‘It’s a thing of joy to be part of this’: Naija fest showcases Nigerian culture

The colours, sounds, food and traditions of Nigeria were on full display Saturday afternoon as hundreds of people gathered at the Riverbank Discovery Centre for Naija Summer Fest.

Organized by the United Nigerians in Brandon Association, the annual event brought together members of Brandon’s Nigerian community and other residents for an afternoon of live performances, Nigerian cuisine, a marketplace and traditional attire representing the country’s diverse cultures.

UNBA president Hosteen Bungon said the festival, which was attended by more than 500 people, is organized each year to remind Nigerian families, particularly younger generations, of their cultural roots.

“We don’t want them to forget our culture,” Bungon told the Sun.

Nigeria is home to more than 250 languages and ethnic groups, he said, with each contributing its own food, clothing, dances and traditions.

“We don’t want to disconnect our children from it,” Bungon said. “There is a rich culture with which we value so much, and we want them to also experience it.”

Bungon said the presence of many Canadians at the event showed that the festival was achieving its objective.

“You can see that we have a lot of Canadians that are here that came to have a feel of Nigerian culture, and they’re having fun as well,” he said.

Children were among those taking part in cultural performances, showcasing traditional dances and attire.

The participation of children was one of the highlights of the event, Emmanuel Ahaneku, immediate past chair of the Umu Igbo Brandon Association Inc., told the Sun.

The association represents people from southeastern Nigeria.

Ahaneku said seeing his own children participate in the cultural activities was a source of pride.

“It’s a thing of joy to be part of this,” he said. “This is a way to also push out our heritage, our culture, proudly Nigerian, and also to let our kids and our children know where they are from, their roots as well.”

Two of Ahaneku’s daughters participated in the event.

He said raising children in a multicultural community such as Brandon provides an opportunity for Nigerian parents to preserve their heritage while also embracing their new home.

“As a parent, the joy is to have your kids maintain or preserve that culture, that tradition,” he said.

The Yoruba Heritage Association of Brandon, representing people from southwestern Nigeria, was also among the groups participating in the festival.

President Gbenga Moses Pelemo said preserving culture among younger generations was a major reason the association was formed.

He said some Nigerian children growing up outside the country do not understand or speak their parents’ languages, something he described as a concern for the community.

“It was worrisome for us at the beginning when we came in and we saw a couple of our children,” Pelemo told the Sun. “Some of them don’t even understand their language.”

The association has therefore worked to bring Yoruba children together through cultural groups and activities.

Pelemo said the participation of young children at Saturday’s festival, and the interest shown by others in joining the groups, was an encouraging sign.

“We are so excited that the culture is not lost,” he said.

He encouraged Nigerian families to work together to ensure their children not only appreciate their heritage but also learn to speak their languages and pass the traditions on to future generations.

While the festival is intended to celebrate Nigerian heritage, Bungon said it is also an opportunity for Nigerians in Brandon to strengthen their community.

“A united people is a successful people,” he said.

He encouraged Nigerians living in Brandon to come together and participate in community activities, saying a stronger community would give Nigerians a greater voice and allow them to contribute more to the city.

Ahaneku similarly expressed appreciation to the City of Brandon and local representatives who supported the festival, saying the participation of community leaders demonstrated that Nigerians are increasingly making Brandon their home.

“Nigerians are promising to continue adding value, being part of the success story of this beautiful city of Brandon,” he said.

The festival was originally planned for August but was postponed twice because of flooding and related safety concerns, Bungon said.

He said bringing busy families and community members together can also be challenging, making Saturday’s turnout particularly meaningful to organizers.

The United Nigerians in Brandon Association plans to make Naija Summer Fest an annual event and hopes to enlarge it in future years.

“We planned to make it bigger as we go on,” Bungon said.

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