Nigeria's drum festival, a showcase of cultural heritage

It was a festival like no other, the first of its kind in Africa’s most populous country.

At least 50 countries including 10 African nations and 19 states across Nigeria participated in the inaugural Nigerian Drum festival.

An array of drums were on display and their sounds lend upbeat tunes to the revelers.

Nigeria Hosts Drum Festival https://t.co/7ZTMCOt73s #Nigeria pic.twitter.com/dnacQUnvCy

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For the organisers, it was not only for entertainment, but a way of preserving African heritage.

“We believe that our culture is dying gradually and we needed to start from somewhere, we found out that it is only through drums, only drums are available in all the communities in Nigeria. So starting with drums we can reach out to other parts of our culture,” said Basorun Oladipo, the commissioner of culture in Ogun state.

The two-day festival which drew its curtain on April 22 was a showcase of drumming talent.

The festival aims to be a yearly event which will offer a unique platform to celebrate drums and attract both local and international tourists to the Ogun state which is commonly refered to as the Gateway to Nigeria.

AFP