The Correlation Between Culture, Politics and Development: A Focus on Iri-Ji Mbaise Festival – Presented by the Iriji Mbaise 2026 Festival Local Organising Committee Chairman
By Chimaroke Benedict Nnaji
While culture defines the identity, values, traditions, and worldview of a people, politics provides the framework for leadership, governance, and collective decision-making. Development, on the other hand, represents the social, economic, infrastructural, and human advancement of a society. These three concepts are inseparable; a society that successfully aligns its cultural heritage with sound political leadership creates a strong foundation for sustainable development.
The Iri-Ji Mbaise (New Yam Festival) presents a practical example of how culture can become an instrument for political unity, economic growth, tourism promotion, community mobilization, and social development.
Culture as the Foundation of Development
Culture embodies the history, beliefs, customs, language, festivals, arts, and institutions that distinguish one community from another. It preserves the collective memory of a people while transmitting values from one generation to another.
The Iri-Ji Mbaise Festival is far more than a celebration of the harvest season. It symbolizes thanksgiving to God for a successful farming season, appreciation of the dignity of labour, respect for agriculture, family reunion, community solidarity, and the preservation of Mbaise identity.
Through the festival:
- Cultural heritage is preserved.
- Traditional institutions are strengthened.
- Indigenous knowledge is transferred to younger generations.
- Community pride and identity are reinforced.
- The image of Mbaise is projected positively to Nigeria and the global community.
Evidences on ground have shown that festivals such as Iri-Ji encourage homecoming, strengthen cultural identity, promote tourism, and contribute to socio-economic development when effectively promoted.
Politics as the Instrument of Collective Action
Politics is often misunderstood as merely electoral competition. In reality, politics involves the organization of society, allocation of resources, formulation of policies, and mobilization of people toward common goals.
Within the context of Iri-Ji Mbaise, politics should be viewed as community leadership rather than partisan rivalry.
The festival creates a neutral platform where:
- Traditional rulers unite beyond autonomous communities.
- Political office holders interact directly with the people.
- Community development associations coordinate efforts.
- Business leaders, professionals, and the diaspora collaborate.
- Youth organizations and women groups participate in decision-making.
Historically, Mbaise has demonstrated strong traditions of communal organization and ethnic unions that contributed significantly to political mobilization and community development.
Therefore, the festival becomes an annual parliament of Mbaise where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed, and developmental priorities are discussed.
Development as the Product of Culture and Good Leadership
Development extends beyond physical infrastructure. It encompasses improvements in: Education, Healthcare, Agriculture, Security, Tourism, Employment, Social cohesion, Investment, and Environmental sustainability.
“When culture inspires unity and politics provides visionary leadership, development naturally follows”
The Iri-Ji Mbaise Festival possesses enormous developmental potential because it can stimulate multiple sectors simultaneously:
Economic Development
The festival attracts:
- Visitors and tourists
- Traders
- Hotels and hospitality businesses
- Transport operators
- Food vendors
- Artisans
- Cultural performers
- Fashion designers
- Media organizations
These activities generate income, create employment opportunities, and stimulate local economic growth.
Studies on cultural tourism in Mbaise have identified increased income, employment generation, business promotion, investment opportunities, and infrastructural improvement as key outcomes of cultural festivals such as Iriji Mbiase.
Agricultural Development
As a New Yam Festival, Iri-Ji naturally promotes agriculture by: - Celebrating farmers.
- Encouraging youth participation in farming.
- Promoting yam production.
- Creating markets for agricultural products.
- Encouraging agricultural innovation.
Tourism Development
A professionally organized Iri-Ji Festival can become an internationally recognized cultural tourism destination.
Tourists are attracted by: - Traditional dances
- Visit to historic site (like the Lagwa monkey colony and others, when well developed)
- Cultural exhibitions
- Indigenous cuisine
- Traditional wrestling
- Craft exhibitions
- Royal processions
- Cultural competitions
Such tourism increases internally generated revenue while enhancing Mbaise’s national and international profile.
Social Development
The festival promotes: - Peaceful coexistence
- Family reunions
- Respect for elders
- Youth mentorship
- Community dialogue
- Cultural education
- Volunteerism
These outcomes strengthen social capital, which is essential for long-term development.
The Interrelationship Between Culture, Politics and Development may be viewed as a continuous cycle;
Culture creates identity and unity.
Politics transforms that unity into collective decisions and policies.
Development becomes the visible outcome of effective leadership built upon cultural values.
As development improves the quality of life, people become more committed to preserving and promoting their cultural heritage.
Thus:
Culture inspires Politics.
Politics enables Development.
Development strengthens Culture.
-The three operate as mutually reinforcing forces.
Iri-Ji Mbaise as a Development Platform
The modern Iri-Ji Mbaise Festival should evolve beyond ceremonial celebration into a strategic development platform.
It can become a vehicle for:
- Investment promotion.
- Agricultural exhibitions.
- Business networking.
- Youth empowerment.
- Diaspora engagement.
- Fundraising for community projects.
- Security initiatives.
- Educational scholarships.
- Healthcare outreach.
- Digital innovation.
- Cultural diplomacy.
For example, initiatives such as establishing an Mbaise Security Surveillance Command Centre, promoting the Mbaise Security Fund, recognizing outstanding entrepreneurs and Community service, and attracting investors demonstrate how Iriji Mbaise festivals can directly contribute to community development.
Our Target this year
To maximize the developmental impact of Iri-Ji Mbaise, the following measures are being pursued:
- Institutionalization of the festival through an independent planning framework.
- Strengthening partnerships between traditional institutions, government, the private sector, and the diaspora.
- Developing Iri-Ji Mbaise into an international cultural tourism brand.
- Introducing investment forums alongside cultural activities.
- Promoting agricultural innovation and youth entrepreneurship.
- Digitizing documentation and global promotion of the festival.
- Establishing annual development projects funded through festival partnerships and donations.
- Encouraging research and documentation on Mbaise history and cultural heritage.
- Integrating security, environmental sustainability, and community service into the festival program.
- Positioning Iri-Ji Mbaise as a catalyst for sustainable socio-economic transformation across the Mbaise nation.
- Recognising and Appreciating outstanding community development services of Mbaise sons and daughters, friends and partners.
The Iri-Ji Mbaise Festival demonstrates that culture is not merely a celebration of tradition but a strategic asset for political cohesion and sustainable development. When cultural heritage is effectively harnessed through visionary leadership, it becomes a powerful instrument for economic growth, tourism, investment, social harmony, and community advancement.
The future of Mbaise therefore depends not only on preserving its rich traditions but on transforming those traditions into engines of inclusive development. Iri-Ji Mbaise provides a unique opportunity to unite culture, politics, and development in pursuit of a shared vision of prosperity, peace, and progress for present and future generations.
Nnaji ( B.Eng, COREN, Msc const.) is the president – General of Uvuru Community Development Union, (UCDU)
