The Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), Mr Ahmed Mohammed, says traditional dance festivals promote national unity and cultural identity of different ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Mohammed who stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, revealed that traditional religious festivals were part of the spirit of the Nigerian identity in spite of the country’s diversity.

According to him, the greater parts of the spiritual dances are simulated in the NTN’s dances to show their beauty, color, and expression of the worshippers’ worldview.

He said d that such beauty, color, and expression helps to cement and bond Nigerians as a people of one nation.

He emphasised on the need for intense research into identifying the prospects of ritualistic festivals in fostering unity among Nigerians.

Mohammed described as a “Sad reality” on how ritual festivals were occasioned with violence and restrictions on many communities during the festivities, saying that such sanctions add pain to the society.

He explained that NTN had toured over 40 countries in the world, presenting Nigeria’s best dances, music, and drama.

“Yemoja won us the best drama prize at the 2002 Cervantino International Festival in Mexico.

“Few among the countries visited by the Troupe included the U.S., Japan, China, North and South Korea, Germany and Portugal.

“Others were UAE, Mexico, Brazil, Cote D’ Ivoire, Ghana, and just recently in August, Antigua-Barbuda Caribbean Island, “he said.

He said the troupe was able to present Nigeria as the black race cultural hub with its variety of performances.

Mohammed said that such created a bond between Africans in the diaspora with Nigeria as well as attracted tourists to Nigeria.

“We have also demonstrated Nigeria’s resilience to the world, the wax that bonded us in unity in spite our diversity,” he said.