NIGERIA. Niger State: It was at exactly 11 a.m. hours of Sunday, 26th December, where traditional musicals of Abawa, Dibbo, Kakanda, Kami, Gupa, and Nupe were heard from every angle of the Evuti community under the Lapai local government area of Niger State, melodiously and extraordinarily. Music lyrics of traditional style were displayed in commemoration of the Azza development association – annual convention.
Azza Communities convention is for the prosperity of the communities. It is a special gathering of the community people and an instrument for cultural, social, and political integration within the confines of villages of the given locality. The annual convention usually takes place at the end of every year.
Speaking to the theme of this year’s celebration ‘’Azza Renaissance’’, engineer Salihu Dobogi postulated that it is the right time for the sons and daughters of Azza land to assume full responsibility and to also wear a revolutionary mindset in which communal issues and land dispute alike should no longer be seen as an obstacle for the community to strive, but instead, the people’s differences should be key for future development.
Dobogi however, urged the community members to tolerate one another to drive development, peace, and unity to the community, state, and the country as a whole.
Azza musical interlude
The music of the Azza community has developed from musical traditions. The native musicians at a formal ceremony display their musical talents with quite extraordinary lyrics of a traditional style. In ceremonial occasions like weddings, turbaning, naming, and royalty, typical music either from Abawa, Dibbo, Kakanda, Kami, or Gupa are displayed. Some of the traditional instruments used are kakaki (trumpet), ganga (drum), and flute. The songs range from bravery, ancient tales, love poetry, praise songs, royalty songs among numerous others.
Some of the famous Abawa singers
Abawa musicians are famous both within and outside the state, with examples of people like Hajiya Aliya, Hajiya Hassana, Alhaji Salihu Vulegbo, and a host of others.
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