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

“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.