Socio-Economic Contributions of Iyara Cultural Festival to Sustainable Tourism Development in Ijumu, Kogi State, Nigeria

Influence of Cultural Innovations on the Iyara Festival to Sustainable Tourism Development

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32350/sri.41.05

Keywords:

cultural festival, cultural innovations, development, socio-economic, sustainable tourism

Abstract

This study examines the socio-economic contributions of Iyara cultural festival to sustainable tourism development in Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State Nigeria. Descriptive and cross sectional survey research design, with a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative approach was adopted for the study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 200 respondents for the study. Questionnaires were administered to gather research information. The instrument had a minimum reliability coefficient of r = 0.79. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequency count, mean and standard deviation. The study established that there was a high influence of cultural innovations on the Iyara festival to sustainable tourism development; all the ten items yielded high mean scores between 2.20 and 3.64. Furthermore, there was a high level of social contributions on the Iyara festival to sustainable tourism development, all the ten items yielded high mean scores between 2.23 and 3.64. There was a high level of economic contributions on the Iyara festival to sustainable tourism development, all the ten items yielded high mean scores between 2.30 and 3.40. Finally, there was a high level of perception of cultural innovations on the Iyara festival to sustainable tourism development; all the ten items yielded high mean scores between 3.24 and 3.67. Based on these findings, the study concluded that socio-economic contributions and cultural innovations of Iyara festival have a significant influence to determine sustainable tourism development in Ijumu Local Government Area.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
0

Author Biographies

Rufus Abiodun Olayemi, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Sustainability Studies,

Olumuyiwa Abimbola Akande, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Sustainability Studies,

Opeyemi Olawumi Akinkuotu, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Sustainability Studies,

References

Akande, A. O. (2019). Ará Òrun kìn-ìn kin-in: Òyó-Yòrùbá Egúngún masquerade in communion and maintenance of ontological balance. Genealogy, 3(1), Article e7. https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy3010007

Akande, O. A. (2023). Dancers as interpreters: The aesthetics and social commentary of Hausa Koroso dance. Studies in Theatre and Performance, 43(3), 293–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/14682761.2022.2105541

Alleva, J. M., Custers, M., Chatzi, N., Vogt, J., Lukan, C., Annerbo, V., Hartmann, S., & Martijn, C. (2024). The feeling is mutual: A randomised controlled trial testing the positive body image process of reciprocity among close friends. Body Image, 51, Article e101794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101794

Ayo, G. A., Yusufu, A. M., & Itopa, J. (2022). Modernity and its impact on Ekuechi festival among the Ebira-Ihima of Kogi State in the 21st century. Confluence Journal of History & International Affairs, 1(1), 65–86.

Ayodeji, A. F. (2021). The cultural significance and influence of digital media on selected Yoruba festivals (Publication no. 28772506.) [Master’s thesis, Kwara State University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.

Bola, O. H., Ejidike, B. N., & Odewumi, O. S. (2025). Cultural festivals’ potentials in developing regions: The case of Ekuechi, Egungun and Egwu festivals for sustainable development. International Journal of Science, Architecture, Technology and Environment, 2(4), 705–724.

Braun, V., Clarke, V., Boulton, E., Davey, L., & McEvoy, C. (2021). The online survey as a qualitative research tool. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 24(6), 641–654. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2020.1805550

Butler, R. W. (1980). The concept of a tourist area cycle of evolution: Implications for management of resources. The Canadian Geographer/Le Géographe canadien, 24(1), 5–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0064.1980.tb00970.x

Chukwurah, G. O. (2022). Preservation of urban historic and cultural heritage sites in Delta State, Nigeria. International Journal of Science and Management Studies, 5(2), Article e105. https://doi.org/10.51386/25815946/ijsms-v5i2p105

Egbonyi, E. E., Ephraim, I. E., Omoogun, R. M., Ambe, B. A., & Onnogen, U. N. (2022). Cultural festivals and sustainable economic development in Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Sustainable Development, 4(1), 142–151.

Gearing, C. E., Swart, W. W., & Var, T. (1976). Planning for tourism development: Quantitative approaches. Praeger.

García-García, A. R., Jacobo-Hernández, C. A., Ochoa-Jiménez, S., & Valdez-del Río, S. (2023). Sustainable development and tourism: A review of the literature in WoS from 2001 to 2020. Sustainability, 15(24), Article e16805. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416805

Getz, D. (2010). The nature and scope of festival studies. International Journal of Event Management Research, 5(1), 1–47.

