National Troupe Promotes Cultural Orientation Through Folklore
By Joyce Elagboji Agbo, Omolara Adeyemi, Abuja
The National Troupe of Nigeria in a bid to portray Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and diversity, as well as discover about the hidden cultural practices that abound in Nigeria, have organised a folklore performance competition among schools in Internally Displaced Person’s (IDP) camps in Abuja, Nigeria.
Speaking to the journalists at the event, the Artistic Director/CEO, Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed had a few words to share.
“Folklore plays a major role in developing children’s intellect, we all know that as Nigerians, we are a people with great culture,” Ahmed said. “What helped us develop from our earlier days was the way our parents and grandparents told us stories to add to our values and cultural orientation.”
“Through folklore and stories, they taught us peace and tolerance and all the positive virtues we grew up with. We are using this media to develop these children and sensitise them on the dangers of activities of crime, yahoo yahoo boys, Boko Haram and every social vice.”
“Every society has something to offer to the world and one of our mandates as the National Troupe of Nigeria is to promote the Nigerian culture,” Ahmed added.
Artistic Director Ahmed also commented on the positive turnout of the event.
“Actually, I did not expect anything less because when you talk about theatre and you talk about children; you are talking about one thing,” Ahmed said.
“Children love to play and mimic and all the children who performed from different schools, have really endeared themselves to my heart. I have seen potentials in them that if we are able to improve on, we will have very great Nollywood and big stars.”
The two-hour long event had four schools from different IDP camps in Abuja perform entertaining and engaging dances, storytelling and poem presentation in a friendly competition. The students of Junior Secondary School Karomajigi emerged as winners, with a grand prize of hundred thousand Naira.
The National Troupe of Nigeria since 2010 instituted the Children’s Creative Station (CCS) to develop her Children’s Theatre and nurture the creative talents of the Nigerian child in a cultural atmosphere, while instilling in them values such a cohabitation, peaceful coexistence, healthy competition and cultural orientation amongst other values.
It was initially held in Lagos for several years until 2021 when the CCS project was introduced to Bauchi and Abeokuta respectively. This event marks the 10th edition of the programme and the aim is to identify with the children in IDP camps and also to assure them that they are not forgotten.
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