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…..From Tiv Swange to Idoma Masquerades, Congress Demands Urgent Preservation of Endangered Records
By: Abdullahi Inuwa
The Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC), Benue State Chapter, has raised concerns over the growing threat to the state’s rich cultural heritage, warning that fading recordings and undocumented oral traditions could erase vital chapters of its history.
The congress called on the Benue State Government, cultural institutions and young digital creators to urgently rescue endangered cultural records through digitisation and the establishment of a state cultural archive.
The call came on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, to commemorate World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, celebrated this year under the theme, “Your Window to the World.”
In a statement issued by its Benue State Chairman, Comrade Amb. Lubem Robert Aboh, the congress warned that the loss of traditional recordings and the passing of elderly custodians without documenting their knowledge could deprive future generations of priceless historical treasures.
The NYC identified Benue’s vibrant cultural expressions, including the Tiv Swange dance and Kwagh-hir performances, Idoma Ogirinya masquerade chants, Igede-agba festival songs and the ancestral oral traditions of the Etulo people, as important parts of the state’s identity that require urgent protection.
According to the congress, many of these traditions survive through fragile audio recordings, fading tapes and the memories of elderly storytellers, musicians and cultural custodians.
It cautioned that without deliberate preservation efforts, some of these cultural expressions could disappear before younger generations have the opportunity to learn, document and pass them on.
The congress described audiovisual heritage as more than a collection of old films, radio broadcasts, television programmes and sound recordings, stressing that it represents the voices, experiences and collective memory of a people.
It said the theme, “Your Window to the World,” underscores the importance of preserving these records as a bridge between the past and the future, while providing an opportunity to showcase Benue’s cultural richness to a global audience.
The NYC urged the state government to take the lead by establishing a dedicated cultural archive where historical recordings, indigenous performances, oral histories and other important materials could be safely preserved and made accessible for research and education.
It also called on tertiary institutions, cultural organisations and young technology enthusiasts to support the digitisation of endangered materials and equip youths with modern skills for audiovisual documentation and preservation.
The congress stressed that traditional knowledge should not be allowed to vanish with its custodians, urging communities to document the stories, songs, rituals and historical accounts of their elders before they are lost forever.
“A people without recorded memory are a people losing their soul,” the statement declared, calling for collective action to protect Benue’s cultural heritage.
The NYC maintained that preserving the state’s indigenous sounds, performances and stories would strengthen cultural identity, promote intergenerational learning and ensure that Benue’s traditions remain accessible to generations yet unborn.
It urged residents and stakeholders to treat cultural preservation as a shared responsibility, warning that once valuable historical records are lost, recovering them may be impossible.
The statement was signed by Comrade Amb. Lubem Robert Aboh, Chairman of the Nigerian Youth Congress, Benue State Chapter.
ENDS
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