Otu Hails Unveiling Of Ofutop Nation Ancestral Musical Instrument

Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has described the unveiling of the ‘Ekuum Bass’, the ancestral musical instrument of the Ofutop people in Ikom local government area, as a bold effort to revive a dying cultural identity.

Otu spoke yesterday at the closing ceremony of the Cultural Festival of Arts at St. Mary’s RCM Primary School, Abaragba, Ikom LGA.

He said his administration remains committed to preserving indigenous knowledge and using culture as a vehicle for development and youth empowerment.

Governor Otu, who was represented by his special adviser on Arts and Culture, Mr Effiong Bassey Edem, hailed the Patrick and Grace Osam Ntun Legacy Foundation for rescuing the Ofutop heritage from extinction.

He described the initiative, themed “From Indigenous Knowledge to Future Innovation,” as timely and exemplary, and called on other well-meaning Cross Riverians to emulate the foundation by investing in their communities.

In his remarks, the president of the foundation, Engr. Oyama Osam Ntun, said the ‘Ekuum Bass’ is more than a musical instrument.

“Today, we are not simply unveiling an instrument. We are unveiling a story. We are unveiling knowledge inherited from generations,” he said.

Ntun, who described himself as an engineer by profession but a cultural person by birth, said he was moved to ensure that the identity of his people does not disappear.

The UK-based engineer stated that he had taken the instrument beyond Ofutop and outside Nigeria to give it visibility, a move that had seen local performers travel by air for the first time and appear on national platforms.

He added that the project goes beyond music to link identity with development by connecting cultural custodians, educators and innovators to inspire STEM education, while sustaining scholarships for indigent students.

Other leaders present at the closing ceremony event, include the member representing Ikom 1 State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly Mr Samuel Neji Abang and Ofutop Youth president in diaspora Dr. Victor Oyama Nzan, who described the instrument as “the heartbeat of Ofutop nation.”