Ayaya Carnival 3 years ago

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Latest on AYAYA Carnival Ufuma 29th/30th Dec,2018

ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA writes Saturday 24th November,2018 on the forthcoming Ayaya Carnival billed for December 29 following his encounter with the founder and organiser of the annual celebration, Dazaa Dazaa, a Nigerian international musical artiste and cultural ambassador based in Berlin, Germany

 

With the Yuletide muse beckoning, Nigeria entertainment and cultural scene will soon witness a boom with different brands of leisure activities, all geared at boosting the tourism industry, unfolding across the different parts of the country.

They come with amazing aesthetics, colours and creative ferment, all in a bid to offer pleasures to the teeming populace, who at this time of the year seek for ultimate leisure and happiness. One of the star cultural and musical performances that will fill the space across the country’s entertainment landscape is certainly carnival celebration, which since Carnival Calabar made its debut in 2004 and became an instant success, developing a cult following over the years, many state and orogansiations have come to identify with carnival as a major attraction for boosting any destination. Among other destinations, Enugwuabo – Ufuma in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, is one distinct locations where the people will look forward to partake in and explore the beauty of a rich and colourful carnival celebration, known as Ayaya Carnival, a two day cultural exploits that will hold at the primary school playground between December 29 and 30.

The carnival celebration debuted in 2010 as a bi – annual event by Dazaa Dazaa from Enugwuabo – Ufuma, a Nigerian internationally acclaimed musical artiste and cultural ambassador, who is based in Berlin, Germany, where over the years he has devoted himself to the promotion of Nigeria and African culture across major cities in Europe and other parts of the world. But after the 2016 edition, the twice yearly event transformed into a yearly celebration following the fact that its celebration, which initially met with stiff opposition from the community, individuals and certain organisations, became accepted by a larger majority of the people, thereby necessitating the need to make it a yearly event.

This year’s celebration will mark the second time in a roll following last year’s celebration, which according to report, was greatly commended by the people of the local government and even the state government. The dogged and singular effort of the organiser, Dazaa, alongside few of his supporters, were acknowledged as worthy of emulation and support hence a lot of people saw the need to entrench it in the culture and tourism calendar of the state by calling for it to be held yearly.In view of the successes it has garnered and the huge following, Dazaa said this year’s event will be quite exciting and promising for the people, with a lot of activities introduced to make it a robust and vibrant celebration of the culture of the people. But more importantly use the carnival as a platform to develop the creative talents and industry of his people, particularly the youth.

Carnival schedule

To achieve the objective of the carnival project, Dazaa has unfolded a two day enriching programme, with the first day of the event devoted to the carnival. This according to him, will feature a cultural parade by the different groups at the primary school playground. It will attract various activities including musical and display of various cultural events by both individuals and groups within the local government areas, with Dazaa on the lead as the major act for the day.

The second day will feature a new introduction to the carnival feast, a talent hunt competition, which is gear at giving opportunity to youths of the community to showcase their talents in the areas of music and dance in all genres, depending on their preferences.

This section, he said is not going to be a formalised one except for the panel of judges, as the participants will be given a free rein to express themselves according to their talents. He said interested youths can enter for the event by visiting the carnival’s website to register while entry can also be accepted on the carnival ground on the day of the event or at different designated locations within the locality.

To encourage participation and nurture the talents of participates, he disclosed that prizes will be given to winners, ranging from N100, 000 for the winner, N40, 000 to the first runner up to N10, 000 to the second runner up. He said the idea of the cash prize is to give a sense of belonging to the participants and let them understand that it is a serious affair. Besides, he revealed that plans are afoot to take the competition to a higher level as winners of the various categories of performances will be nurtured to perfect their skills and in the coming days make them part of a team of artistes that will be exposed to both the Nigerian and international community by offering them the platform to horn their talents.

Foreign participation

According to him, the level of foreign participation, in terms of performances in the carnival over the years has been none existence apart from the fact that few of his friends, members of his band and producers have at one time or the other accompanied him from Berlin to witness the carnival and feel the vibes and pulse of his people during such a festive period. But since last year there was some form of formalised participation of foreign participants, as he disclosed that: ‘‘My friends from abroad continues to support me by coming to partake yearly in the carnival. Last year some Americans came.’’ This year again, he said quite a number of Americans are billed for the event apart from his friends from Berlin and other parts of Europe. ‘‘Some Americans are coming in large numbers this year,’’ he said, adding that some of them are coming with special packages for the people, which they will unfold during the carnival.

What is the level of support that you have been enjoying or expect from your state government?

No government support of any kind have come to me. The only thing one can say in that respect is the recognition from the state government when in October 27, 2016 I was made Anambra State Youth Ambassador in Diaspora.

Any sponsorship for the carnival and if not, how have you been financing the carnival?

