By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the State of Qatar, Ambassador Yakubu Abdullahi Ahmed, has called for partnership with Katara in promoting Nigerian Culture in Qatar.
Ambassador Yakubu Ahmed made the call recently, when he paid a courtesy call on the General Manager and Chairman of Kiahf Committee of Katara Cultural Foundation, Prof. Khalid Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, in Katara, Doha, Qatar.
The Nigerian envoy during the visit was taken on a guided tour of the iconic Katara Cultural Village, established on a million square metre of land distributed into about 50 buildings constructed for various cultural expressions and ceremonies and has a 2 km coastal line for outdoor sea front cultural events and leisure.
Ambassador Yakubu Ahmed intimated his Qatari host about the rich cultural diversity of Nigeria saying that Nigeria has over 250 distinct ethnic groups with different linguistic and cultural orientation and the rich culture of the people is expressed through the hosting of hundreds of annual traditional festivals featuring carnivals, boat rides, fishing, dances, songs, horse riding, and masquerades across the different ethnic leanings.
He expressed the willingness of the Nigerian Embassy to partner with Katara in promoting Nigerian culture in Qatar adding that the Mission will explore the possibilities of inviting interested public and private artists and art galleries in Nigeria to bring their talents and wares to Doha for cultural events and exhibitions in Katara Cultural Village.
Katara Cultural Village is the sum total of cultural melting point of Qatar as well as place to experience cultures of other countries through such events as exhibitions of cultural arts and artefacts.
Responding, the General Manager of Katara, Prof. Al Sulaiti, welcomed the idea asserting that the Embassy can utilise Katara facilities to showcase Nigerian cultural heritage through series of exhibitions at regular intervals after the FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022, and pledged his total support for any of such events that the Embassy will be willing to organise.
He noted that the major buildings in the cultural village include Katara amphitheatre, art halls and galleries, drama theatre, masjids, opera house, hotels, restaurants and gardens, saying that the amphitheatre was completed in 2008 and officially opened on 11th December, 2001 and covers 3,275 square metres which can accommodate 5,000 spectators and that Katara uses numerous halls and galleries to host various conferences, seminars, symposiums and exhibitions.
