zenodo

African cultural heritage has long served as a unifying force, fostering social cohesion, identity and longevity among communities. The advent of Christianity and the spread of Western education have significantly influenced African Traditional Festivals, threatening their continuity and relevance in contemporary society. This paper focuses on the Ikpiyuwan Festival celebrated in Ugboshi-Afe, Akoko Edo, Nigeria, examining its structure, functions, and the roles of various age groups in sustaining its cultural significance. Although embedded with ritualistic elements, the festival embodies deep values of fraternity, solidarity and communal happiness, exemplified through shared feasts, songs and dances that showcase a collective sense of belonging. The study underscores the urgent need to preserve the indigenous traditions by adopting digital documentation techniques, ensuring their transmission to future generations. It further proposes the removal or reinterpretation of certain ritual practices to align with modern religious sensibilities while maintaining the festival’s social and cultural essence. The paper concludes by advocating for active government participation and sponsorship to promote the Ikpiyuwan Festival and similar indigenous events as veritable tools for cultural preservation, social harmony and tourism development in Nigeria.