I have never had any sponsor since the beginning of the carnival in 2010. Our people are not committed to promoting and supporting our culture but I am devoted to preserving, protecting and promoting our culture. In doing what I have been doing over the years I am proudly making use of what most people said was in the useless in me, which today has become very useful to me and saving lives through it.

But what would you say motivated your setting up of this carnival and what did you intend to achieve with it?

I will say it was motivated by my experience in life and the road that I have trod so far because I was once regarded as useless and wasting my time when I started out as an artiste on the streets of Lagos until a Germany lady, late Renate Albertson Marton, who was then in charge of the German Cultural Centre in Lagos. She took me to Germany where I performed and worked with the Berlin Carnival organisers for years. I saw the importance of carnival, it is a water stream of success which sales generally art by showcasing different talents to the international communities. That exposure created in me the desire to replicate such a platform in my community in Nigeria given the richness and diverse nature of our culture.

How far would you say that you have achieved your goals for the carnival?

I am proud to say that ‘l have found water in the desert’ because Ayaya Carnival has liberated our youths from religious and parental slaveries as well as other social vices. We have exposed Ufuma, Orumba and Anambra State culturally to the world. We have built an avenue where people can know the importance of what they have and who they are. We have reformed our land, transformed the once prevailing culture of hatred to a culture of love. We have proved that talents are lovely and marketable products commercially when nurtured and promoted properly.

To what extent then have your community, Ufuma, supported the carnival?

My town union have never supported me since the beginning of the carnival but individually I have gotten a measure of moral support from mostly youths. Only my King, lgwe Chika S. Uchime, stood by me over 200 per cent. He made me his cabinet member as the Councillor of Ufuma in Diaspora on April 9, 2016 in his Ufuma palace before his cabinet.

How challenging has it been for you running this carnival on your own every year?

It has been quite challenging over the years as what works with our people is godfatherism, which doesn’t work with me. This I can say is the reason why most people have refused to identify with the carnival or support me because they expect me to come and pay homage to them. But that is what I am against and fighting to jettison such a culture and create the culture of love and openness and communism where people’s talents are respected and assisted in whatever way possible to flourish regardless of whatever. Because of my stand I have faced stiff opposition, labelled and slammed with different allegations and name calling and at a point lost my first son to the struggle of trying to liberate my people and promote our culture. But you see, I am a very patient and enduring person and once I believe in a cause I give it my full attention and devotion regardless of the consequences.

How have you be able to cope with it financially and otherwise?

When l discovered the importance of carnival l knew then that I have discovered a gold mine and a liberating force. Therefore, I decided not to look for sponsors for my ideas and projects as our people don’t understand or believe in long term projects. I have financed the carnival and my other projects over the years from my various earnings in Europe. However, l believe that someday my golden harvest time will come as people are beginning to understand and appreciate what we have been doing over the years.

You also have a foundation, what gave birthday to the foundation?

Dazaa Foundation remains a way of saying thank you God for using me in this great service to humanity. We are supporting primary schools through our foundation, promoting music, sports, education, single and pregnant women as well as the homeless and people with health challenges. We are also creating awareness on discovering our talents and nurturing them.

How challenging is it for you living in Europe as a Nigerian artiste promoting Nigeria and Africa culture and music?

It is a thing of life and death because Africans hate to promote their culture and that is one big difference between the White and Black people. On knowing this for a fact, I pray every day for courage, patient and wisdom while waiting for the right people and time. Today, a golden face of Nigerian and African real music is known and I am grateful for the wonderful support from my German friends, which is the root of our Talent Hunt Project that is called Sell Yourself.

Tell us about your musical career and the number of albums or singles that you have produced so far?

Before going to Europe I had my first locally released album called ‘don’t lose control.’ Then in Berlin in 2011 l released my first musical album called ‘come to me.’ I am also involved in film productions with credits in such Nollywood movies as Call of Dazaa, Witches Command one and two, New Yam – Otute and festival documentary film – ‘have mercy on us in Nigeria.’ While in Europe l got credit in films like – ‘beyond the sea, ‘Berlin Tag and Nacht,’ with a lot of radio and TV shows both in Nigeria and Europe.

How challenging was it for you producing those albums?

It was very hard in Nigeria to produce my first album as I was made a rejected stone by the godfathers of the industry because I refused to subject myself to their control as a slave. But in Europe charity shows opened my musical life to the world and it was at one of such shows that Marcus Waibel, my music producer, saw me and today, we have become life time partners in show business. He recorded and produced my band’s album and connected me to the world music family. Today, my band, Dazaa Dazaa and The Springwater plays in world music festivals and anywhere in the world. We play reggae, rock, blues, classical and highlife. We wish to use Sell Yourself to reform Nigeria music industry and build an international music family and network to unite and give more happiness and joy to humanity.