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By Jonah Agye
The Oyarore Salt Festival stands as one of the most remarkable cultural celebrations among the Alago people of Keana in Nasarawa State. Rooted in the historic discovery of salt and the founding of the Keana settlement, the festival has evolved into an emblem of identity, memory, communal legacy and generational continuity. Over the years, its cultural significance, economic prospects, and historical relevance have attracted both state and national attention, ultimately leading to its recognition as a National Cultural Festival and, more recently, its designation as one of the National Monuments in our country.
The elevation of the Oyarore Salt Festival to national status is grounded in formal governmental action. In a circular dated 16 September 2008, the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation communicated the Federal Government’s decision to select twelve (12) cultural festivals across Nigeria for structured development, with the Oyarore Salt Festival expressly identified among them.
According to the circular, the Ministry selected Oyarore based on its “unique, colourful and rich cultural heritage” and its strong potential to become an internationally recognized cultural and tourism event. The document further stated the Ministry’s intention to “restore this historic festival to its former position as an important cultural and economic asset to the nation.” This inclusion placed Oyarore in the same category as other heritage festivals considered vital to Nigeria’s cultural identity and tourism-driven economic growth.
To reinforce this commitment, the Ministry deployed a team of cultural officers to Nasarawa State to conduct field assessments, interact with custodians of culture, and support the initial framework for festival development. The circular also emphasized that strengthening festivals such as Oyarore contributes directly to cultural preservation, tourism expansion, and the growth of cultural industries in Nigeria.
This formal adoption remains the foundation upon which the festival now enjoys national recognition, culminating in its more recent classification as a National Monument—a designation that elevates it to the status of a protected heritage asset in Nigeria.
Why Oyarore Was Chosen as a National Festival
– Cultural Uniqueness: The festival embodies centuries-old salt production techniques, rituals, and traditions that are preserved nowhere else in Nigeria.
– Historical Value: Oyarore narrates the origin and continuity of Keana, making it essential to the historical identity of the Alago people.
– Tourism Potential: The festival’s presentation, performances, rituals, and heritage sites position it as a tourism attraction capable of drawing national and international visitors.
– Economic Prospects: The event stimulates local industries—crafts, cuisine, performances, and trade—creating seasonal economic opportunities.
– National Relevance: Its adoption aligns with Nigeria’s strategy of diversifying the economy through culture-driven tourism and strengthening communal heritage.
– National Branding: Countries all over the world usually are branded around their unique cultural assets and identity. This branding strategy is imbued with a number of advantages for commerce, unity project, tourism among others.
Sustaining the Oyarore Salt Festival After Its National Adoption*
With the festival now recognized as a national monument, sustaining it requires deliberate action:
– Institutional Framework: Establish or strengthen a Central Working Committee (CWC) supported by relevant subcommittees for planning, documentation, security, finance, publicity, cultural performances, and protocol.
– Government Partnership: Maintain continuous collaboration among the traditional council, Nasarawa State Government, and Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Economy.
– Cultural Preservation: Document rituals, train younger custodians, and safeguard heritage sites associated with the salt tradition.
– Infrastructure Development: Improve roads, water facilities, cultural sites, and performance spaces to enhance the visitor experience.
– Tourism Promotion: Pursue national and international publicity, festival branding, and strategic partnerships with tour operators, media outlets, and cultural organizations.
– Economic Integration: Encourage artisans, traders, performers, and cultural entrepreneurs to leverage festival-related opportunities.
The festival idea is now formally registered as a corporate entity in order to cultivate ways of sustaining the event and for promotional purposes. This way, the gateway is made open as a multi-door for sons and daughters of the community friends, governments and the corporate world to partner, participate and further promote the Oyarore (Salt) Festival as a national identity programme, showcasing the abundant possibilities within it, being gifts of our fore fathers to the nation.
This is to further buttress that Keana salt made the community popular in pre-colonial history. This popularity extended across all of Northern Nigeria and up to Sudan as salt was a much sought after article of trade noting its uses in food, medicines and preservation among numerous others.
The Keana salt is organic and naturally iodized.