Kukoyi, I. A., Abioye, A., Aina Olayinka, C., Emmanuel, A. A., & Chinonso, C. C. (2015). Evaluation of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival as a means of promoting Lagos culture and socioeconomic advancement. American Journal of Tourism Management, 4(4), 77–88.

Lisette, V. D. B. (2013). Commoditization of the Ju/’Hoansi culture: Destroying authenticity or revitalizing tradition? [Doctoral dissertation, University of Leiden].

Lopes, R., & Hiray, A. (2024). Impacts of cultural events and festivals on cultural tourism. Journal of Advanced Zoology, 45(S4), 174–179. https://doi.org/10.53555/jaz.v45iS4.4177

Mejabi, E. I. (2019). The context of events in destination development: A case of the Osun-Osogbo cultural festival. Journal of good governance and sustainable development in Africa, 4(3), 1–12.

Ndubisi, E. J. O. (2018). African traditional festivals in a globalised society: A philosophical examination of Egba-Eze Ibagwa-Aka community. Nnamdi Azikiwe Journal of Philosophy, 10(1), 67–78.

Ododo, S. E. (2004). ‘Facekuerade’ theatre: A performance model from Ebira-Ekuechi festival in Nigeria [Doctoral dissertation, University of Ilorin].

Onyekwere, I. A., & Nworgu, K. O. (2020). Threats to rural livelihoods in Nigeria. Advances in Applied Sociology, 10(3), 41–60. https://doi.org/10.4236/aasoci.2020.103004

Pearce, P. L. (2013). The social psychology of tourist behaviour (Vol. 3). Elsevier.

Quinn, B. (2009). Festivals, events, and tourism. In T. Jamal & M. Robinson (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of tourism studies (pp. 483–503). SAGE. https://doi.org/10.4135/9780857021076.n27

Quinn, B. (2024). Geographies of festival and event spaces and places. In J. Wilson & D. Müller (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of tourism geographies (2nd ed., pp. 158–167). Routledge.

Raj, R. (2003, December 16). The impact of festivals on cultural tourism [Paper presentation]. Proceedings of the 2nd De’Haan Tourism Management Conference, Christel DeHaan Tourism and Travel Research Institute, Nottingham University Business School.

Sarfo-Mensah, P., & Oduro, W. (2007). Traditional natural resources management practices and biodiversity conservation in Ghana: A review of local concepts and issues on change and sustainability (Nota di Lavoro No. 90.2007). Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1017238

Tadesse, T., Bekele, M., Tumito, M., & Fikre, H. (2024). Intangible heritages: Historical perspectives of the Yahoode (Hadiya New Year) festival of the Hadiya people, South Central Ethiopia. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1), Article e2361535. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2024.2361535

Tripathy, B., & Raha, S. (2023). Role of Socio-Cultural Activities of Tribal People in Tourism Development in Arunachal Pradesh, with Special Reference to Local Festivals. Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International, 27(9), 140–145.

Van Beek, W. E. A. (2024). Masks versus cattle: The ecology of an African art form. Human Ecology, 52(4), 851–865. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-024-00484-7

Xing, S., & Heaton, D. (2021). A grounded theory study of ethnic tourism in Hainan, China. In M. D. Lucia & E. Giudici (Eds.), Humanistic management and sustainable tourism (pp. 155–173). Routledge.

Zeng, L., Li, R. Y. M., Nuttapong, J., Sun, J., & Mao, Y. (2022). Economic development and mountain tourism research from 2010 to 2020: Bibliometric analysis and science mapping approach. Sustainability, 14(1), Article 562. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010562

Zhao, Z. (2023). Tourism development and marketing strategies in emerging markets. Tourism Management and Technology Economy, 6(7), 26–32.

Downloads

Published

2026-06-30

How to Cite

Olayemi, R. A., Akande, O. A., & Akinkuotu, O. O. (2026). Socio-Economic Contributions of Iyara Cultural Festival to Sustainable Tourism Development in Ijumu, Kogi State, Nigeria: Influence of Cultural Innovations on the Iyara Festival to Sustainable Tourism Development . Sociological Research And Innovation, 4(01), 106–135. https://doi.org/10.32350/sri.41.05

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

1 2 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.