During this period, each town, district, and nobility household was expected to contribute a regiment to the defense of the Emirate.Once or twice a year, the Emirate military chiefs invited the various regiments for a Durbar (military parade) for the Emir and his chiefs.  

During the parade, regiments would showcase their horsemanship, their preparedness for war, and their loyalty to the Emirate. Today, Durbar has become a festival celebrated in honor of visiting Heads of State and at the culmination of the two great Muslim festivals, Id-el Fitri (commemorating the end of the holy month of Ramadan) and Ide-el Kabir (commemorating Prophet Ibrahim sacrificing a ram instead of his son).

 Of all the modern day Durbar festivals, Katsina Durbar is the most magnificent and spectacular. Id-el-Kabir, or Sallah Day, in Katsina begins with prayers outside town, followed by processions of horsemen to the public square in front of the Emir’s palace, where each village group, district, and noble house take their assigned place. Last to arrive is the Emir and his splendid retinue; they take up their place in front of the palace to receive the jahi, or homage, of their subjects.

The festival begins with each group racing across the square at full gallop, swords glinting in the sun. They pass just few feet away from the Emir, then stop abruptly to salute him with raised swords.

The last and most fierce riders are the Emir’s household and regimental guards, the Dogari. After the celebrations, the Emir and his chiefs retire to the palace, and enjoyment of the occasion reigns. This fanfare is intensified by drumming, dancing and singing, with small bands of Fulanis performing shadi, a fascinating sideshow to behold.

The Arugungu Fishing Festival (Kebbi):

This colorful annual festival takes place in Arugungu,("ar-GOON-goo"), a riverside town in Kebbi State, about 64 miles from Sokoto. The leading tourist attraction in the area, the festival originated in Aug. 1934, when the late Sultan Dan Mu’azu made an historic visit. In tribute, a grand fishing festival was organized. Since then, it’s become a celebrated yearly event held between Feb. and March. During the festival, hundreds of local men and boys enter the water, armed with large fishnet scoops.

They are joined by canoes filled with drummers, plus men rattling huge seed-filled gourds to drive the fish to shallow waters. Vast nets are cast and a wealth of fish are harvested, from giant Nile Perch to the peculiar Balloon Fish. Furthermore there’s canoe racing, wild duck hunting, bare-handed fishing, diving competitions and naturally, swimming. Afterwards, there is drinking, singing and dancing into the night.

The festival marks the end of the growing season and the harvest. A one mile (1.6 kilometer) stretch of the Argungu River is protected throughout the year, so that the fish will be plentiful for this 45-minute fishing frenzy.

About 5,000 men take part, armed with hand nets and a large gourd. During the alloted time, they fight for the fish in the river. Nile perch weighing up to 140 pounds (63.5 kg) are pulled out of the river, and the biggest are offered to the local Emirs who organize the festival. This festival began in the 1930s and has captured the nation's interest. It now includes many other events, such as canoe races and diving competition.

The Eyo Festival (Lagos):

Eyo Festival is unique to Lagos area, and it is widely believed that Eyo is the forerunner of the modern day carnival in Brazil. On Eyo Day, the main highway in the heart of the city (from the end of Carter Bridge to Tinubu Square) is closed to traffic, allowing for procession from Idumota to Iga Idunganran.

Here, the participants all pay homage to the Oba of Lagos. Eyo festival takes place whenever occasion and tradition demand, but it is usually held as the final burial rites for a highly regarded chief.

Among the Yoruba, the indigenous religions have largely given way to Christianity and Islam, but the old festivals are still observed. The traditional leaders of the Yoruba are the Obas, who live in palaces and used to govern along with a council of ministers. The Obas' position is now mainly honorary, and their chief role is during the observance of the festivals. On the last day, a priest goes to the shrine of the ancestors and sacrifices animals, pouring the blood on the shrine. The sacrifices are collected, and they become the food for the feast that follows.

The Sango (Ogun):

The Shango festival celebrates the god of thunder, an ancestor who is said to have hanged himself. Lasting about 20 days, sacrifices are made at the shrine of the god, in the compound of the hereditary priest. On the final day, the priest becomes possessed by the god and gains magical powers. He eats fire and swallows gunpowder. The procession again goes off to the Oba's palace and the feast begins, accompanied by palm wine, roast meat, and more dancing.

All the above festivals are wonders to behold. Other occation for festivals are springing up and states are organizing carnivals every year e.g. Abuja Carnival, Rivers Carnival (CarniRiv), Cross Rivers Carnivals and others that are not too popular. A visit to one will warrant another visit. Take a time out and consider Nigeria in your next vacation and the fun will be to your ultimate satisfaction.

Note: You also need to know when to visit:
You can visit Nigeria all the year round. But the traveler planning a visit should take the following into consideration:

Weather:
(i) Rain falls, particularly in the south, between May and September. It can be heavy in June and can cause inconveniences.
(ii) Temperature ranges from 23-31 °C in the south, with high humidity.
(iii) A cooler, but dusty harmattan season stretches from December to January.

