The supreme ruler of Jaba Chiefdom in southern Kaduna, Kpop Ham, Dr. Danladi Gyet Maude, has revealed that the 2025 Tuk Ham (Nok) festival will have a great exhibition of 200 original works of art of the Nok civilization.
As part of the preparations for the festival, the monarch revealed that the invitations had spread to the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria and the General Director of the National Museum Commission for The TUK of 2025 HAM Cultural Festival.
He made the announcement shortly after the great signing ceremony of the nok cultural preservation project by the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in association with the Wheyham Foundation, financed by the United States Government through the Fund of the Fund of AFCP ambassadors.
Dr. Danladi Gyet Maude, Oon, Kpop Ham, which is in its 55th year on the throne, explained that the Tuk Ham festival is an annual cultural celebration of the people of HAM.
It serves as a platform to show the rich cultural heritage, traditions and history of the people of ham, which are the custodians of the old Nok civilization.
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He added: “The Ham 2025 Ham Festival will have a great exhibition of more than 200 original Nok works of art in collaboration with the National Museum Commission.
“In addition, the festival will present traditional music, dance, masquerads and live exhibitions of NOK artifacts, emphasizing the historical importance of Nok culture and its people, which reside mainly in the state of Kaduna and parts of the state of Nasarawa.”
“Tuk Ham remains a symbol of unity, cultural preservation and tourism, attracting visitors, dignitaries and academics interested in the remarkable history of the region.”
According to the monarch, the subsidy granted by the preservation of the NK artifacts will reinforce efforts to protect these terracotta sculptures worldwide, dating from more than 2,500 years and will continue to be one of the most important archaeological and cultural treasures of Western Africa.
The KPOP HAM also explained that the initiative underlines the commitment of Nigeria and the United States to safeguard these invaluable artifacts for future generations.
In his comments, the United States ambassador, Richard Mills, reaffirmed the unwavering dedication of the United States to cultural preservation and heritage protection. He stressed that the project will include digital documentation, museum's education workshops and site security measures to guarantee the sustainable conservation of Nok artifacts.
In addition, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, praised collaboration, describing it as a testimony of the Nigerian government's commitment to safeguard their cultural heritage.
She pointed out: “This initiative is vital to ensure that our cultural heritage is meticulously documented, preserved and transmitted to future generations. Nok Arts digital inventory created through this project will serve as a model for Nigeria museums, improving our ability to document and protect artifacts throughout the country. “
The president of the Wheyham Foundation, Mr. Yahaya Maikori, provided more information about the scope of the project. He said the initiative would include artifact documentation in private and public collections, the development of a virtual museum and the renewal of the Nok Museum to provide an immersive experience for visitors.
He said: “In addition, educational dissemination programs will play a crucial role in increasing awareness about our rich cultural heritage.
“The collaboration between the Wheyham Foundation, the National Commission of Museums and Monuments (NCMM), and international partners will also have seminars led by experts, museum education programs and improved security measures to avoid the illicit traffic of cultural property of cultural property .
“This association is a significant milestone to preserve Nigeria's historical legacy and promote cultural heritage on a global scale.”
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