24/08/2025
When Culture Meets Leadership: Lessons from Leboku International New Yam Festival
Festivals are more than rituals of merriment; they are the heartbeat of a people’s identity and the bridge between their past, present, and future. In Yakurr, Cross River State, the Leboku International Festival is such a bridge, an annual thanksgiving for the yam harvest that has grown into one of Nigeria’s most vibrant cultural showcases.
This year’s edition was not only adorned with its usual splendour of colour, dance, and ritual; it also produced a moment where culture and politics converged in a way both symbolic and profound.
Shortly after the festival's climax, which was held at the Yakurr Peace Stadium in Ugep on Friday, the member representing Yakurr 1 State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. (Obol) Cyril Omini, hosted Governor Bassey Edet Otu and his wife, Her Excellency Rev. Mrs. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, at his family compound in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area.
Governor Otu, addressing the gathering, praised Hon. Omini’s hospitality and urged the people of Yakurr to continue their support for the present administration. He assured them that the partnership between government and the grassroots would only grow stronger:
“So I’d like you to continue to give the government the support that you’re giving. I’m sure by next year, when we’ll be coming for the Leboku, this party will be bigger than this.”
In a lighter tone, the Governor teased about the rich display of delicacies, saying that although time did not permit him to sit and dine, he would carry some dishes and drinks along as he still had other stops to make that evening.
On the surface, it may seem like a mere political courtesy. But beneath the laughter and pleasantries lay a deeper meaning. In his message on social media, Hon. Omini captured the spirit of the moment:
“I am incredibly honoured to have hosted His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu, his delectable wife, the First Lady, and my colleagues at my family compound in Ugep after the Leboku International Festival. Their genuine warmth and engagement with our community were everything. This is the partnership that drives progress for Yakurr Constituency 1 and Cross River at large.”
That emphasis on warmth, engagement, and partnership speaks to a model of governance rooted not in distance, but in closeness; not in aloofness, but in fellowship.
The symbolism of the evening was unmistakable. The Governor and his entourage were received with Ekoi drums, maidens in radiant Yakurr attire, and the ceremonial offering of kolanuts and palm wine. Elders invoked blessings of peace, bountiful harvests, and divine guidance for the Otu administration.
This was not mere theatre. It was a demonstration that in communities like Ugep-Yakurr, tradition is not a relic, it is a living political language. Leaders who honour it, as Governor Otu did, find themselves woven more firmly into the social fabric.
The story of Ugep is not just about Yakurr or even Cross River State. It echoes a broader truth for Nigeria: governance gains legitimacy when it respects and engages cultural institutions. Our festivals, palaces, shrines, and communal spaces are not obstacles to progress; they are its foundation.
Too often, leadership in Nigeria has been perceived as distant, towering in Abuja, aloof in state capitals, and detached from the lives of ordinary people. Yet moments like the Otu visit to Ugep point to a different possibility: one where leadership is unafraid to sit on the mats of tradition, share palm wine, and listen to the drums of the people.
For centuries, the Leboku Festival has been a showcase of Yakurr’s hospitality, spirituality, and resilience. But its growing significance lies not only in cultural pride but also in its unifying power, bringing together elites and commoners, politicians and farmers, traditionalists and Christians, locals and tourists.
By welcoming the Governor, his wife, his colleagues, community leaders, and constituents to his family compound, Hon. Omini highlighted the unifying power of culture. This event was not just a personal honor; it was a heartfelt message to the community, emphasizing that the connection between the government and the people is crucial for ongoing development.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with questions of governance, culture, and identity, the lesson from Ugep rings clear: progress is best achieved when leaders walk with their people, not above them.
The drums of Leboku may fall silent until next year, but the message they carried this season should linger: true leadership is not only about policy and power; it is about presence, humility, and respect for the traditions that bind us together.
© www.crossriverblog.com
