AN ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF ANJIDA DAY FESTIVAL (ADF) IN PROMOTING UNITY AND DEVELOPMENT IN NASARAWA STATE

Abstract

The Anjida Day Festival (ADF) is a grassroots cultural institution of the Mada people in Anjida, Nasarawa State, yet remains underexplored in literature on festivals and rural development. Adopting a qualitative interpretivist approach (Creswell & Poth, 2018), this study draws on in-depth interviews with 20 stakeholders; elders, women, youth, vendors, okada riders, and visitors to examine how ADF is experienced as a medium for unity and community development. Thematic analysis reveals three key processes which include. First, ADF sustains intergenerational and inter-community bonds through shared rituals, with the masquerade dance identified as the primary driver of repeat attendance and cultural loyalty. Second, participants described ADF as a period of intensified economic activity where livelihoods visibly improve, framing the festival as seasonal support for household welfare. Third, while participants could not recall specific individual disputes, they constantly credited the town hall “Palace Meeting” with preventive conflict mediation, describing it as a collective process that restores harmony. The research concludes that ADF functions as a living institution that generates bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, offering a self-sustaining model for cultural preservation, economic resilience, and inclusive governance. By centering participants’ voices, the paper shows how community-owned festivals can force development without external intervention.(Agbese2018; P18; P15; P9; P11; P12; P20; Putnam 2000).