Class Note: The National Art and Culture Festival (NAFEST)
Subject: Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA)
Class: Nursery Three (Age 5)
Topic: National Art and Culture Festival (NAFEST)
Theme: Our Country, Our Culture
1. Comprehensive Core Concepts
What is a Festival?
A festival is a very special time when people come together to celebrate something important. Imagine a giant party where everyone is happy, there is plenty of music, and people wear their most beautiful clothes. Nigeria is a very big country with many different groups of people called tribes. We have over 250 tribes, including the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Edo, Efik, Ijaw, and many more. Even though we speak different languages, we are all one big family!
What is NAFEST?
The National Art and Culture Festival, or NAFEST for short, is like a "Big Birthday Party" for all the cultures in Nigeria. Every year, the government chooses one state to host this festival. People travel from every part of Nigeria—from the North, South, East, and West—to show off the best things about their homes. The main goal of NAFEST is to say: "We are different, but we are one Nigeria!"
The Three Pillars of the Festival
At NAFEST, we celebrate three main things:
1. Beautiful Clothes (Traditional Attire):
Instead of everyday clothes like T-shirts, people wear Traditional Attire. These are special clothes that tell a story about where you come from.
- The Yoruba people might wear Aso-Oke (hand-woven cloth) or Gele (big, beautiful headties).
- The Igbo people often wear Isiagu (fabric with lion heads) and beautiful red caps or beads.
- The Hausa and Fulani people wear flowing robes called Babariga and very colorful hats.
- The South-South people (like the Edo or Efik) wear heavy, royal coral beads and wrappers.
2. Music, Dance, and Art:
A festival is never quiet! You will hear the Talking Drum (Gangan) which sounds like it is speaking, the Ogene (a metal gong) that goes clink-clink-clink, and the Goje (a violin-like instrument). People don't just dance for fun; they dance to tell stories about hunting, farming, or being brave. Artists also bring things they have made, like Clay Pots, Carved Wood, and Woven Baskets.
3. Delicious Cultural Food:
Food brings people together. At NAFEST, everyone shares their local dishes. You might see:
- Pounded Yam and Egusi Soup from the West and East.
- Tuwo Shinkafa (rice meal) from the North.
- Banga Soup and Starch from the Delta.
- Jollof Rice, which everyone in Nigeria loves!
2. Real-World Examples
To understand NAFEST, look at these situations you might see in your own life:
- The School Culture Day: Have you ever come to school dressed in your traditional outfit? That is a mini-NAFEST! When you see your friend wearing a different outfit and you tell them, "You look beautiful," you are celebrating culture just like they do at the national festival.
- A Family Wedding: When your Aunty or Uncle gets married, the families wear matching colors (Aso-Ebi), dance to traditional drums, and eat local food. This is exactly what happens at NAFEST, but for the whole country!
- The Market: When you go to the market with Mommy and see people selling beads, local fabrics, or traditional pots, you are looking at Nigerian Art.
3. Practical Applications: How to "Do" Culture
You can practice being a Cultural Ambassador every day by following these steps:
- The "Respect" Greeting: In Nigeria, culture starts with respect. Practice how your tribe greets. If you are Yoruba, you might kneel or prostrate. If you are Edo, you might say "Koyo." Learning how to greet elders in your language is a great way to practice your culture.
- Identifying Fabrics: Look at the clothes people wear to church or the mosque. Try to identify the fabric. Is it Ankara (with bright patterns)? Is it Lace? Is it Aso-Oke?
- The Rhythmic Clap: Listen to a traditional song. Try to clap your hands to the beat. Nigerian music often has a "heartbeat" rhythm. If you can find the beat, you can learn any traditional dance!
4. Suggested Home Project: "My Mini-Festival Booth"
Objective: To create a small display that shows off a Nigerian culture.
Materials Needed:
- An empty shoe box.
- Small scraps of fabric (Ankara or colored paper).
- Glue and a pair of safety scissors.
- Crayons or markers.
- Old magazines or your own drawings of food.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Pick a State: Choose one state in Nigeria you like (e.g., Lagos, Kano, Enugu, or Rivers).
- Decorate the Box: Color the inside of the shoe box to look like a stage or a tent.
- Create a "Cultural Star": Draw a person on a piece of cardboard. Cut them out. Glue scraps of fabric on them to make a traditional outfit. Stand them up inside your box.
- The Food Corner: Draw a small bowl of traditional food (like a bowl of soup and fufu) and glue it next to your person.
- Show and Tell: Bring your box to your parents and say: "Welcome to my NAFEST booth! This person is from [State Name] and they are celebrating our culture!"
5. Life Skills Integration
Learning about NAFEST helps you grow in many ways:
- Respect for Others (Diversity): You learn that even if someone eats different food or speaks a different language, they are still your friend. This helps you be kind to everyone.
- Confidence: When you stand up to dance or show your traditional clothes, you feel proud of who you are. This makes you a brave and happy child!
- Teamwork: Festivals take many people working together. You learn that we can do great things when we work as a team.
- Career Connections: Did you know you can get a job in culture?
- Fashion Designers make the beautiful clothes we see.
- Professional Dancers perform at the festival.
- Chefs cook the delicious cultural meals.
- Artists carve the statues and paint the pictures.
6. Assessment Through Application (Practice Exercises)
To see how much you have learned, try these fun activities:
- The Music Challenge: Ask an adult to play three different songs: one Western pop song, one lullaby, and one Nigerian traditional drum song. Can you point to the one that sounds like a festival?
- The "Dress-Up" Game: Find a scarf or a piece of cloth at home. Try to wrap it around your waist like a traditional wrapper or tie it on your head like a king’s crown. Explain to your parents what "tribe" you are representing.
- The Storyteller: Tell your teacher or parent three things you would want to see if you went to the National Art and Culture Festival. (Example: "I want to see the big drums, I want to eat Jollof rice, and I want to see the beautiful beads.")
- Art Sort: Look at a plastic bottle, a clay pot (or a picture of one), and a wooden spoon. Which one looks like "Traditional Art"? Why?
7. Student Reflection Questions
- If you were to organize a party for all your friends, what traditional food would you serve?
- How does it feel when you wear your beautiful traditional clothes?
- Why do you think it is important for us to be friends with people who come from different states?
- What is your favorite Nigerian dance move? Can you show it to the class?
Conclusion:
Nigeria is a land of many colors, sounds, and tastes. The National Art and Culture Festival (NAFEST) reminds us that our differences make us beautiful, just like a rainbow! Keep being proud of your culture and keep respecting the cultures of your friends.
DOXCOV ACADEMY