HOTEL AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALS IN DELTA STATE.
A paper presented at the 2nd Anniversary of the Administration of James Onanefe Ibori, Executive Governor of Delta State at the Conference Hall, Hotel Excel, NNPC Road, Efurun on Saturday, June 2nd, 2001 by Goodie Ibru Esq. Chairman, Ikeja Hotel Plc and National President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN).
GEOGRAPHICAL/PHYSICAL FEATURES OF DELTA STATE
1. Rivers and Creeks
The word "Delta" derives from a Greek alphabet in shape of a pyramidal triangle. A delta is a geographical feature formed when a river diversifies into numerous streams that sometimes inter-connect into an intricate web of rivers, lagoons, swamps and wetlands. The point where the main river divides is the top of the pyramid while the base is where the division ends or the river enters the sea or larger watercourse such as a lake. The Niger Delta on the Atlantic coast is one of the most important in the world. Other notable Deltas are the Nile, Mississippi, Orinoco, Ganges and Mekong. The Niger also has an inland delta in the Republic of Mali. Deltas are usually fertile, contain diverse resources and are therefore noted for large human settlements and civilizations.
The Niger Delta is the world's third largest and one of the most endowed with biodiversity species. The Niger Delta has numerous freshwater wetland, which manufacture and store oxygen. These unique features are a selling point for tourism. Rivers and watercourses are the most prominent features of the Niger Delta. The maze of rivers and creeks that proliferate in the Niger Delta is more visible by air. As one approaches Delta State from Ogun, Ondo and Edo States along the Atlantic Coast, this fantastic tapestry lies to the left of the flight routes. Geographers, historians archaeologists, anthropologists and social scientists have given detailed descriptions of the features that characterise the Niger Delta. Some authorities argue that the river systems of the Delta stretch from Akwa Ibom in the east to Badagry in the west, covering about 70,000 sq kilometres. These authorities sometimes include the lagoons along the coast as extensions of the Niger Delta.
In the context of oil politics, there is always some controversy about where to locate the outer limits of the Niger Delta. A more rigorous scientific definition of the territory locates it between Aboh to the north, the Benin River to the west and the Imo River to the east. From the perspective of the political economy of resource distribution and control, the Niger Delta covers the nine oil-producing states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers States. This is roughly the mandate area of the former Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) and its successor, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The Henry Willinks Commission of 1957/58 preferred to delimit the area as being the territory occupied mainly by the Eastern and Central Ijaw Communities. The Niger Delta Environmental Survey (NDES) says that the territory covers 70, 000 square kilometres. This is slightly more than 13% of the Nigerian landmass of 923,768 sq.kms.
Since Commercial oil exploration started in the area in 1956, the name Niger Delta has been globalised anew. The area was first recognized in the world's economy from the 15th century when European explorers visited. In 1952, the former Warri Province became known as Delta Province. The state creation exercise of 1976 re-christened the former Mid-Western Region/State as Bendel (Benin and Delta). In 1991, Delta State came into being.
DELTA STATE IS CENTRAL
Whatever way the Niger Delta is defined, Delta State occupies a central position. This advantage is supported by geology, geography and history. It is noteworthy that the State is the only one of the nine mentioned earlier, which proclaims deltaness in its name. This means that without the existence of Delta State, the identity of the Niger Delta would be difficult to locate easily. This primacy should be exploited by the government and people of the state in whatever they do. The state refers to itself as the BIG HEART to depict its leadership position in the production of oil and gas resources. From what I have said so far, the significance of Delta State also derives from its historical, political and diplomatic role in the making of modern Nigeria. Drawing a comparative reference to the Nile, Dr. G.G. Darah has popularised the view that just as there can be no Egypt without the Nile, so there can be no Nigeria, as it is presently administered, without the Niger Delta. This fact must be reflected in our thinking and the ways we conduct our affairs. Delta state is primus inter pares in the family of states in Nigeria.
RIVERS AND OTHER RESOURCES:
An inventory of the rivers in the Niger Delta was carried out by a Netherlands survey firm in 1960. The major ones that drain the area are identified in Part IV of the NDES Report (1997). This information should be obtained by the State Government in order to determine the locations, sources, length and ,current condition of the numerous rivers in the state. The rivers, streams and wetlands that derive from them are part of the aquatic resources suitable for tourism development. These, too, should be surveyed and mapped for investors to exploit.
In addition to rivers, there are exotic lakes and watercourses in all parts of the state. Most of these are to be found in Isoko South and Ndokwa East Local Government councils to the immediate West of the River Niger. The ones in Isoko area have interesting mythical and spiritual significance, having served at various times as destinations for religious pilgrimages. The Eni Lake near Uzere was used by the folk Isoko healer and sorcery detector, otiti of blessed memory. Oil exploration companies have added to the list of lakes with their borrow pits that now pose environmental hazards like the tin mining pits in Plateau State in Northern Nigeria.
The rivers and lakes are not important only for the exotic features they contain. They are also habitats for some of the most exciting but endangered wildlife and species of fish. Abundant and affordable food is a sine qua non of a viable tourism industry. The watercourses are natural fishponds and natural history museums. A sustainable tourism market needs the production of nutritious and health- enhancing fish and livestock. The advantages inherent in the rivers should be developed to provide a solid food sufficiency base for tourism.
OTHER USES OF WATER:
i. Drinking Potable Water
Sources of clean water in the world are diminishing with rapid population increase. At least, half of the world lacks hygienic water. Most of the rivers, lakes and wetlands in Delta State are reservoirs of fresh water which requires very little treatment. There is enough water in these reservoirs to sell to thirsty nations. The domestic market is very vast, as the business of "pure water" in recent years has proved. The tourism blue-print for Delta State must include a long-term water development strategy so that water business can begin to earn income that will ultimately surpass that currently harvested from petroleum resources. As recommended in the Report of the Delta State Think-Tank on Development, a comprehensive survey and inventory of fresh watercourses and aquifers should be undertaken by the Ibori Administration.
ii. Floating Tourism Villages
The City of Venice in Italy is famous for the pleasures and excitement offered by water transportation. The entire city is linked by canals and channels on which boats sail, ferrying persons and goods. This mode of economic and social transaction is already well developed in the riverine areas of Delta State.
