Golden jubilee: Rivers holds boat regatta to promote cultural heritage

The finest of Rivers State riverine cultural heritage came on display in a boat regatta on Saturday at the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach in a competition to mark the Golden Jubilee celebration of the state created on May 27, 1967, by the then Yakubu Gowon administration.

Speaking during the event, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who extolled the culture of the people of the state sacked the caretaker committee chairmen of Akuku-Toru and Ogo/Bolo local government areas for failing to participate in the cultural programmes of the Boat Regatta. He said they lost their posts for taking for granted the culture of the people.

Governor Wike led leaders and friends of the state to watch the best of the state aquatic culture as the riverine communities displayed their pre-colonial civilization, showcasing their defence systems, their ceremonies, and traditional religion.

During the boat regatta, the competing boats shot canons, indicating the military prowess of the riverine communities. The boat regatta competition was heralded by the emergence of the Ogwein masquerade, the ancient water deity of the Bolo people of the Okirika kingdom.

At the end of the regatta competition, Akuku-Toru emerged winner, Degema came second and Ogo/Bolo came third.

Governor Wike lauded the participants at the event, directing that the boat regetta be held annually on May 27 to promote the culture of Rivers people.

The following local government areas participated in the boat regetta: Akuku-Toru, Degema, Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Bonny , Ogu/Bolo and Okirika.