By Rabiu Sanusi
The North-East Coordinator of the National Technical Research Council (NTRC) and Deputy Chairman of the Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, Alhaji Saleh Muhammad Umar, on Friday attended the 17th edition of the annual Vunon Wrestling Festival held in Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The traditional ruler, popularly known as Mai Kaltungo, joined other prominent dignitaries at the cultural event hosted by the Hama Batta, Homun Alhamdu Gladstone Teneke, who also serves as Chairman of the Batta Traditional Council, Demsa.
The annual Vunon Festival is one of the most celebrated cultural gatherings in the Bwatiya Kingdom.
It is organised to commemorate the second burial rites of the mother of Nzeanzo (Vunon), regarded as the spirit god of the Farai community.
The festival also symbolises the official commencement of the rainy season, a period traditionally regarded as highly significant because farming activities and crop planning are not permitted until after the completion of the event.
Speaking during the occasion, community leaders described the Vunon Wrestling Festival as the most important and widely recognised traditional wrestling event in the Bwatiya Kingdom, attracting participants and spectators from different parts of the North-East region.
The event featured thrilling traditional wrestling contests, cultural displays, music performances, and the gathering of royal fathers, community stakeholders, and visitors who celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Batta people.
After participating in the festival activities, Mai Kaltungo proceeded to Farai Market, where he carried out an empowerment initiative for women traders in the area.
The gesture, according to residents, was aimed at supporting petty businesses and improving the livelihoods of market women amid the current economic challenges.
Beneficiaries and community members commended the traditional ruler for identifying with the people and extending humanitarian support while also promoting cultural unity and heritage preservation in the region.