This is the primary and the only means of transport in Warri North, Warri West, Burutu and Bomadi Local Government Areas. Substantial parts of Ughelli South, Ughelli North, Patani, Isoko South, Ndokwa East, Oshimili, Warn South, Ethiope West, Sapele and Okpe councils operate water-borne transportation. This means that 14 out of 25 councils have water-based resources. To add value to these watercourses, a thriving tourism business should be developed. This should involve the establishment of floating tourist villages with modem facilities for games, theatres, fishing expeditions, and water-sensitive safety programmes. A good site for a floating village is the confluence of nine rivers near Burutu. The 5- kilometre-wide expanse provides images of watermaids, sunk ships, and big reptiles. Urhobo folk navigators call 'the place ADA IRHIRIN (NINE JUCTIONS). The mysteries, fables and navigational hazards in this confluence are dramatized in J.P. dark's tragic play.THE RAFT.
Water/Acquatic Games
Water-supported games and leisure services are a rich area of tourism. Our people have developed elaborate traditional games over the centuries. The Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo are particularly noted for water navigation and games. These should now be revived and modernized to attract fun-loving people and investors. An easy water game to develop is boat regatta, a game that has thrilled people all over the world. Varieties of it can be designed to suit local conditions. The State should host an International Boat Regatta carnival every two years, leaving the intervening year for local competitions. Swimming is natural to many of the local governments. Delta State should, like Australia and Egypt, take full advantage of its water endowment to produce Olympic gold medallists in water games such as swimming, water polo, diving and boat rowing.
Boat Cruises
Modernising water transportation is indispensable for developing the state's tourism. As indicated in the foregoing paragraph, water-borne communication is the oldest and most developed infrastructure in the state. From biblical sources, we are informed that water was the first material God created. Presently, water covers 75% of the earth. Boat cruising is one of the oldest sports in human history. Again, to refer to the bible, we learned that the human species that survived the first major water holocaust (flood) did so in the marine vessel known as Noah's Arc. That is a perfect model of a floating village and boat cruise. The lucky people who boarded Noah's Arc must be the first people to enjoy a boat cruise in history?
Boat cruises are a major department of tourism and leisure services. Some of the world's largest ships are constructed for this purpose. The legendary TITANIC, whose tragic sinking in the Atlantic provided the theme and narrative for a film of the same title is an example. The film broke all records in the industry on account of its epic images, cost of acting and its sheer theatrical architecture. Delta Stated should enhance the enabling environment for boat cruise, travels by opening up obstructed waterways and making them free of pirates and navigational hazards.
From the information on rivers, it is possible to designate boat cruise routes that can ferry travellers across a wide expanse of beautiful, serene and exotic landscapes. For example, it is feasible to designate a cruise route that can take leisure-seekers from Cable Point in Asaba on the Niger through Aboh, Onya, Asaba-Ase, Patani to Bomadi. At Onya where the Niger divides into the Forcados and Nun Rivers, changeover options can be made as transit air travellers do. Those seeking to head for Bayelsa can follow the Nun channel while those intending to reach Warri or the Atlantic through Okwagbe and Gana Gana can take the Forcados route. A second transit point can be created at Bomadi with the options of a Bomadi- Tuomo- Ozobo-Torugbene-Ndoro route to reach the Atlantic through the River Ramos estuary. The other leg could be Bomadi-Gbaregolor-Okrika- Okwagbe-Gbekebor-Ophorigbala-Ode-ltsekiri-Warri or Gbekebor-Burutu -Forcados. The entire Burutu-Bomadi Local Government territories can be covered by a cruise ring from Burutu, Forcados, Odimodi, Agge, Aghoro, Ndoro, Ozobo, Torugbene, Tuomo, Bomadi, Gbaregolor, Okwuagbe, Gbekebor, Ophorigbala - Burutu.
Cruise departure points along the Warri River can originate from Agbarho and go through Effurun, Enerhen, Ovwian, Aladja, Warri, Ogbe-ljoh, Ode- Itsekiri, Burutu, Yokiri and Escravos. As the old Elder Demster and Palmer Lines used to do, cruise routes can also originate at Warri and go through Ughoton, Orugbo, Omadino, Ogidigben, Escravos, Jakpa, Bakokodia, Opuama, Tsekelewu, Ugbo, Epe, Lagos, Badagry and Cotonou. Similarly, routes can be established along the Ethiope and Jamieson rivers from Abraka through Eku, Igun, Okpara Waterside, Adagbrasa, Jesse, Amukpe, Sapele, Oghareki, Koko, Ebrohimi, Jakpa to the Atlantic seaboard. Other inland rivers have potentials. The Okpare River can feature boat cruises from Ughelli or Ekakpamre through Okpare, Otughievwen, Erhunwaren, Oginibo, Ayagha, Bikorogha and Okwagbe. The Arhavwarien, Eghwu, Kiagbodo and Owahwa-Esaba Rivers are also very suitable.
A comprehensive tourist map of the Delta river systems should be produced to bring their number and splendour to the attention of the investment world.
RIVERS, RIVERS EVERYWHERE
I am thrilled anytime I overfly the Warri-Lagos route. On the approach to Sapele from Warri, your eyes are welcomed by a textile-like network of meandering rivers which form their most delicate combination between Sapele and Koko and between Ughoton (Gwarto) and Udo in Edo State. largest producer of crude oil. Imagination, imagination, imagination - this wonder- lust spirit is what keeps every tourist, every traveller restless in search of something unique, something memorable and soothing to the body and soul.
THE EASTERN WONDERLANDS
What I have described for the Warri-Lagos route in the west applies in general outline to the Warri- Port Harcourt one. Again, take your departure from Osubi airstrip near Warri. As the aircraft lifts up above the rubber and oil palm plantations nearby, your eyes are confronted with a montage of tropical rainforest diversity. The evergreen plumage of Okpe land first comes into view. Below you to the right lies boisterous Effurun, Enerhen and Warri Township, with the roofs and narrow streets betraying years of neglect and decay. Agbarho and Orerokpe beckon to the immediate left, almost merging into a twin-city the way Warri, Effurun and Enerhen have since the 1970s.
But the aquatic glitter is our immediate concern. Flying almost parallel to the Warri-Ughelli-Port Harcourt highway, the plane summons your'eyes to behold the Warri River. Human activity has denuded much of the vegetation belt, but even environmentally abused Effurun will surprise you.
