By Stanley Onyekwere
An Abuja based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Helpline Social Support Initiative has empowered over 200 FCT original inhabitants with several skills in traditional attire weaving and dying, amongst others, as part of its celebration and promotion of Abuja cultural heritage.
President of the NGO, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu disclosed this during exhibition of the cultural attires of nine FCT original inhabitants in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ahmadu revealed that, the NGO were able to train the beneficiaries with support from Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) and MacArthur Foundation.
Represented by the foundation’s Project Manager, Arome Onoja, the President said: “This exhibition is not just a showcase of traditional attires of the nine tribes in FCT; it is a celebration of who we are as a community and a testament to the beauty and vibrancy of our shared humanity.
“Through this event, we have the opportunity to explore and appreciate the culture the cultures of the nine tribes that make up the tapestry of Abuja.”
The president stressed the need for stakeholders to open their hearts and minds to the stories of resilience, creativity and ingenuity the exhibitions tell, adding those stories of heritage passed down through generations and must not be allowed to perish.
She adds: “They remind us that l, despite our differences we are bound together by our shared humanity and our common desire for peace, understanding and mutual respect.”
It was observed that traditional attires from original tribes of Gbagyi, Gwandara, Gede, Ganagana, Egbira, Koro, among others were exhibited at the event.
Also, the colours of the nine tribes on display were predominantly white,red, green and black. White, in most of the tribes, signifies peace, while green stands agriculture in most, even as Gwandara, which has milk colour representing agriculture, has red for peace.
While to the Gede tribe, red stands for hospitality, not war, and the Koro people view black as strength.
