Ukele, a proud community in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, has once again placed itself on the cultural map with the 2025 edition of its Cultural Festival, an event that radiates both color and meaning. This year’s festival held recently was themed: "Exporting Uncommon Heritage” and went beyond performance and celebration—it became a living museum of Ukele’s traditions, showcasing practices that have survived generations while adapting to the realities of modern life.

There was also an unveiling of uncommon heritage and their natural endowments located in Ukelle that could be explored by tourists such as the Lake that never dries in Ijiraga, confluence of seven rivers, Barytes Deposits, mystical forest in Ezekwe, gold sediments in wanokom and Biafra Army bunker in Mfuma.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts And Culture, Pastor Mrs Eme Affiah and her Management team who were also present during the event, were led on a tour of these sites prior to the event.

Masquerades took center stage, each one more symbolic than the last creating an electric atmosphere. From the agile dances of the youthful spirits to the dignified, imposing steps of ancestral figures, every performance narrated stories of the people’s resilience and spiritual depth. The festival also unveiled age-old crafts: blacksmithing, pottery, and intricate raffia weaving that spoke of an ingenuity passed down through centuries. Women added to the splendor with their unique attire, a blend of woven wrappers and coral beads, symbolizing beauty rooted in heritage rather than borrowed trends.

Music and dance carried the spirit of Ukelle across the grounds. The beating of drums, the chants of folk singers, and the call-and-response patterns brought together the young and old. Unlike the fleeting beats of urban soundtracks, these rhythms anchored the people to their ancestral memory, reminding everyone that cultural pride is not a relic but a living force.

A highlight of the 2025 festival was the storytelling segment. Elders narrated myths of origin, proverbs, and moral tales, giving younger generations a chance to hear their history firsthand. This act of oral preservation underlined why Ukele’s culture is “uncommon”—because it does not rely solely on books or digital archives but thrives in lived, spoken, and enacted memory.

The festival also carried a message of unity. Leaders stressed the need to protect Ukele’s customs against the erosion of globalization while embracing education, technology, and progress. “We must hold onto who we are,” one speaker declared, “because our uncommon heritage is the compass that will guide us in the modern world.”

Ukele’s Cultural Festival 2025 was not just an exhibition of tradition. It was a declaration that culture is identity, and identity is power. In its uncommon heritage, Ukele revealed a truth: that a people who remember where they come from will never lose their way, no matter how fast the world changes.

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