The aerial view lifts your curious eyes across the Petroleum Training Institute on the right and soon your eyes are magnetised by a thicket of endangered forest protected by the mysteries of the Edjuvwie shrine along a bend of the Warri River. This green patch blends with the river, two islands almost afloat between Enerhen and Ogbomoro and across into the Agbarho'-Otokutu-Okpaka-Opete-Ohwase wetlands. This marvelous scene is truncated by Ovwian to the right which has grown untended by town-planning science. In the horizon to the far right are the Warri port and the Refinery with its polluting chimney belching dark smoke and carbon dioxide. Beyond Enerhen to the right is the hunch-back Udu Bridge crouching majestically across the pollution-stained Warri River. To the right of the Bridge is Delta Steel plant, Africa's first direct steel reduction variety of metallurgy.
The most delightful sight at the point of take-off is the boa-constrictor-shaped bends of the Warri River lying between the Port, Aladja, Ovwian, Ohwase and Enerhen. This loop of water channel is enchanting to behold. From the air, you get the image of River Thames in London, the Hang River in Seoul, (South Korea) or Sydney in Australia. Indeed, the new Warri Oil city being planned by Governor Ibori will attempt to meet the glamour and spectacle of these wonder cities.
Beyond the Warri River, more aquatic scenes spread on- The wetlands along the river bank almost merge imperceptibly into those of the Orhunghworun - Oghwoode - Egini - Erhiephiho - Otor-Udu fresh water lake of primordial, original rainforest. This green vesture is temporarily interrupted by the red flames of gas flare at the Utorogu oil fields near Otughievwen- But the loss of greenery and cooling waters is short-lived- To your right is the Okpare River whose wetlands embrace those of Kiagbodo River, Orere, Arhavwarien, Ughwerun, Ughelli, Urhie, Patani and other settlements perched like babies on mothers' backs along creeks and islands that decorate the north bank of the Forcados River.
As you overfly Ughelli to the left, your eyes catch more oil fields, pipelines and gas flare infernos along the route. If you are from Agbarha-Otor as I am, you would peer deeper to the north to snatch a fleeting glance at the old metropolis of Agbarha-Otor and its satellite settlements. Also, if- you are environmentally sensitive as I am, , you will strain your eye pupils to see the gas flare site which Darah in 1997 described as the "Flaming Dragon of Agbarha - Otor" in the Ariemu oil field owned by Shell.
Patani puts you atop the Forcados tributary of the Niger, with bright sand dunes choking the channel. Mbiama, Kaiama and Yenagoa are just in front and to their left are the natural fish ponds and gigantic lakes that entangle Bayelsa land with those of Oguta in Imo State, the lacustrian spectacles which furnished the female novelist, the late Flora Nwapa, with themes, scenes and rhythms- If you are political, Kaiama will remind you of Isaac Adaka Boro and his 12-day Ijaw revolution and, lately, the KAIAMA DECLARATION on resource ownership and control. Kaiama lies on the River Nun made famous by Gabriel Okpara's poem, The Cry of the River Nun over forty years ago. A new ballad has been added to the Nun with the tragedy of Odi, the community destroyed by soldiers in November, 1999.
The echo of the River Nun takes you to the Orashi River with its lush forest reserves harbouring elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, turtles and hippos. The maze of tributaries of the Nun and Orashi spread like irrigation fingers through the route as you head to Port Harcourt. The approach to Port Harcourt displays the Imo River to the north and the Mangrove-festooned lagoons of Bonny and other oil- rich islands to the south. Like Warri, water channels crawl through the belly of Port Harcourt. I have taken time to provide details of the Bayelsa and Rivers topography because they are an extension of the Niger Delta geography described in earlier sections. From a tourism investment point of view, the Warri-Port Harcourt route is a single market. It has good potential for road-and air-based tour organisers.
TRANSPORT-DRIVEN TOURISM
The availability of a good transport network has always fostered the growth of human settlements. In the ancient world, such locations were along coasts, rivers and watercourses confluences, the intersection of traffic highways and places of safety in hostile terrains. Ancient cities settled along oceans and rivers included the Mesopotamia, Athens, Rome, Carthage, Tripoli, London, Antwerp, Bombay and Tokyo. These places served seafaring peoples for centuries and became centres of commerce and learning. In the era of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade (16th-19th centuries) port cities flourished on either side of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Examples are Elmina (Ghana), Porto Novo (Benin), Badagry and Lagos, Ughoton or Gwarto (Benin), Ode-ltsekiri (Delta), Nembe and Akassa (Bayelsa), Opobo and Bonny (Rivers), Calabar (Cross River), Luanda (Angola), Cape Town (South Africa), Fort Jesus and Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania), Asmara (Erithra). In Europe, Canada and the Americas, there were Paris (France), Amsterdam (Holland), Manchester, Liverpool (England), Nova Scotia (Canada), New York (USA), Havana, Jamaica, Port of Spain, George Town (Caribbean), Bahia and Rio de Jenairo (Brazil), Montevideo (Venezuela).
THE STEAM ENGINE
The discovery of steam engine introduced shipping and railways transportation. These created their own entreports. The railways expanded urbanization into erstwhile hinterlands and gave rise to new cities. The United States of America, Western Europe and Russia experienced the railway boom. In Nigeria, the railways started in 1898 opened up the countryside leading to the founding of new towns and the expansion of old ones. Cities that benefited from the railway network are Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osogbo, Offa, llorin, Zungeru, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Jos, Bauchi, Nguru, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Nsukka, Enugu, Aba and Port Harcourt. The absence of railway transportation in Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states after 100 years of the system has stunted the growth of urban areas. The invention of the steam engine by the English James Watt transformed land- based transportation the ways Galileo's telescope changed sea-borne travel. The latter made it possible for explorers of Europe to discover lands hitherto unknown to Europeans. For example, it was the compass developed from Galileo's invention that enabled Portugal's Vasco Dagama to reach South Africa's Cape Town in 1632 on his way to India. This step led to the settlement of the port by various European nations and this, in turn, produced the racial-problem of apartheid. Spain's Christopher Columbus was also on his way to India when his mission missed its way to America in 1492. This exposed the Caribbean and the American territories to European merchants who were to start the Trans-African Slave Trade, the destruction of ancient kingdoms in Mexico, Peru and Columbia and the colonization of the Caribbean and American territories.
This mistake in navigation was to lead to the world's most remarkable economic and technological boom in the past half millennium. It enabled Europe to duplicate its population and.civilization on both sides of the Atlantic- The process deprived Africa of its prime human resources (slaves) whose free labour in agriculture created enormous surplus wealth with which a new phase of capitalist industrialization opened. The diversion of labour from-Africa hindered the march of progress in Africa, ruined its ancient civilizations of Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Oyo, Benin, Idah, Jukun, Egypt, Kikuyu, Angola and Zulu. Africa's loss was Europe's and America's gain.
