UNESCO has added a colourful parade of Nigerian knights on horseback celebrating Islam’s two holiest holidays to its intangible cultural heritage list.
Dating back to the 15th century, the processions see a prestigious religious ruler and 10,000 horse riders accompanied by musicians march through the streets of Kano, the largest city in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north.
They take place twice a year on the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holidays celebrated worldwide in the 10th and 12th months of the Islamic calendar, which follows the phases of the moon.
The festivities, known as Durbar are also hosted by multiple cities in the Muslim-majority Hausa-dominated north.
Sharing insight on the festivities, Hajo Sani, who represents Nigeria at the UN cultural body, at the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paraguay’s capital Asuncion explained that the Durbar is a festival of colour, respect, pride and harmony.
Sani further explained that the Durbar is a powerful socio-cultural festival that brings together many ethnic groups, including the Hausa, the Fulani, Arabs, Nupe, Yoruba and Tuareg, thus integrating them into one community.
