Several misconceptions around Tiv culture will be led bare at the 2023 Kyegh Sha Shwa (KSS) Cultural Festival Abuja unveiling and fundraising event.
The Kyegh Sha Shwa Cultural Festival is a bespoke Tiv cultural festival founded by a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Solomon Mfa Ukeyima.
KSS is held annually in Benue state to engender the sustainability of Tiv cultural values of unity, communality, reconciliation, harmony, hospitality, and love amongst the people to enhance the collective advancement of the Tiv nation.
The 2023 theme is “Tiv Folklore: Separating Facts from Fiction” and will be discussed by a panel made up of erudite discussants, a statement signed by Rev. Fr. Solomon Mfa Ukeyima the Convener and Mr. Yimave Gyanggyang, the Chair, Fundraising Committee.
The 2023 KSS theme unveiling and fundraising ceremony will be under Zaki Chief Joseph I. Aneh, the Father of the Day, and will feature imiongo i teman (panel discussion) on the theme.
The panel of discussants according to the statement include: Rt. Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, – Member, House of Representative NASS, Abuja, Mr. Paul Apel Papel – Multiple Award-Winning Film Producer/Director, Devaan Hamation – Seasoned Broadcaster, and Tim Cuttings Agber, Researcher on Tiv Indigenous Knowledge Systems.
KSS was formally registered in 2018 with the Corporate Affairs Commission under the name Kyegh Sha Shwa Cultural Initiative, is a nonprofit and the Festival is organized annually from 26 – 27 December, and it attracts a huge attendance of Tiv people from far and near, together with their friends and well-wishers, festival, and tourism enthusiasts from across the world, who either join physically or via the festival online platforms.
Ahead of the mega event in December, a fundraiser is being organised in Abuja to raise funds from well-spirited individuals and corporate organisations to plan the event.
The Abuja event will also formally unveil the festival’s theme and showcase the business prospects of the festival to the corporate world.
The ceremony will hold on November 4, 2023, at the African Heritage Square, Celina Ayom Street, along Kado-Gwarimpa Express Way, Jahi, Abuja. The event will feature performing artists, games, Tiv cuisines (especially Kyegh Sha Shwa), endorsements, sponsorship deals, and lots more.
The organisers also said the event is open to all Benue citizens and friends of Benue who are willing to support the event.