European cities such as Antwerp, Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Lisbon, Madrid, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, London, Liverpool and Manchester expanded. Canada and the Americas grew in leaps and bounds. The surplus wealth created by African labour emboldened 13 American English colonies to revolt against the British crown and to declare independence in 1776- That single political act changed the fortunes of the human race as the United States of America of the former 13 colonies (states) became a military power that eventually annexed the southern territories of Mexico in Texas, New Orleans and others to expand the new nations southwards. This giant nation, never troubled by external wars, was able to develop in peace at its own pace, making it a haven for immigrants from all corners of the world. With the surplus wealth from slave labour, the United States could fund education, inventions, industrialization, transportation and agriculture. Capitalism entered a new phase, as the United States became both a manufacturing centre and a market for goods and services. That leap in economic and social history has not stopped as the United States now controls a unipolar world of about 200 countries.
RAILWAYS AND METRO SYSTEMS
I have provided these details in order to give a background to the changes experienced in global communication in the 19th and 20th centuries. The movement of masses of people and goods is key to urbanization. The pressure to achieve this led to the production of mass transit modes of transportation in the 20th century. The railway was the axle of this development. The countries with large territories became railways giants. Thus the United States, the biggest world economy and the fourth largest in landmass leads in railways with 2.5 million kilometres of rail tracks. Russia, about twice the size of the United States, is second with 860,000 kilometres. Japan, which occupies the 60th position in landmass, has the densiest railway traffic with the average in 1997 of 1,969 kilometres of rail journey per person in a year. Switzerland is second with 1,742 kms. Only South Africa, Egypt and Algeria in Africa are in the top league of 40 countries studied. In the group of 20 countries with high rail density, the only African entry is Egypt with 97.8 km. per person in a year. Japan also has the fastest trains (bullet trains) with some attaining a speed of 300 kms per hour. This means that a journey from Warri to Lagos can be covered in one single hour. Lamentably, Nigeria which is in the 31st position in landmass and 10th in population has only 3,501 kms. of railways after 103 years of its introduction. A country like Nigeria with expansive territory and large population cannot develop a thriving tourism industry in the absence of railways because tourism is travel- dependent.
The development of the railways brought about the metro system. The metro line has changed life in urban landscapes. In the United States, railroads generated the third wave of urban growth after seaports and rivers in that order. It is said that the railways in the United States opened up inland areas to manufacturing and trade, with major goods processing and distribution centres emerging at rail p connections and terminal points. Transport historians say that Atlanta, the largest city in Southern United States originally grew as a railway intersection and was first known as Terminus. For the past 50 years, metro lines have come to define urban modernisation, especially with variety of the underground trucks, which gave rise to freeways, expressways and interstate highways. Note that there is yet no expressway in the core Niger Delta; the Benin-Warri and Benin-Asaba dual carriageways are not completed ten years after they were started. If there are no expressways, railways, metro lines and, modem mass transit buses and boats, tourism cannot develop. Tourism cannot be based on rickety transportation systems such as commercial motor-cycles (OKADA).
FROM METROPOLIS TO AEROTROPOLIS
In the 2000 edition of the Urban Land Institute publication on "Cities in the 21st Century". John D .Kasarda examined airport-driven urban development. In the case of United States, Kasarda says as follows:
"The fifth wave (of urbanization) in which airports are the primary drivers of urban growth and form, has already begun. This wave was ushered in by the availability of large jet aircraft and by advances in telecommunications that greatly accelerated globatization; time-based competition; corresponding needs for speed, flexibility and reliability in the movement of people and products"
Airports are not just magnetic nodal points for urban populations; they are business districts with hi-tech facilities and information technology. Major airport corridors attract populations, hotels and hospitality infrastructure and other businesses. Examples of such airport beehives in the Untied States are Duties International (Washington), Chicago's O'Hare International and J.F. Kennedy International (New York). Others include Heathrow (London), Schipol (Holland), Charles de Gaule (France), Rome (Italy), Hanedo (Japan), Kimpo (South Korea), Frankfurt/Main (Germany), Zurich (Switzerland) and Changi (Singapore). The busiest in Africa is that of Johannesburg which receives about 8 million passengers a year.
The new cities developing along airport corridors, clusters and spines are known as AEROTROPOLIS. They are distinguished by low-density settlements, wide lanes, and fast movements. Future urban thinking is aiming at deliberately planning the aerotropolis to have dedicated (restricted) expressway links (aero lanes) and high- speed rail (aerotrains). Kasarda thinks that special, trucks-only lanes will be added to airport expressways.
Examples of aerotropoli are emerging around new international airports in Asia. An example is Lantau Island, site of the new Hong Kong International Airport, with business districts and residential clusters. So attractive are the commercial and tourism potentials that America's -Walt Disney Company planned in 1999 to locate an international theme park there. Another aerotropolis is to be developed in Incheon industrial area of the South Korean capital, Seoul. The government is to create a 24-hour aviation city on Youngjong Island, west of Seoul. The new international airport will anchor an expansive urban agglomeration made up of commercial, industrial, residential and tourism sectors. According to John Kasarda, the centerpiece of the aerotropolis will be a Media Valley, Korea's version of the Silicon Valley in Los Angeles. By mid 1999, 49 multinational corporations had indicated interest in locating businesses there. The corporations come from Canada, Israel, Japan, The Netherlands, Taiwan and the United States.
By far the most ambitious plans for an aerotropolis is that designed for Kuala Lumpur's International Airport in Malaysia. It is expected to provide the aviation foundation for Malaysia's Multi-Media Super Corridor of high-tech government, commercial, educational and residential zones covering a total land area larger than the City of Chicago. The new aerotropolis will have a cyber-city (Putrajaya) that will host a multi-media university to train IT workers. A similar gigantic scheme is being planned in Phillipines' Manila Bay under the Cavite Multi- Function complex.
I have given these examples to indicate the pace and direction of urban settlements which are important for modern tourism development. As we can see, these transformations are being driven by the new impetus of globalisation in communications, living, tastes and technology. Note that none of the fantastic projects is in Africa.
How can Nigeria benefit from the heavy traffic and spending generated by this new urbanisation when the country is not part of Information Technology? How can Nigeria develop aviation-driven tourism when it has non-functioning airports? Indeed, how can Delta State maximize its potentials of tourism when it has neither railways, metro lines, airports, telephones nor even bus services?
