Lhmb Zaar (Zaar Traditional Festival of Harvest): An Ancient Zaar Cultural Heritage


ISOZI Bauchi, Nigeria, October 27, 2023
By: Madalla Kadiri, Zaar Activist

Lhmb Zaar Festival, as we all know, is one of the oldest surviving traditional harvest festivals of the Zaar Community in Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro LGA of Bauchi State. It stands as the largest enduring ancient traditional harvest festival in Zaarland, with roots dating back centuries. Moreover, it's among the most significant ancient festivals in North East Nigeria. Every year, Zaar sons, daughters, friends, and tourists from around the globe converge in the heart of Tafawa Balewa, the ancestral headquarters of Zaar, to celebrate this festival.

Traditionally, the celebration and rites of the harvest festival mark the commencement of the harvest season and the consumption of new crops. This grand festival is a November tradition in Tafawa Balewa LGA of Bauchi State.

A notable paradigm shift has occurred in the way Lhmb Zaar is celebrated. In ancient times, our forefathers acknowledged gods, deities, and ancestors during the festival. However, in the present day, Lhmb Zaar is revered as an expression of gratitude to Almighty God. With the advent of Christianity, idolatry has been replaced in the celebration. Nowadays, Zaar people worldwide gather in Tafawa Balewa to celebrate Lhmb Zaar as brothers and sisters and as Christians, expressing their thanks to the Almighty God for the gift of life, health, bumper harvest, and the opportunity to embrace another harvest season.

This celebration brings numerous benefits to the Zaar community of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro LGA. The most notable advantages include promoting unity and peace among the Zaar people and serving as a platform for the preservation and transmission of Zaar cultural heritage to the younger generation.

However, beyond its local significance, it is imperative that the LHMB Zaar Festival, the largest surviving cultural festival in North East Nigeria, be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. According to Article 4 of UNESCO's Act, this international standard provides criteria for the preservation and protection of cultural heritage, ensuring its recognition.

To achieve inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Lhmb Zaar and other ancient cultural heritages of Zaar require preservation and protection for future generations. This must be undertaken by Zaar society and the government, following the guidelines set out in Article 4 of UNESCO. These measures include maintaining and restoring heritage sites, ensuring public access to cultural heritage, preventing encroachments that alter the properties and values of heritage, and developing a heritage protection system.

In summary, the LHMB Zaar Festival is not only a significant cultural event but also a heritage that deserves global recognition and preservation, making it eligible for a spot on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List.

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