Notes from a participant
“AS a first outing, there were more commercial activities than cultural promotions. Tijani Abass, the official media coordinator, said next year (meaning this year 2023) ‘aye maa gbo, orun si maa mo’ (meaning the earth will hear and the heavens will know about the next festival). The talk on every lip, indeed, was that next year will be bigger; and, if you like, I can add on behalf of Yemi Soile (the other wing of the event) that it will come complete with robust cultural offerings.”
The promise the organisers of The Nigerian Festival UK made last year was that the earth will hear and the heavens will know that Nigerians are in Lambeth Borough and its surroundings. June 17 was the chosen date when the Lambeth community would come together to enjoy a slice of Nigerian culture, try a few dance steps, and taste the famous Jollof Rice. Vendors of various items and services showed up to canvass for new clients and make a quick buck or two. Even the local Police took a booth to “sell” safety in the community.
Just for you, the readers, we shall subvert that saying about not all clothes need be dried in the sun because as at the evening when I departed for Victoria coach station, the promise of a bigger festival was still in the works. There are those who mounted a strong defense on behalf of the organisers that after all this is just the second year and also at a new venue. Why will I not agree with the two sides of the muted debate? In fact, someone whispered that I cannot say the heavens were not represented if we factor in the presence of Eyo and the two masquerades. If there is any Eyo masquerade that abstracted the costumes of the real thing this Eyo scored all the available points. Real or abstraction, the presence of the heavenly beings energised the audience. Women left their husbands and boyfriends to dance to the accompanying music that introduced the Eyo.
You must pardon me if this story is subverting all rules of chronology and bringing the end to the fore instead of following the order of events. I confess that penny-pinching always leaves ugly marks in the narration of a wannabe reporter who has to decide to pay an exorbitant fare on a fast train or the slow National Express Coach that takes its time to arrive at Victoria Station from Folkestone, Kent. Yes, I saved not a few Sterling Pounds, but I also missed the beginning of the festival.
By 2:27 pm when I made it to the venue, a group of seven women from Honor Oak Community Center was raising the spirits of the multicultural audience. In that choir, there was someone from Brazil, another from Sierra Leone, three Jamaicans, one Nigerian, and a British lady from Liverpool. As you can see, this is a pool of voices from different parts of the world. The group on stage and the audience listening represented a motley of nationalities. The first song Shekere (instrument of Praise) was written by the leader of the group, Pastor Juliet Iyeyemi. The second song was also produced and composed for the group by this versatile woman who wears many hats. According to her, she started working with the ladies as members of Furaha Social and Creative Wellbeing Project a few months ago. The period of isolation occasioned by COVID played a role in the coming to life of the group. As it is known, music plays as therapy and as a way of improving well-being. Pastor Iyeyemi is not just a singer, composer, and performer, she is also president at the Relationship Counsellor (TRC) and managing director at Anewlife Project.
As soon as the seven women left the stage, it was the turn of two very young Polish-Nigerian entertainers. As it is said in various online prayer groups, the prayer of all parents is that on the day their children bring them honor, they should not be readers of the news but living witnesses to the day of glory. I have never met Osaze (14) and his brother Marcus (11) but I watched them perform like professionals. They sang, danced, and got the audience asking for more. The first tune they did was “Gone clear” a fast-beat composition. This was followed by a tune called “Brexee” and by the time their time was up, the crowd was entertained with “Discoteca” – a new composition they had just recently completed. We were the lucky ones who got a first taste of the work.
Their Dad, Roland Osa Iyekekpolor is an Alum of the Great University of Benin, Nigeria, and Katarzyna Iyekekpolor, their mother from Poland. One thing you will notice is Katarzyna’s total support of her kids and; should you have a question about their performance, it will not be strange to hear her say “go and meet their manager” — not even go and meet Roland. It was quite a thrill watching the entire family’s transition from Mum and Dad to a business where everyone played his or her part with such polished efficiency. To all lovers of fast Rap music, there are tracks on Youtube and other social media platforms.
Part 2
SO, let us take a break from the music and MC Larry J, the standup comedian who added spice to the event. He is a very known face on Instagram and Youtube. He knew how to get the crowd back to Lagos with those time-tested jokes about old school songs (wherever you go…gogogongo) and TV commercials of yore. It appears impossible to be in the United Kingdom and not hear jokes about immigration papers. Yes, there were enough of those jokes to fill a page. The good thing is that the audience loved all his jokes.
In any case, at events such as a cultural festival like the one just concluded, there are people who come to enjoy themselves without a care in the world. They dance as if no one was watching them. I could not help but capture a certain lady in vivid pictures. As soon as the music reached that pulsating tempo, the god of dancing feet stepped aside so that her head could take the place of her legs. She took the okiti (summersault) with reckless abandon as we say in LasGidi.
At any event, one is never sure who you could run into. I was at the vendor’s stand put up by Isabelle Defoe of PRomota, the marketing company of a money remittance company. As I turned to leave the stand I chanced by Ms. Adenike Ojo, the playwright of a new play “In hiding.” She took over the publicity of her debut production at the Tower Theater, UK. She came with her husband and child telling everyone present about her upcoming production. Just like participants from the creative industry showed up, there were politicians from Lambeth Borough. There was Councilor Ade Aminu, a former Mayor, Councillor Pauline George who danced to show her connection with Nigeria when called up.
In an ebullient ceremony such as this, it is not unusual to come across a personality who comes across as cold. I still cannot understand why Mr. Ayo Akinfe, one of the executives of Central Association of Nigerians in the UK gave such a cold shoulder when Councillor ‘Lade Hephzibah Olugbemi attempted a friendly introduction.
As soon as the hand of the clock moved closer to six o’clock in the evening, I was sure it was time to head back to Victoria coach station for my 7 o’clock journey on National Express. The voice of the Master of ceremony was my company as he introduced Egungun to come on stage. I added to the hearing of all that Egungun be careful na express you dey go.
On the way out, Uche a professional musician, appeared on the main stage to dish out sounds that Nigeria’s National Orientation Agency would be proud to help disseminate. He came with songs to edify the listeners, his band included traditional instrumentalists who added a missing cultural touch to the space that maintained its Western outlook. He had someone on Omele and another on the talking drum. The music was highly percussive but the lyrics were about unifying Nigeria, living together, and such nationalistic songs that appeared not to go down well with a fun-seeking audience.
All told and after a medium-sized hole in my account, it was time to head home, and I left with a bag filled with memories and contacts. How would I forget the Bulgarian whom I asked what she knows about Nigeria and without missing a heartbeat said the men are polygamous! Really? Is that all she knows about a country of 200 million souls of mixed cultures and religions? If the Bulgarian knew little about the former giant of Africa, there was a lady from Ireland who met an Irish-Nigerian at the grounds, and through their common heritage, Nigeria was born anew.
The festival became a ground for talent discovery and the meeting of old faces. Dr. Dayo Olomu, whom we met last year at the Adire Carnival in Vienna, Austria, was present with his wife and together we constituted the unofficial evaluating team. The gist of our evaluation was how to make the ‘earth hear and the heavens know’ that Nigerians are in the United Kingdom. My suggestion was to have a parade at Vauxhall Park where the festival was held. The reason behind that is to make active participants of those who would hitherto be mere spectators.
All told, this second edition holds its promise close to its chest. Come 15th of June 2024, the third edition promises to be greater!
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