ECO-TOURISM
Eco-tourism refers to travel and leisure business based on exotic features of ecology and biological diversity or biodiversity. Eco-tourism also depends on geographical, biological and social features, which have the potential to create wonder, marvel and fantasy. The aquatic resources, the tropical rainforest, mangrove and oil and raplina palm plantations that proliferate in Delta State are good assets for developing this form of tourism. The potentials in aquatic or water tourism have. been examined. We can now talk about other geo-physical elements.
RAINFOREST RESOURCES
The location of Delta State in the rainforest zone of the Western Niger Delta is an advantage for developing tourism. As I have already pointed in the introductory sections, the lush, green forests and shrub lands are a delight to any traveler. The rains guarantee water and cooling effect for the tired wayfarer. The seasonal rains enable the vegetation and soils to undergo periodic renewal, giving the sense of freshness and ceaseless creation-in-process. The danger is that much of the original rainforest vegetation is already denuded.
But pockets of it survive along riverbanks, lakes, lagoons, wetlands and in reserves. These sources should be identified, surveyed and mapped for further preservation and conservation. An aerial view of the State indicates that these patches of original forests are available in areas which are inaccessible to developers, farming and lumbering communities. I have referred to some in the description of the air routes in previous sections. Some of the exotic scenes are to be found along the Delta-Edo boundary to the north and south-west from Koko through Ugbenu-Ologbo, the Oghara northern hinterland, Otefe, Idjerhe to Urhonigbe. The northern hinterland of Idjerhe territory is particularly important. There can still be seen serene and quiet stretches of water and trees which give the impression that the area harbours scenes reminiscent of the Garden of Eden paradise sites described in the Bible. This rainforest belt is nourished by the Jamieson and Ethiope rivers and their tributaries. The northern corridor stretches through the Delta-Edo boundary into Abraka, Obiaruku and Orogun territories. The siting of the Abraka Resort and Motel, the Bembo Gardens at Abraka, and the new Abraka Golf Course near Oria and Sanubi are examples of the great potentials in eco-tourism.
Uncontrolled agriculture and timber business pose a grave danger to these natural assets. The government must take urgent measures to protect this rainforest sanctuary for the purpose of eco-tourism. The epicentre of future development should be located at Umuaja, the source of the fantastic Ethiope River. A tourism institute can be located at Umuaja, complete with conservation and biodiversity research facilities. Legislation should be enacted to safeguard the entire route of the river from source to the Atlantic Ocean. Existing environmental laws should be scrupulously enforced to achieve this. New farming methods that can guarantee high yields from smaller land space should be introduced to discourage developers and forest poachers.
Other endangered rain forest reserves should be created by the State Ministry of Environment. River routes, lakes and wetlands should be targeted as priority. Examples are the Ologbo-Oghara river, the Ethiope and Jamieson, the Warri river, that of Okpare, Owahwa-Esaba, Kiagbodo, Arhavwarien-Olota, Eghwu, Asaba-Ase- Erhowha, Okpai, and Aboh-Kwale. Similarly, wetlands should be designated and preserved through mapping and legislation. I understand that the Udu-Ughievwen wetlands have been surveyed for biodiversity documentation by the Delta Environment Network (DEENET) headed by Engineer Moses Kragha. More environment-based Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should be encouraged to participate in ecology campaign.
The swamplands and mangrove forests are very important for eco-tourism and aquaculture and fishery development. These areas are found mostly in Warri North, Warri South, Warri South-west, Burutu, Bomadi, Ughelli South, Patani and Isoko South and Ndokwa East councils. The shrub vegetation in the areas is original and contain fascinating natural habitats for exotic biological and zoological life. They harbour fish, crocodiles, varieties of alligator, manatee, hippos and species of tortoises and turtles. Molluscs (ikpekun) and periwinkles (imekpe) are common in these areas. So are snails and shrimps, the cultivation of which is vital for the food security needs of tourism. Studies conducted by the Institute for Marine Research and Oceanography, the NDES and the University of Benin reveal that the section of the Forcados River between Ophorigbala and Okwagbe is one of the world's largest concentration of molluscs. The Japanese have devised aquaculture ways of rearing pearls inside the molluscs. If the Lower River Niger is dredged as planned, this natural laboratory may be lost for ever. Professor Austine Egborge of the University of Benin can be consulted on this impending danger.
Raphia palm (vinifera and hookeri) are other assets in eco-tourism development. The first variety is used for weaving, textile, good quality paper, roofing, walling and ceiling boards, bags and for other domestic and industrial purposes. Its proliferation is more restricted and, therefore, it is endangered. There are several eco-tourism values in the raphia vinifera. One is the wide variety of weaving and textile designs it affords. The products of this cottage industry can be marketed in tourism centres and fairs as souvenirs and gift items. Paper products from it can be sold at such centres and in the school system. Rephia bags and containers are patronized by school children. The raphia provides fronds for all manners of decoration and ritual art. The most exotic variety is the royal species, an example of which is found in the Otutuama-Otegbo wetlands, in Ughelli South Local Government Area. This site can be developed as a tourism destination.
The raphia hookeri is the one most known, being the source of the palm wine for brewing alcohol beverages and yeast. This traditional distilling and ginnery industry can be developed and modernized to provide affordable spirits and beverages for the tourism markets. Experts have shown that, like the wine and "hot drinks" industry in Europe the gin from raphia hookeri can sustain a large economy not only in West Africa where it is patronised, but also in the hospitality business worldwide. Also, the grubs that grow in raphia hookeri are a good source of medicinal fats and healing rubs. The natural raphia estates in Delta state are about the most extensive in the world. Delta, Ogun and Lagos States have the largest fields. To obtain the best from the raphia, the government can contact Dr. Mark Otedoh, the former Director of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research in Benin.
WONDERS OF THE MANGROVE
The mangrove forest in the Niger Delta is the largest in Africa and the third largest in the world. The total forest coverage in Nigeria is 9,730 sq. kms. The Niger Delta accounts for 6,000 sq. km., 50% of it in Delta State. The red mangrove (Rhizophora racemosa) is the most common and constitutes 90% of the mangrove territory. The mangrove is perhaps the only forest territory which has not been vandalized by timber merchants because the areas are swampy and largely inaccessible by vehicles. Besides, the wood is solid like iron, it cannot be floated easily. As a rare wood species, the mangrove is particularly valuable, both as an economic tree and tourist attraction as well. Some of the trees are massive in trunk and tall like the iroko, the acknowledged monarch of the tropical rainforest. The red mangrove, which proliferates in Delta State, is the most preferred.
