UNESCO has officially recognized Nigeria’s vibrant Durbar festival, adding it to its intangible cultural heritage list on Thursday.
The Durbar, a centuries-old tradition, showcases grand parades of knights on horseback, celebrating the Islamic holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Originating in the 15th century in Kano, the festivities feature 10,000 riders, musicians, and the revered emir parading through city streets.
Kano, Nigeria’s second-largest city and a cultural hub, remains the heart of this majestic tradition in the predominantly Muslim north.
“The Durbar is a festival of color, respect, pride, and harmony,” said Hajo Sani, Nigeria’s representative to UNESCO, during the announcement.
She emphasized its role as a unifying force, integrating diverse ethnic groups like the Hausa, Fulani, Arabs, Yoruba, and Tuareg.
Central to the Durbar is the emir of Kano, resplendently adorned, surrounded by courtiers, and hailed as a symbol of heritage and authority.
While the emir holds no formal political power, his influence as a cultural custodian resonates deeply across Nigeria’s vast and diverse populace.
The festival has faced challenges, with a June event canceled due to tensions between rival chiefs vying for the emir’s title.
Despite such hurdles, the Durbar fosters economic empowerment and draws nationwide participation, including in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
This recognition places the Durbar alongside other Nigerian treasures on UNESCO’s list, such as the Sukur cultural landscape and Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.
The honor reinforces the Durbar’s significance as a celebration of Nigeria’s rich cultural tapestry, uniting communities through tradition and pride.
