Ewoama—A former youth president of Ewoama community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa state, Umaco Georgewill, has called on the current youth leadership and other leaders of the community to organize and celebrate this year’s Kuronama Festival.
Georgewill, who disclosed that the festival was held during his time as youth president, said it is important the festival is held this year to maintain the historic culture and heritage of the community.
He, therefore, urged the leadership of the community including chiefs and elders as well as political leaders to pool resources together to ensure the annual festival is celebrated.
The former youth leader also pleaded with the Bayelsa state government for assistance, saying that the festival contributes immensely to tourism in the state as people from all walks of life participate in the celebrations.
In his words: “I want to appeal to the current youth president, chiefs and elders of Ewoama, including highly-placed indigenes, to make sure this year’s Kuronama Festival is celebrated.
“This is important because the festival has come to be a tradition and symbolic act for the Ewoama people.
“The leadership of the community should pool resources together and ensure that the festival is held and celebrated memorably, just like we did in previous years.
“I want to also use this medium to appeal to the Bayelsa State Government led by Senator Douye Diri to assist in the hosting of the festival this year in any capacity.”
He averred that the festival adds to the tourism potentials of the state “as it attracts people from many parts of the country to Bayelsa, so it would be nice if the state government supports the community.”
The Ewoama Kuronama festival is an annual end-of-year celebration that commemorates the killing of a leopard (Kuronama) that terrorized the communities in Brass Island in the 19th century according to legend.
The event features a boat parade, canoe racing, tug of war, eating and dancing competition, masquerade display, wrestling, lake party, among others.