The mangrove timber is good material for construction and allied industries. It can be used as pillars and stabilizers for platforms and bridges. The tree is widely used as electric poles, being hard and durable. The Nigerian Railways Corporation once conducted a study, which proved that the mangrove timber is suitable for constructing railway lines as a substitute for iron and steel. That study was carried out when Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia was the Sole Administrator of the Railway Corporation. This is very good news for tourism. As I have said in a previous section, tourism business flourishes when there are mass transit services of which the railway is prime. With the abundant mangrove resources in Delta State, it is now feasible to develop an ambitious railway system which will open up every territory of the state.
As happened in countries such as the United States, Russia, China, India and South Africa, the railways will be the first choice ferry for hundreds of millions of tourists. Through the railway tracks, fun-loving and knowledge-seeking travellers will be able to explore our State with pleasure and joy. Travelling costs will be reduced drastically, more people will travel regularly, tourism businesses will expand and prosperity will reach every person and community in the State and its environs.
MANGROVES AND FISHERIES
I have already pointed to the enormous potentials for fishery production in the waters of the State. The mangrove swamps are especially suitable for breeding fish, crabs, shrimps, molluscs and perinwinkles. Tilapia, a delicacy in the Niger Delta, is very easy to rear in the mangroves with their salt-water habitats. With application of appropriate bio-genetic engineering, huge stocks can be reared, with an average of good harvest four times a year. The tilapia is so easy to breed and eat that it is referred to as aquatic chicken. Let the people of Delta State and their tourist guests be the first to enjoy this affordable delicacy in Africa-
BAMBOOS AND TOURISM
Bamboo (Bambusa vulgeris) is a good tree crop for economic and leisure purposes. A 1995 World Bank report on the Niger Delta estimated that 1.2 million poles of bamboo are harvested yearly in Delta State. Bamboo proliferates in all parts of the State. However, the most profuse proliferation areas are in the Northern Senatorial District where it grows like the equivalent of the oil and raphia palms in the Central and South Senatorial Districts. The various economic uses of bamboo are contained in a survey conducted in 1988 by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council. Its tourism value is the construction of, exotic, solar energy-friendly huts and camps. Bamboo gardens and parks are a delight to leisure seekers and picnickers. Now that the case for resource control is being spearheaded by Delta State, it is economically wise for the local governments where bamboo thrives to do inventories of their stock for the purpose of equitable derivation policy.
COCONUT BEACHES AND BOULEVARDS
Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is one of the most beautiful plants in the world. Its straight trunk and feather-like green branches and leaves are a delight to the eyes. Wild coconut trees grow in all parts of the State. The sandy beaches along the Atlantic coast are especially fertile for coconut plantations, which are good venues for tourist villages and resorts. To make our rural communities and urban areas beautiful and attractive to tourists, massive coconut cultivation should be undertaken by local councils and estate developers. Coconut plantations are an asset in Badagry, Cotonou and Abidjan. They are the main attraction for tourists who besiege the island nations of the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands.
ECO-TOURISM AND HEALTH THERAPY
The therapeutic advantages of eco-tourism are being exploited by Cuba to increase its stake in the global tourism and travel business. This industry is now driving sugar production to a second place in terms of foreign earning. There are good sites in Delta State for developing this type of eco-tourism. The rivers and watercourses are examples. Medical science has shown the healing power of a slow sail or rowing on wetland rivers and lakes. It is said that a 30-minute leisurely and slow paddling through the oxygen-nourished wetland rivers has the potential of healing a person afflicted with respiratory ailments such as asthma, high-blood pressure, hypertension and allied disabilities. Professor William Odiete of the University of Lagos has established that THREE percent of Nigerian landmass is covered by wetlands. A high proportion of this is in Delta State being in a region of rainforest vegetation. The therapeutic value of paddling along wetland watercourses has been studied by Professor David T. Okpako of Ibadan, one of Africa's foremost scholars of pharmacology. These Delta State intellectuals can be engaged as resource persons by the Ministries of Environment, Health, Lands and Surveys to produce a blueprint on how to tap the hidden treasures in this branch of health tourisfri.
PLANTS. ANIMALS. BIRDS AND ECO-TOURISM
Plants, animals and birds are among the bounties of nature that promote eco- tourism. I have alluded to the importance of plants in the section dealing with air- borne tourism as well as rivers and watercourses. To these must be added flowers and gardens, which are visual aspects of tourism. The health and spiritual power of viewing beautiful plants is well known. That is why European city and country planners placed emphasis on growing flowers and ornamental trees. Countries like Israel and Kenya survive virtually on income from flower cultivation. Amsterdam, the commercial hub of Holland is the world's biggest flower market. On each day, commercial florists take plane loads of flowers there and return in the evening with bags of dollars.
The fertile and rain-nourished lands of Delta State are suitable for commercial flower cultivation. The tourism potentials can be exploited in form of flower gardens and leisure resorts where the eyes of visitors can feed on delightful colours and shapes. Thousands of flowerpots are needed to decorate hotels, guest houses, garden parks, highways and city ways. Hundreds of thousands of jobs can be generated this way. Good money can also be made.
Rare and endangered species of animals, birds and fish need to be reared in the wild and captivity to promote tourism. In the various scientific surveys done on the Niger Delta, the species and their locales have been identified. What remains is to raise their tourism value by making the habitats part of a tourism market network. A similar programme can be developed for birds and insects. Experts estimate that there are about six billion insects in the planet Earth. Many of these are hosted in Delta State. Migratory and predatory birds such as the eagle, kite, hawk, swallow, bats and owl are exciting the curiosity of tourists. The chapter on "Birds of West Africa" in the book, WEST AFRICA: A LONELY PLANET TRAVEL SURVIVAL KIT by Alex Newton and David Else contains a useful list of over 300 bird species, many of which are found in Delta State. A similar documentation of Delta State Aviary Life can be produced to aid tourism developers. Animals like the elephant, kangaroo, monkeys, giraffes and manatees, which are now rare, can be reared in zoos and natural history museums. There are about 20 varieties of aquarium fish obtainable in the fresh and salt water zones of the State. They should be identified and publicized so that their economic value in the tourism and export business can be recognized by investors.
NATURAL DISASTER SITES
As poets say, there are sweet uses in adversity, and so has it been with disasters and eco-tourism. The 1945 Hiroshima atomic bomb site in Japan has been turned to a tourist haven. The location of the hanging site and sepulcre (grave) of Jesus Christ is a first-choice visit by tourists to Jerusalem. Earthquake and flood calamities create scenes, which travellers besiege regularly. Slave ports such as Fort Jesus in Tanzania, Elmina Castle in Ghana and Goree island in Senegal are other examples. The ruins of ancient monuments, palaces and infrastructure are designated as cultural heritage assets by UNESCO. The people and nations who suffered losses in these scenes of tragedy now wipe their tears with dollar notes earned from visitors.