What to Wear:
For official occasions, formal clothing is expected. Gentlemen may put on suits
and ties while ladies appear in dresses. Given the warm tropical temperatures, however, light clothing is convenient all the year round. Informal dress is widely acceptable with emphasis on comfort. Batik, a local fabric, with leather sandals and hat, are common. Batik is favoured even for formal occasions because of its comfort in tropical weather conditions.

 

Home Away From Home

Streeetchhh! I take in a long breath. Yawn. I'm up! Then suddenly it hits. Where am I? Yes. Where am I?
Home away from home. You can only hear them say it, or read it in ads for hotels. As much as we long to take that vacation, we must consider where we're going to stay for that trip. I know you know about that, else, why take the trip if I don't have any plans for accomodation?

What could make me so comfortable, so calm, not scared or even worried, without having a care in the world? The answer is, this hotel get's me what i want, when i want, how i want it - that's what matters most. If you can't get any of this in whatever order, it's not worth it. of course money talks too.

 

I've heard/read some people live in hotels. It starts from visiting and then gradually, you get so cared for that you wish to be no where else.Actor Richard Harris lived at the Savoy Hotel while in London. Hotel archivist Susan Scott recounts an anecdote that when he was being taken out of the building on a stretcher shortly before his death he raised his hand and told the diners "it was the food."

 
So what should i consider when booking for a hotel? Here are a few:
1. The Food: I love food. if my stomach is thinking of heaven (weird), nothing else matters. trust me when i say, if the worms are busy, there won't be any noise and so the brain can act more rightly. Make sure the food keeps you coming back for more and more, then that's the place for you.

2. The Noise: And here comes me, getting away from work and other nagging responsibilities to have a few days of REST. and then this hotel is right at the centre of the town and very close to the bus park, or the market, or religious centres. that obviously spells doom for my mission. So make sure the hotel is nearly totally free from all noise.

3. The Service: There are hotels around with operators that think they have earned a reputation for themselves and therefore can treat a customer any way they like. They put no effort make the customer happy. The bed is worn out due to long use, and then your sleep is hampered because of the creaky sound that comes when you turn to one side or to another. The aircondition is just there for fancy because it doesn't work, and other things that may become visible as you stay. A hotel should have a telephone, an alarm clock, a television, a safe, a mini-bar with snack foods and drinks, and facilities for making tea and coffee. Luxury features which include bathrobes and slippers, a pillow menu, twin-sink vanities, and jacuzzi bathtubs. Larger hotels may provide additional guest facilities such as a restaurant, swimming pool, fitness center, business center, childcare, conference facilities and social function services. If you can't get these, don't pay!

4. Security: I don't want to book a hotel in areas prone to violence neither do i want a hotel where my belongings cannot be secured. Security matters most in hotels else you don't get the maximum rest you deserve.

5. Structure: Your hotel should have a cool architectural structure. May be not so mind blowing, but it should be have a decent look.

6. Price: As much as possible, consider your pocket. There are hotels that charge inconsiderate fares for what you can get normally anywhere else. If you can't afford it comfortably without harming your finances, don't go in there. I know that going for cheap things doesn't really give you the best, but you don't want to spend up all you've got for hotel bills and then get home broke. . So if you don't want to live beyond your means and come home to a great big credit card bill after your holiday, then ensure that you'll spend just enough for yourself. Pre-paid credit cards are a great way to ensure you don't spend beyond your means as you can load your card with your saved money before you leave.

There are a host of other considerations too, but the most important among all these is your comfort. make sure you get a hundred percent comfortable in that hotel when you take that vacation so you can return a happy rejuvenated and livened person, and may be, become so good at work to earn you a promotion -trust me, a simple thing as choosing a good hotel does that.

Go See The World!

With all the boredom and the noise, not to talk of stress of being in the same place year in year out, I feel one's got to get moving. If you want to get the best out of nature's beauty, it is until you get to see the new side of what life's got.

What do you do with your vacation? Where do you go to? I know some people love to take sometime off work, but is it really a time off work? you leave the office - yes, head home begin to visit friends. And these friends come with their noise and refined stories over and over again. It's all the cycle of life. from the pub, to getting laid, to going shopping for clothes, for those who love to cook - groceries etc. it's like your life has been programmed as a scheme of work or should i say time table.

Have you ever taken time out to listen to the birds, the genteel evening breeze, even the sun; ever watch the day dawn? what does it say?
Since I've taken time out to listen to their songs, let me write out the lyrics for you:

I'm coming into a world interesting,
a globe with unlimited surprises,
you think you have it all but you haven't seen nothing yet,
the birds will tell you better
they'll spend not even a second where it becomes harsh
we're looking to savour all the best of world they say...

Does it ring any bell? I mean do you seem to understand why the birds move when they're not comfortable with where they are? enough of what science tell you, what does your mind accept? they are going to see the world.

so take time out, pack some clothes in that bag, go visit nature's best. your motives should be to relax, discover and explore, experience interpersonal relationships and get to know other cultures, then you'll know you've been recycling the same view all these while - regret!