For several hours penultimate Saturday, guests from far and near joined the Principal, teachers and students of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Model College (EHJMC), Ibonwon-Epe Lagos State to celebrate their annual cultural day. The carnival-like event was held at the school’s playground.
It was all glamour and show of opulence, as the event served as a platform for the students to exhibit their knowledge of Nigeria’s cultural diversity. The occasion was suffused with beautifully diverse colours that depict varied meanings and trends.
There was an assortment of colourful costumes; a parade of beautifully-decked individuals who performed to the delight of parents and guests.
For the old, it was a beauty to behold, a spectacle that made them proud. For the young, it was a learning ground.
The gathering was a fusion of the old and new generations in celebration of the African, nay Nigerian cultural heritage.
The cultural day was also a showcase for the school’s 10th year anniversary. The Vice-Principal, Rev. Sister Elizabeth Okonofua had described the cultural day as an avenue to bring back Nigerian dying cultures, especially to the children’s consciousness.
She added that the cultural day was held to teach the children their different languages, expose them to cultures of different tribes so as to foster unity.
The event began with a parade. The pupils had, before then, been compartmentalised into six groups, representing the six geo-political zones of the country. Pupils were decked in colourful costumes that pertained to the zone they represented. There were kings, dressed in their kingly regalia, their wives also dressed in the full regalia of the wife of a king, children, as well as retinue of chiefs and guards.
Each zone also presented items particular to it. The North Central, known for its abundance of food and fruits, presented baskets filled with assorted fruits and giant tubers of yam to the amazement of the guests.
Parents were also not left out in the parade of costumes. Many wore costumes different from what obtained in their tribes. Noticeable was Mrs. Oby Uzo-Igwe, from Abia State, dressed in the full regalia of a Fulani milk maid. On why she appeared in such attire, she said: “We are one in Nigeria.”
Father of the day, Chief Henry Olori, stood out in his full Urhobo traditional attire. Appreciative of the pupils’ spectacular show, he doled out cash to them.
After the parade came the dance presentations. Each zone took time to present dances peculiar to most of the tribes that make up the zone.
The dances were perfectly choreographed and presented.
Dancers from the South-south Zone were decked in Calabar attire. They glided between different routines, showing the strength of each state in the zone.
For Bayelsa State, the pupils did the canoe paddling perfectly so much so that they drew applause from the crowd who, in turn, splashed cash on them.
The North Central presented the swange dance from Benue State to the amazement of the crowd. The compere could not but acknowledge the pupils’ ‘wining the traditional way’ and with the dance, the pupils once again, demonstrated that they could also excel in cultural displays, not only in academics.
Dancers from the Southeast came in with their energetic steps laced with acrobatic displays. The aura was such that some Igbo guests joined the dance to relive their youthful days.
The Southwest was not left out in their colourful adire costume and beautifully-choreographed dance steps to the admiration of the crowd. Their dance was motivating enough to make a great-grand-mother wiggle her weak waist and feeble knees to the enticing drumbeat.
Dances displayed included bata and apepe much to the admiration of the crowd.
For the Northeast, it was time to showcase some Fulani milk maid/marriage proposal dance. The ladies came in with their calabashes filled with milk, and the men proposed marriage to them. The men were asked to wash the ladies’ clothes and so ensued a dance routine based on marriage rites in Northern Nigeria.
Aside the dance presentations, there were strategic structures depicting each zone. It was here that their different foods were displayed. The structures were built with grasses, mats and traditional cloths. The foods were typical to each zone. Northern staple drink, kunu and zobo, with suya were in abundance, while the Southeast presented white soup, bitter leaf soup and abacha.
The parents, teachers and pupils could not hide their excitement about the event, which also coincided with the school’s 10th year anniversary. The parents expressed satisfaction with the school’s services, saying the services were commensurate to the fees they pay.
They were also excited at the display of Nigeria’s diverse cultures.
Chief Olori, who had four children in the school out of which two had graduated, was visibly excited with the performances as he continued to spray the pupils with cash. To him, the essence of culture cannot be over-emphasised since it helps to give identity to man.
“Culture has its value and that is why I am fully dressed in my traditional attire.
“African culture was demonstrated here as the pupils filed out in parade. Only those of us who value culture will appreciate what the pupils displayed here.
“No culture is against humanity. Where I come from, my culture is to our favour. Before the advent of Christianity, we had cultures and it only complemented our culture as its rules also apply to our cultures.
“In my culture, killing, stealing and other vices are not allowed, same thing applies to Christianity. So, Christianity came to help us consolidate on our culture. We cannot alienate ourselves from our culture because it is what defines humanity,” he said.
Mr. Anthony Ironbar, who has a daughter in Junior Secondary School (JSS 2), the cultural day, is significant because it is from culture that the human society gets its definition.
“Everything else emanates from our culture and it helps in improving our morals. Most children these days are clueless about their roots. So, this cultural day will help them by showing them who they really are,” he said.
Mrs. Ngozi Nwoha, who identified discipline as EHJMC’s unique selling point, was proud to say she had achieved her objective of bringing her daughter, Amanda, to the school to acquire education.
According to her, Amanda lacked concentration before now but she had since improved. She, however, wants the school to do more in sports.
