The Boat Riggata Festival; A Celebration of Culture in Lokoja

By Musa Tanimu Nasidi

Commonly referred to as the Confluence city, Kogi State which was created out of the former kwara State on August 17, 1991, and located in the North-central part of Nigeria, is a state known for its rich history and diverse ethnic representation cutting across several tribes.

Every year Lokoja town comes alive with a bee hive of activities for the Boat Regatta festival Which is organised annually by LOKOJA FORUM OF PATRIOTS

The event is a celebration of tradition and skill, showcasing the mastery of Swimming,Canoe paddling, boat regatta competitions, cultural dances among many.

The maiden event, which dates back to 1955, when late Maigari of Lokoja, HRH. Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad Maikarfi 11, was coronated is a festival that holds prominence in the lives of the locals. It used to be a single Local event but has gradually evolved to accommodate various competitions as well as traditional rituals. This in turn has grown the festival to become a valuable event that generates and attracts tourist in and outside the state since it was revived by LOKOJA FORUM OF PATRIOTS in 2017.

The major highlights of the festival as mentioned earlier includes :Swimming, Canoe paddlings boat Riggata and Cultural dances where hundreds of competitors gather on the banks of the Kwatan Kanfani awaiting the signal from judges to swings into the action.

The Lokoja Boat Regatta Festival also platforms several cultural activities amongst which are traditional dances, traditional music performances, horseback riding, amongst other spectacles. It also offers the opportunity for people from different communities to come together and present various traditional cuisines that locals and visitors alike can relish and enjoy.

With the progress of time, the festival has embraced a touch of modernity. Alongside the Boat Regatta festival, visitors can enjoy several forms of art and trade exhibitions where locally made products are showcased. This way, the festival continues to retain a bit of the past and future.

No doubt,the Lokoja Boat Regatta Festival if sustain would continued to put the ancient town on the global tourism map as one of the potpourri of tourist destinations in future.

Full Text of Alhaji Baba’ango Idris, Chairman of Lokoja Forum Of Patriots at the fifth edition of Lokoja Boat Regatta;

COURTESY: I wish to thank Allah SWT for granting us journey mercies to witness this great occasion of the fifth edition Lokoja Boat Regatta, I therefore humbly welcome you all to this occasion.

The Lokoja Forum of Patriots, the organizers of Lokoja Boat Regatta ‘started the programme since 2017 with the following aims among others.

(a) To revitalize and promote the cultural heritage of Lokoja riverine communities.

(2) To enhance local conomic development through tourism and entrepreneurship.

(3) To foster unity and social interaction among diverse ethnic groups in Lokoja among others.

My good people of Lokoja LGA, the invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, Lokoja and its environs has a lot of natural and creative resources to attract tourist to our communities and the state, that will boost economic and social activities in the state and hitherto create empowerment for our teaming youths. At this juncture ladies and gentlemen, organizing this Boat Regatta has been an hacculine task financially, i therefore appeal to the state government led by the people servant His Excellency, Alhaji Anmed Usman Ododo the Executive Governor of Kogi State and the coming Locai Government Chairman to take over this project by way Of Sponsoring the program annually as this is one of the programs that Showcase our Cultural heritage and unite our people the more.

I wish to express our unalloy gratitude and appreciation to our Royal Father, HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Muhammadu Maikarfi IV BAGADOJI for the express approval of the programme. At this point I wish to request all of us to observe one minute silence for our later Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji (Dr)Muhammadu Kabir Maikarfi III, may his soul rest in perfect peace.

I equally want to thank the chairman of the occasion Barr. Ahmed Naseer the Dan-Darma of Lokoja, our Special Guest of honour, Distinguished Senator Tunde Ogbeha Lakpini of LOkoja, the speaker Kogi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Aliyu Umar Yusuf the Badakoshi of Lokoja and other individuals who gave us financial and moral support, I also want to thank our Royal father, the Agankyu of Kakanda, the Rogan of Eggan, the Maiyaki of Kupa, the Olu of Oworo, other chiefs and Hakimis, we are grateful for your support. Our profound gratitude goes to Mr. Bolaji Oyebamiji the M.D. of National Inland Waters Authority (NIWA) and well meaning individuals, associations, businessmen and company owners who are too numerous to mention. Aliso we recognize and say thank you to our stakeholders i.e. security agents like the Nigeria Navy (NNS Lugard), the Nigeria Police Force, Marine Police,
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, our Local vigilante and Kogi State Art and Culture office for their great support. The coordinator of the participating wards and communities cannot be left out in our appreciation. They have worked very hard with us and the result is what we shall see in the next moment. We pray that the participants will haye a hitch-free competition since the aim of the festival is to promote good rapport, friendship among our people, I equally crave the indulgence of our officials to do their job with fairness and firmness with total integrity.