Ayet Atyap annual cultural festival

Ayet Atyap Festival Song A̠yet
Status	Active
Genre	Festivals
Frequency	Annually
Venue	Agwatyap's Palace Square
Location(s)	Atak Njei, Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State
Coordinates	9°48′N 8°24′E
Country	Nigeria
Years active	c. Unknown - Present
Founder	A̠ku clan
Previous event	December 31, 2023
Next event	December 31, 2024
Activity	• Cultural displays (dances, songs) • Display of cultural artefacts • March pasts • Hunting charade • Bible recitation in Tyap
Patron(s)	Agwatyap
Organised by	Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA)
People	Atyap people

Ayet Atyap Annual Cultural Festival (Tyap: Song A̠yet or Swong A̠yet) is an age-long chain of festive activities and ceremonies observed by the Atyap people of Southern Kaduna, Middle Belt Nigeria. It was traditionally carried out to usher in the farming season for the year between mid-March and mid-April and was organized by male members, the Aku clan who have already been initiated into the Abwoi cult.[1][2][3] Of recent, the event has been shifted to December[4] and celebrated in the Agwatyap's palace square in Atak Njei, Zangon Kataf LGA, southern Kaduna State. It is usually well attended by important guests from within and outside the state, including political and traditional leaders.[5][6]

Gallery

• 
  Atyap hunters marching in the morning to the Agwatyap's palace during the Ayet Atyap Festival 2019 Edition.
• 
  Atyap hunters en-route the Agwatyap's palace.
• 
  Atyap hunters in the Agwatyap's palace.
• 
  Agwak Akat (Chief hunter).
• 
  Alan Awum, Traditional medicine man.
• 
  Drummers performing before the Agwatyap and other guests.
• 
  Cultural artefacts display: Atayep.

See also

• Afan festival
• Festivals in Nigeria

References

1. Atuk, Lucas (1 March 2008). "Atyap Culture". Atyap in Diaspora Magazine. 1 (1).
2. Achi, B.; Bitiyonɡ, Y. A.; Bunɡwon, A. D.; Baba, M. Y.; Jim, L. K. N.; Kazah-Toure, M.; Philips, J. E. (2019). A Short History of the Atyap. Tamaza Publishinɡ Co. Ltd., Zaria. p. 80. ISBN 978-978-54678-5-7.
3. "The Culture and Religion". Atyap Community Online. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
4. "Atyap Cultural Festival Kaduna State". Nigeria Galleria. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
5. "Nigeria: Agric School Gets Autonomy in Kaduna". All Africa. Daily Champion (Lagos). March 15, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
6. Musa, Ibraheem (March 7, 2010). "Peace Has Returned To Zangon Kataf -Community Leader". Daily Trust. Retrieved September 22, 2020.

External links