Her words: “I was happy when they told me it’s a cultural day. And compared to all cultural days I had attended, none is as large and elaborate as this. Culture cannot be over-emphasised and in everything we do, we should always remember where we come from.
“Our ability to respect other people’s culture will enable us to live together as a people and as a nation.”
Barrister Ifeanyi Ezeaka, who has a daughter in Senior Secondary (SS2), was also happy with the school’s services. He said he had recommended 10 clients to EHJMC because, according to him, the school is high in morals, academics and religion.
He noted that “culture is society and society is culture. Without culture, we can go nowhere as we develop from it.”
James Dodo from Kaduna State has a son in JS2. He said the school offers services commensurate to what he pays as tuition. According to him, his expectations are fully met.
His words: “It is culture that defines a man and an event such as this is good so that we don’t forget who we are. These kinds of events will also teach our children about their cultures.”
He also identified discipline and orderliness as some of the school’s unique selling points.
According to Mrs. Tinuke Agunbaide, the teachers are very efficient and she has seen positive changes in her children since they joined the school. She has a son in SS1 and another in the primary section.
Mrs. Agunbaide described culture as an embodiment of our totality, even as she noted that bringing it to the children’s consciousness will help them be true to themselves wherever they find themselves.
For the pupils, the experience has been one of a lifetime. The cultural day opened their eyes to the reality of where they come from, their traditions and so many other things they were unaware of before.
Amanda Nwoha from Abia State and in SS3, says her stay in the school has been satisfactory, even though it was difficult at first but she has been coping fine. She represented the South-south.
To her, culture is significant because “we can’t go into the modern life without an understanding of the ways of life of our ancestors.”
She said: “We need to understand how our ancestors lived their lives in order to be able to understand where we are and where we are heading to. Culture makes me happy–the dance and food. I also feel our cultural foods are more nutritious than most canned foods.
“Culture teaches children of the new generation those good manners that were appreciated in the past. It trains us in the area of differentiating us from others.”
Igboko Joseph from Abia State, and in JS3, represented the Southwest. To him, their teachers are efficient.
“The cultural day is beautiful; I like the way the pupils and parents are motivating the dance groups. It encourages us to promote our cultural heritage. Culture will help us know how to relate with our neighbours; it helps us to cultivate good neighbourliness,” Joseph said.
For Emeka Igwemba, an SS3 student from Anambra State, and who represented the South-south, his stay in EHJMC has been rewarding and the services have been improving since he joined the school.
He believes culture is very important. “Who is a man without culture? I love my culture, I love what I am doing here and am proud to be a Nigerian,” he said.
Omoniyi Olayinka is in JS3 and from Ekiti State. She said culture is an important tool which reminds us of who we are. To her, a good understanding of a people’s culture will help us to relate well and tolerate others.
Peace Njoku is from Imo State and she represented the North Central. She is in SS2. She said the school has helped her a lot.
“There is great improvement in my spiritual and academic life since I joined the school.
“Culture brings us together as this cultural day has brought us together. I am not a fan of traditional attires but I love it now because I look good in it,” she said.
Agunbiade Joseph is in SS1. He is from Ondo State but represented the Southeast.
By his appraisal, their teachers are very good at what they do and they give moral talks that help shape their being. He believes culture is what defines the totality of a man.
Sochi Nwankwo, the Senior Girls’ Prefect is from Anambra State but she represented the North Central.
She said: “EHJMC has come a long way. I have learnt a lot and my experience has been beautiful. The school is built on solid moral, spiritual, academic, social and sports foundation. EHJMC has what it takes to build up pupils.
“Culture reminds us of who we are and where we come from. On a day like this, we have learnt different cultures–food, dances, dressings and the likes and they have broadened our horizon on what unites us as a country.”
The Senior Boys’ Prefect, Udonne Chinonso, is from Abia State and also represented the North Central. He said his experience in EHJMC has been delightful.
“Children are not pampered in EHJMC. We are taught survival skills which help us to cope in life. The school also boasts high educational and sporting facilities.
“I love my culture and I can represent any culture/tribe if asked to do so. Our cultures remind us of where we come from, our roots; helps us to understand ourselves more and unite us more,” Chinonso said.
The teachers are happy and fulfilled as they see their pupils excel.
Mr. Bajiwolu Rufus teaches Biology and Basic Science. According to him, the pupils are trained on morals and academics which will help their spiritual life.
“We teach them how to behave in the society and imbibe in them common survival tips. For instance, we teach them how to wash, speak their local dialects and some other necessary skills needed to survive in life.
“Our children have forgotten our culture and so we set out today to expose our pupils to who they really are; make them know about their cultures. Some of them can’t even speak their dialects. So, this has helped them to know the dressings, languages, foods and the different marriage rites of their ethnic groups,” he said.
Mrs. Omoniyi Oluwalana teaches Agricultural Science in the junior class. She said EHJMC has high standard in terms of academics and morals.
“We do not focus on academics alone, but we ensure our pupils are well grounded in all that will help them in life–sports, morals, religion/spirituality, ethics and social life, among others. Our culture should be cherished wherever we find ourselves,” she said.
Cultural gatekeepers have posited that for any society to fully develop socially, economically and politically, moral aspects of individuals’ lives should be gotten right. This, they say, draws from the fact that a morally sound individual would exhibit less crummy lifestyle. It will also make the society crime-free as there would be more individuals that are less inclined to criminality.
