How the Mkpokiti Dancers Appeared at the Back of 5 naira note
How the Mkpokiti Dancers Appeared at the Back of 5 naira note
If you look at the back of the 5 Naira Note you will notice a group of people that look like acrobats.
Well, those people are actually a group of cultural dancers Identified as the Mkpokiti Cultural dance group.
Even if you have never seen them in real life, they actually exist.
Whatever is displayed on the Nigerian currency actually exists, let’s take a look at how this dance group ended up at the back of the 5 Naira note.
In the year 1959, the late Chief Festus Okoli who was also identified as Ojimba formed the cultural dance group.
This dance group was formed in Anambra State and they have been in existence ever since.
This particular group of dancers are quite different from other dancers, they do their things with so much passion and get the audience excited.
Even though the group was formed in the year 1959, it became popular in the year 1970.
That particular day different states came to Lagos to celebrate the Civil war that had just ended.
That was the opportunity for the dance group to showcase their talents to the crowd.
The dance group were able to dazzle the crowd with their cool moves and proved to be the best group in the country.
On that very day they won the sum of 3000 pounds, they also won a golden gong as the winner of the competition.
The Mkpokiti group is said to have never taken the second position when it comes to competitions, they always come out victorious.
This special dance by the Cultural group made them popular all over the country.
Back then when the 5 Naira note was introduced in 1973 by Yakubu Gowon, the front part of the note had the face of Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
The Mkpokiti dance group were given the opportunity to grace the front of the 5 Naira note. The picture of that particular dance group have been behind the 5 Naira note ever since then.
It was due to how triumphant the group was that made Anambra State Government accept the Cultural dancers to represent them in any dance competition.
The group was also made the ambassador of the country at the world level.
The group have represented Nigeria in so many parts of the world.
In the year 1978, the dance group won the cultural dance world cup. The dance group is still functioning even today, they are still as good as they were in the past.
Thanks for reading.
: Amb. Kamal MOPELOLA Kiniun Annabi
+234 703 355 3347
- Category:
- Arts & Culture
- 24 Sep, 2021
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