Delta State has many of such disaster scenes. The erosion gullies and ruined landscapes in Agbor district are well known. Marine erosion sites along the Atlantic coast and riverbanks are numerous. Asaba, Asaba-Ase, Onya, Abari, Patani, Bomadi, Burutu, Okwagbe, Forcados, Ogidigben and Escravos have such sites. Oil and gas exploration activities have lengthened the list of disaster sites In the State. Among the notorious ones are the oil-spill locations in Arhavwarien, Ozoro, Ekakpamre, Jones Creek, Odimodi, Escravos, Riapele, Ogorode (Sapele), and Okpe communities of Egborodo, Elume and many others.
The gas flare farms operated by oil companies are environmental disaster scenes. The spectacular example of the Agbarha-Otor "flaming dragon" has been mentioned. A particularly devastating flare point is at Utorogu oil field near Otughievwen, Otor-Udu and Ighwreekan communities. By far the most catastrophic oil-induced fire is that in Jesse (Idjerhe) in September 1998. About 1,069 persons perished in that inferno. Professor B.I. Ijeoma of the University of Benin and Professor Chris Ikporukpo of the University of Ibadan have done extensive studies of these features.
All the natural and man-made disaster sites in the State have good potential to be developed into tourist destinations. To do this, the sites have to be designated and acquired by State or local governments. This will protect them from developers who may not recognize their tourism and economic values. The acquired lands can then be leased to tourism investors to develop. Government benefit will come by way of tenement rates and taxes on services. The development of these disaster tourist estates can be carried out in partnership with the oil companies and communities that own them.
ANCIENT HISTORY AND CIVILISATIONS
Ancient civilizations furnish cultural data on which a flourishing tourism industry can be based. Anthropological and archaeological research is still in its infancy in Delta State because academic institutions are not available. Historical and archaeological inquiry in the area has unearthed interesting evidence to support tourism and travel infrastructure and literature. For example, an interview with Professor EJ. Alagoa of the University of Port Harcourt was published by The Guardian in September, 2000. In it, the professor revealed new archaeological findings, which date the origin of some Ijaw settlements to 7,500 years ago that is 5,500 before the Christian era. That age also compares the history of human settlements in the Niger Delta to that of ancient Egypt, the cradle of world civilization in engineering, mathematics, medicine, philosophy and the arts. More research in the Western Niger Delta is likely to unveil spectacular evidence to support the age of the peoples and nations in the area.
Yet what we know about Delta State peoples in published and oral sources is substantial enough to promote tourism. Some of these facts are highlighted below. The linguistic groups that constitute the 2.5 million Urhobo nations have splendid history and culture. Although, some of them speak of linkages with ancient Benin in Udo and Benin royal centers, the various Urhobo people are independent and autonomous. To establish their settlements and traditions, they fought wars, cultivated and tamed wild territories and developed sophisticated forms of administration, social engineering, world views and arts. The surviving manifestations of these civilisation epochs can be tapped for tourism business.
Some of the royal and mobility institutions are found among the Ughelli (Oghwoghwa) Evwreni, Avwraka (Abraka) Okpe, Agbon, Oghara and Uvwie. Royal treasures and arts are curated in these palaces. Traditional customs, cuisines, costumes/dresses, military weaponry and systems of governance and security are still surviving. The royalty in Agbor is also very ancient and well developed. In ancient times, its fame was as familiar as that of Edo-Benin. Elaborate chieftaincy and mobility associations are common in Agbor. The Anioma area of Oshimili, Ika and Ukwuani have similar institutions. The Aboh people, for example are noted for the splendour and institutional sophistication of their royal and noble order's. The Isoko to the South of the Ukwuani are very proud of their heritage in this regard. The current attempt to revive and modernize these traditions bodes well for tourism development.
The case of the Itsekiri has been well documented. A riverine people with early contacts with European cultures, the Itsekiri have a fine blend of inter-racial and inter-ethnic traditions, which have helped to give the Niger Delta a historical identity. The Itsekiri monarchy developed from that of Benin in the 15th century has been a source of solidarity and national consciousness.
In the eyes of tourism investor, the royal treasures and palaces that house them are not just remnants of vanished glory and grandeur These palaces and institutions and rituals associated with them are sanctuaries and museums of history and culture. For the curious traveller thirsting for knowledge, these are places of interest. Like libraries and computer database, these traditional hierarchies and systems can enrich our knowledge of the past, help our cultural esteem and identity in the barrier-destroying global village. This is why the State Government must take urgent steps to identify, document and process information pertaining to monarchies and nobility institutions.
MONUMENTS, MYTHICAL AND SACRED SITES
Curiosity
and quest are the spirits that drive the traveler seeking knowledge and pleasure.
Ancient and modern monuments, mythical events and sacred sites are a particular
delight to domestic and foreign tourist. Such facilities abound in Delta State.
Here are some examples. About 800 years ago, the Avwraka group defeated a
Bini army near the Ethiope River. The area is called "Adakaji" (where
Bini was halted). A war museum/monument ought to be erected there to enlighten
Avwraka people and others. The Agbor people fought military and diplomatic
battles with several Bini emperors (Oba). The sites and events should recall
in commemoration. An Agbarha king was arrested dethroned and exiled to Calabar
along with Oba Ovonranmwen Nogbaisi in February 1897. His name, palace and
regalia (if available) should be celebrated in memorabilia.
In September 1894, Iho British attacked Effurun on Iho eve of Iho military invasion Nana Olomu's. fortified at city at Ebrohimi nent KoKo this was because Nana'. mother was from Effurun. Where in Effurun did the fight take place? The ruins of Ebrohimi should be preserved and rebuilt for tourisis the way submited gyptain cities and ltemples. and Babylon have been done. Bekederemo foundation had a palace, which the British admitted surpassed that of Ihe Bin! Oba in size and design. We welcome Ihe desire of the family lo establish a Bekcderemo Foundation to curate and safeguard this legacy.
