By Sada Salisu Rumah

The Katsina State Heritage Restoration Committee has expressed plans to explore international recognition for the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria Carnival as part of efforts to promote and preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

The chairman of the committee, Dr Mustapha Shehu, disclosed this when he led members on a visit to the carnival to study its cultural presentations and explore ways of improving the event.

He said the committee was established by the Katsina State Government under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda to identify, revive and promote the state’s cultural heritage and traditional values.

Dr Shehu said the committee’s mandate was not limited to preserving existing cultural practices but also included reviving traditions that were gradually disappearing and ensuring their transmission to younger generations.

He said the committee used its participation in the ABU Zaria Carnival to study how students organise the event and identify ways of developing it into a major cultural festival capable of attracting international attention.

According to him, transforming the carnival into an internationally recognised cultural event could promote peace, unity and understanding among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups.

He added that the development of cultural festivals could also create economic opportunities and generate revenue if properly promoted and managed.

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The committee has developed a cultural heritage assessment framework to guide its evaluation of the carnival.

The framework covers cultural identity, accuracy of representation, traditional values, costumes, music, dance, language, traditional practices, cultural integrity and educational value, as well as the prospects of sustaining the event annually.

Dr Shehu said the assessment would also examine the carnival’s cultural depth, institutional structure and community participation, while identifying ways to improve its documentation, interpretation and cultural content.

The committee, according to its assessment document, also plans to engage the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to explore the possibility of recognising the carnival as a unique cultural heritage initiative.

It said such recognition could help attract support for the sustainable development of the cultures represented at the carnival and strengthen the role of the university community in preserving Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage.

Culled from Fasaha Streem