Minister receives UNESCO certificate for Kano Durbar Festival

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu, Musa Musawa, was presented with the certificate of inscription for the Kano Durbar Festival by UNESCO.

Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Dr Hajo Sani, extended heartfelt congratulations to the Nigerian government and its people for the recognition of the Durbar festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This significant endorsement according to her, came from an Inter-governmental Committee dedicated to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, underscoring the importance of increasing Nigeria’s profile with further inscriptions.

Dr Sani highlighted that this recognition not only enriches Nigeria’s cultural landscape but also calls for the responsibility to ensure the festival’s sustainability.

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She stated: “With this Inscription, the total number of items on the Intangible lists has now reached eight. Recently, at the 18th Session in Botswana, we celebrated the approval of both the Sango Oyo and a joint multinational inscription on Midwifery, a collaborative effort involving Nigeria and seven other nations. It is crucial for Nigeria to highlight its multicultural heritage. All stakeholders need to work diligently to pursue additional recognitions.”

In receiving the certificate, Minister Musawa expressed the vital role of showcasing Nigeria’s diverse cultures, which reflect a rich blend of global traditions.

She reaffirmed her dedication to intensifying efforts aimed at securing more inscriptions, focusing on the economic advantages and job creation potential associated with these cultural recognitions.

“The inscription of the Kano Durbar is immensely significant, not just for northern Nigeria but for the nation as a whole. We aspire to enhance our presence on both UNESCO’s intangible and tangible cultural lists.

Our goal is to share Nigeria’s cultural and creative wealth with the world, inviting a diverse range of ethnic groups to our shores. This initiative will contribute to economic growth and job creation for our citizens,” she said.