We enjoyed some respite yesterday. The sons of men said they were celebrating a festival.
Lisabi Festival!
It was a really grand event. Early in the morning, they went to the grove where they offered the annual sacrifice. They later went to the palace for merriment.
However, one outstanding practice that we cows noticed was the fact that all commercial activities were stopped for the better part of the day. The shop owners didn’t do it willingly. Rather, they were forced at the risk of sanctions to close shop.
It paid us because there was no slaughtering of our brother cows. At least, those to be slaughtered enjoyed an extra day.
Meanwhile, the shop owners and hawkers who disobeyed had their goods seized. We wouldn’t be sure if they got their goods back.
But one thing that came to our mind was that the festival was supposed to bring in tourists to the ancient city of Abeokuta.
Isn’t that a great idea?
However, if the tourists should come, what are those things that are put in place to make them put the event on their must attend list.
When all commercial activities are expected to stop for the better part of the day, it will definitely affect tourists.
Let’s look at a tourist who is thirsty and needs a drink. They may not find any bar open -not even the lone hawker – so there goes another opportunity to make some money. The tourist will definitely not be impressed.
The adire (batik) textile sellers at Itoku too could not open their shops. The opportunity to make sales too must have been lost.
What’s wrong with the idea of sending representatives of the traders and artisans to the event while the others will be making their sales.
The programme of events need to be tinkered!
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