Otitoju Femi
The Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), on Thursday, January 23, 2026, hosted an African Communication System Festival at the University Main Auditorium, Phase One.
At the event, the Africa’s rich indigenous communication practices and cultural heritage were highlighted.
Declaring the festival open, the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Chika Asogwa, described the event as a practical demonstration of African communication rather than mere entertainment.
She said “today is not a day for speeches. It is a day to see, to feel, and to witness African communication in action.”
According to her, African societies had long mastered effective communication before the advent of modern media, using drums, storytelling, songs, and festivals to educate, bond, and transmit values.
Professor Asogwa noted that the preparations for the festival already embodied the principles of African communication as students worked collectively across different roles, saying “what I saw was communality, everyone doing something meaningful, no role too small and no voice ignored. That is African communication.”
She added that more than one thousand students participated in planning and executing the festival, describing the process as a lesson in leadership, responsibility, organization, and collaboration.
“This festival is not play. It is learning,” she emphasized, urging students to see themselves as storytellers and carriers of culture.
Besides, she commended the course coordinator, teaching team, and the planning, logistics, technical, protocol, and media committees for their dedication, noting that “organization itself is communication.”
In his remarks, the Deputy Dean of the Faculty and Course Coordinator, Dr. Success Ojih, expressed pride in the students for their commitment and teamwork, describing the festival as a landmark achievement.
He said: “I am proud to be part of this historic event because we have a set of committed students who have done enough to ensure that this programme became a reality.”
He, however , thanked the Dean for her support and approval, appreciated colleagues, and welcomed guests, encouraging everyone to enjoy the experience and the memories created.
The festival featured a series of cultural performances that collectively showcased Nigeria’s diverse communication systems, with strong representations of Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo traditions.
Through music, dance, drama, masquerade displays, and symbolic rituals, the performances explored themes of unity, worship, governance, social values, and cultural education.
Indigenous practices such as traditional prayers, the use of proverbs, storytelling, music, and festivals were presented as enduring tools of communication and social cohesion.
Highlights of the event included depictions of traditional worship and gratitude to God using symbolic items, dramatizations of local governance and conflict resolution, celebrations of royal institutions, displays of masquerade traditions, and historical narratives such as the exploits of Amope, the renowned warrior of Ilara Kingdom in Ibadan.
Performances also demonstrated how indigenous languages and customs are used to educate younger generations and preserve communal identity.
The African Communication System Festival ended on a high note, earning resounding applause from the audience and reinforcing the relevance of indigenous communication systems as living, dynamic, and effective means of expression.
The event affirmed FUOYE’s commitment to experiential learning and cultural preservation, while underscoring Africa’s enduring contribution to communication and media practices.
Photo Credit: Toye Fisher
