Turning the tides of Yuletide in Rivers State
By Don Kester Oshioreame
THE Rivers Yuletide DEcor (#RYDE) is an initiative conceived by the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA), and endorsed by the Rivers State Government (RSG) that made approval for the tourism agency to carry out the decoration project to light up Rivers. The sole purpose is to create a seasonal and celebratory ambience in the city at chosen and selected locations with a look and feel that could be a precursor to inbound tourism expected at such times. Modern cities around the world follow a similar tradition. Rivers State citizens will benefit from this initiative because it will boost the economy and create jobs. It will also increase tourism and result in increased revenue for the state. Also, the #RYDE project aims to reignite and revive the Port Harcourt spirit of camaraderie, conviviality, hospitality, brotherhood, and support for one another.
It is believed that for the #RYDE initiative to be sustained beyond this maiden 2024 edition, the private sector in the state would need to become active participants and collaborate through sponsorship. Zenith Bank and Globus Bank, Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Chairborne Global Services and Adokiye Ikpoki came on board as midwives to birth the vision of lighting up Port Harcourt in Christmas colours. We did not want to be caught in the middle of continuity or its absence in our political space, as Port Harcourt used to host great arts, crafts and culture-promoting events like the World Book Capital, Carniriv, Ion Film Festival, etc, which all faded from the state’s political landscape with successive governments. This deficit in continuity has dealt a compounding and devastating blow to Rivers’ creatives and their craft in the state. As a result, we seek increased collaboration from the private sector in Rivers State.
The #RYDE design concept represents the locale where it was conceived. The objective was to achieve verisimilitude in design by depicting two basic means of transportation in Rivers State: the canoe and paddler represent the riverine and the Keke NAPEP associated with the upland communities. You may notice several dramatic elements woven through the narrative, such as Santa Claus being presented as a canoe paddler and a Keke rider, respectively, and bearing Christmas gifts for distribution to citizens in the 26 local government areas of Rivers State. Specifically, the agency’s goal isn’t just decorative design for the sake of it, rather a commitment to capture a thematic, culturally relevant, symbolically and socially relatable concept that the audience can identify with and appreciate through a sense of ownership. Furthermore, every art form comes with vision and depth, subjecting it to varied interpretations and critiques based on verifiable and established canons.
Port Harcourt ready for Christmas
Importantly, the tourism agency was not just concerned about cultural relevance at the expense of religious tolerance and sensitivity. As the Director-General of the tourism agency Mr. Yibo Koko opined, “Growing up, masquerade displays defined Christmas in our communities, white rice and chicken stew (jollof rice came later). Santa Claus wasn’t part of our reality. Instead, we knew Father Christmas.
“To encounter Father Christmas back then, your parents likely worked for a multinational company hosting Christmas parties for staff children, or you had to visit stores like Leventis, Chanrai, or Kewalram or Superboard, etc.
“Masquerade displays were central to Christmas celebrations in our communities, alongside various cultural performances that brought the season to life. Sadly, much of this has been lost in our dear state. However, the inclusion of masquerades today could risk backlash from faith-based organizations, as it might be misinterpreted as promoting a ‘juju’ narrative. To avoid this and still celebrate our heritage, we opted for an indigenous motif—using canoes and Keke to symbolize our local realities and rekindle the Christmas spirit while celebrating Rivers State’s unique culture.
“Since sleighs and reindeer are not part of our culture, a Father Christmas paddling a canoe or riding a Keke feels both authentic and relatable while maintaining the essence of the season.”
Like we have always alluded to, tourism and the creative economy are viable, and they are veritable platforms for employment-generation, especially when the right collaboration and support system are in place. This was demonstrated in the course of achieving Rivers Yuletide DEcor (#RYDE) project by Rivers State Tourism Development Agency. In three weeks of intense work, it witnessed the mobilization of many professionals onsite from welders, to carpenters, painters and fine artists, electricians to engineers, graphic designers, script writers, scenic designers, musicians, photographers, videographers, editors, bloggers, IT experts, administrators, and other craftsmen… They all worked assiduously as a team from sunrise to sunset to #lightupthecity #lightupPortharcourtinChristmascolors. The mission was clear: We must retrieve the garden in the city and revive Port Harcourt to its glory!
Also, what this project, as a dual-pronged initiative, aims at is to change the obtuse, uncharitable and negative narrative that paints, frames and markets Rivers State, as an unsafe haven to do business or travel destination for tourism.
On Sunday, December 15, 2024, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara graciously switched on the lights at the GRA Junction on Aba Road, Port Harcourt on a night that will be etched on the memory of city dwellers as the catalyst for the revival of conviviality and hospitality and the nightlife that Port Harcourt City is known for. Those who came to witness the switch on ceremony by Governor Fubara spent their time well, taking photos of the decorated icons and danced with abandon to the music reeling from the DJ’s mixer. The atmosphere of mirth and celebration assumed the coloration of a mini-carnival/street party, as stakeholders, older adults, city dwellers from all walks of life trooped out and joined the groove. It was spontaneous, as it was not planned. One consensus among attendees on the night was: This is Port Harcourt! This is how it used to be! The joy was palpable. The feeling of friendship was visible. It was obvious people are yearning for the Port Harcourt of yesteryears when everybody was his brother’s keeper and one-love bounded us together.
Governor of Rivers State Sir Siminalayi Fubara (left, in t-shirt) and the Director-General of Rivers State Tourism DEvelopment Agency (RSTDA) Mr. Yobo Koko (#RYDE branded t-shirt)
Whereas there were challenges, as expected of projects of this magnitude, our consolation lies in the fact that the government and the people of the state are excited and satisfied at this maiden edition and the overall excellence exhibited in the final output, even as we concede that there is ample room for improvement. We do hope that the value chain triggered by this investment would open the space for more private sector participation as the agency looks to expand and extend its reach beyond the two pilot locations of GRA Junction through Tombia Street and Hotel Presidential Junction through Birabi Street to the roundabout.
It is the agency’s resolve to commence early preparation in 2025 and pray that corporate organizations in the state will see the need for collaboration as the agency comes calling for assistance from them in the drive to see that this laudable venture is sustained and probably extended to other parts of the city and state in the future. The agency expresses gratitude to all for the success of this maiden edition and desires to do it again.
* Oshioreame, team Lead, Culture and Tourism Development, Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA), is a script writer, art critic, author and publisher