Ijala
was the first residence of Prince Ginuwa of Benin who founded the Itsekiri
Kingdom. The place remains the Itsekiri royal cemetery till date. It should
serve more commercially viable functions by hosting museums and other tourist
facilities. At Ode-ltsekiri where the monarchy flourished, there are relics
of an early Catholic church. These are treasures for tourists to behold. Many
years ago, the Okpe people dethroned a despotic Orodje (King) by name Esezi
I. It is said he was buried alive in a community hall. Where is the place
in Orerokpe now? The Ughievwen people are reported to have terminated the
era of a self-styled usurper king called Evwerha by burying his body with
royal crown and other paraphernalia of office. Living Ughievwen people would
like to view where this took place and how this republican spirit has been
sustained into modern times.
Asaba hosted the first conference on Igbo language in about 1906. Do we know the venue? Whose house and compound was used for this historic event? While talking of academic development, we must remember the record holder in the acquisition of European University education, Dom Domingo, the Itsekiri prince who was the first Black African to obtain a degree in Portugal about 375 years ago. He later became Olu (King) of Itsekiri with the title ATUWASE 1. He deserves to be honoured with a University at Ode-ltsekiri or elsewhere the way the Senegalese honoured Cheik Anta Diop with one. In this group of legends should be included St. Thomas's Teachers College, Ibusa, the first higher institution of learning in Delta State. It was founded by the Catholic Church in 1925. The Abraka Teachers College followed in 1931. Where were the first primary and secondary schools established? Tourists would like to know. The ancient community of Erohwa in Isoko South Local Government is identified by European and African historians as a major transit point for many of the language groups that migrated into and were assimilated into the current nations in Delta State. The celebrated history scholar, Professor Obaro Ikime is from Erohwa, yet the community hardly features in remembrances connected with foundation events of the various language groups. As the Tigris and Euphrates of the Western Niger Delta people, Erohwa deserves a museum and good access roads and modern communication.
The British traveller/historian, Reverend
W. Hubbard wrote in his Sobo of the Niger Delta that Agbarho was founded
by immigrants from other Urhobo subgroups, a fact which explains the ease
with which the Agbarho dialect is understood and spoken by all Urhobo. Hubbard
reported that the system of administration set up there was egalitarian and
democratic, hence the name "Agbarho" (join resources to attain greatness).
Where now are the original compounds settled by these pioneers? The Effurun
are in Effurun-Otor and Effurun-Ame. We need monuments to indicate this expansion
westward. The Agbarha and Orogun groups were equally adventurous. The former
founded pre-township communities of what is now Warn, excepting the Okere
and Ogbe-ljoh areas. The Agbarha also extended their civilization to Oghara
and Idjerhe in Ethiope West Local Government. The Orogun pushed Urhobo northern
frontiers to advantage. The Ughelli, Eghwu and Isoko groups have "overseas"
communities near the Forcados River. These developments in population dispersal
should be marked with monuments.
Sacred and mythical sites excite tourists a lot. Some of the obvious ones can be mentioned. The numerous religious shrines, temples and places of worship are in this category. They now serve as museums of religious icons and art works. For example, the Ijaw war institution (EGBESU) is like a local equivalent of NATO for them. It is a religious and military institution which regulates morality, unifies communities and offers protection. There is the myth of a water maid (an OMALOKU) in Itsekiri land said to be so generous that it served delicious meals to travelers in the creeks. Also, the Udu people near Warri had a progenitor, Ovo, believed to be a giant creature with ten toes on each feet and an iron rod as chewing stick. Professor Isidore Okpewho now in the United States has traced this epic figure to the Arhuaran in Benin mythology. People in India, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea. Malaysia and Indonesia are reaping fortunes from these myths and sites through tourism promotion. We can do the same without offending religious sensibilities.
After all, Pope John Paul entered shrines and mosques in April when he paid
a papal visit to Syria. All the sacred groves, watercourses, shrines, temples,
routes, trees and stones should be documented and annotated for tour guides.
One such site should be the Okwagbe Waterside on the Forcados River, which
Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther visited thrice in his Niger mission from 1841-1857
before heading to Onitsha where he was welcomed. Onitsha turned out to be
the cradle of Christianity and education, producing the first Igbo graduate,
Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1925 and first generation lawyers. Christian pilgrims should
include Okwagbe and Onitsha in their itinerary.
FOLKLORE
AND NARRATIVES
Folklore which is a discipline concerned with oral traditions and communal forms of verbal and non-verbal art is a good handmaiden for tourist investors. Folkiorists (specialists in folklore studies) have identified hundreds of folk traditions, practices and handicrafts which have delectable and exotic appeal to tourists. The oral accounts of founding of settlements, ancient wars, migration stories, folktakes, epics, and sagas are forms of folklore. Others are proverbs, riddles, yarns, anecdotes, tongue twisters, folk songs, folk games, traditional foods, and cuisines, traditional drama and theatre, marriage, burial and other forms of rites of passage. The stories we tell, both historical and fictional help to store and transmit ancient knowledge, values and wisdoms.
Tourists travellers need a lot of entertainment offered in the medium of music and narratives. Organised tours require specialist storytellers and raconteurs to keep wearied and indifferent travellers awake, both in transit and at places of rest and lodging. Professional historians and custodians of ancient traditions are indispensable to tourism. The slave shacks in Badagry, Elmina in Ghana and Goree Island in Senegal engage professional narrators and interpreters.
There
are thousands of tales, accounts, proverbs, folk songs and various idiomatic
expressions to be recorded, transcribed and translated for use by investors
in the tourism industry. -Story books, illustrated children's books, cartoon
books, science fiction, musical audio cassettes, video films and CD cassettes
can be made from the themes, characters and wordings of these folk materials.
Folk handicrafts and art works are patronised by tourists as souvenirs and
gift items. Thus, the various fields of folklore have enormous potential for
generating employment, cottage industries and marketing. Many musical, visual
and theatre artists of Delta State who are in exile in more financially rewarding
towns and markets will benefit from this value-added tourism programme.
Some
of the popular names in this category include Bruce Unobrakpeya, Demas Nwoko,
the Ifetas of Abraka, Omokomoko Osokpa, Okpan Arhibo, Johnson Adjan, Juju-UdJabor,
Orits Wiliki, Mike Okri, Ras Kimono, Edna Ogholi-Ogosi, Ted Mukoro and Festus
Esiri (Village Headmasters), Richard Mote Damijo, Vero Marionghae, Ese Agesse,
the Ibru Sisters, Veteran broadcasters like Mac Emakpore, Patrick Oke and
Gold Oruh will benefit. Writers like J.P. dark, Zulu Sofola, Isidore Okpewho,
Ben Okri and Tess Onwueme will have their works reinterpreted to serve tourism.
