Senator Douye Diri: The Man, His Art and Our Heritage

Bethsheba Napoleon in this article examines Senator Douye Diri, governor Bayelsa state achievements in promoting the arts and culture of the state.

We are mostly influenced by the environment we find ourselves. The reason an Ijaw man who is grossly surrounded by water bodies and creeks will firstly request for fish in his meal, while beef is seen as mere option.

Senator Douye Diri who is a full blooded Ijaw man with all the glory that comes with it, takes the arts and heritage of Bayelsa State, and the entire Ijaw Nation seriously.

As the only Ijaw Governor in the entire Nigerian State, he is not sitting still, but working tirelessly to ensure the Ijaws don’t loose the spot they have been able to grapple not just in Nigeria, but in the global village.

He is committed to ensuring that our rich cultural heritage enjoys the needed lambency.

Little wonder Senator Douye Diri immediately after assuming office, made sure that State Council for Arts & Culture, was given all the needed support, that enabled them not only win the overall first position at the 2020 NAFEST at Plateau State, but also broke a 33-year old record of receiving the highest gold and silver medals in a single NAFEST Competition.

The State’s Arts Council won gold in:

-Traditional Cuisines

-Best Improved Performing State

-Archery

-Traditional Board Game (Ayo/Apodo)

And medaled silver in:

-Indigenous Choral Music

-Indigenous Fabrics and Runway

-Children Essay Writing

-Children Arts and Craft

Making it a total of five (5) golds, four (4) silvers, and the gong for overall first position. It was indeed a miraculous outing for the State Cultural Troop.

Also, in a bid to save our precious Ijaw language from going into extinction in coming generations, our indigenous Governor has also introduced the language into the school’s curriculum.

He equally approved a policy to make all members of the State Executive Council adorn their traditional regalia during their weekly Meetings, to showcase that it is a gathering of proud sons and daughters of Ijaw Nation.

Our Diri is a preserver of our rich cultural heritage. He will not miss any opportunity to elucidate the richness of our beautiful and precious culture and values.

Fellow Bayelsans, let us join hands with our amiable miracle Governor, to uplift our dear State of Bayelsa on the world map for the positives. We are unique because we are different, and we are different because we are unique.

“We are what we eat.” So the next time you see our Diri smiling refulgently, remember that he is overwhelmed by his serene heritage; and definitely reminiscing and feeling refreshed by the Opuro-fulo, Fisherman soup, Keke-fiyai, Kiri-igina, Pulo-fiyai, Lòr-fulòr, Ēffòr, Ónyè, and other mouth watering Ijaw delicacies he enjoys in the Glory of all Lands.

God bless our Miracle Governor, Senator Douye Diri, gloriously.

God bless our dear State Bayelsa ‘the Glory of all Lands’.