Children celebrate their culture in style

Nigerian children need to be encouraged to love and adhere to their cultures as Ibijoke Adeboyejo observes in this report.

THE Importance of the African culture in the upbringing of the African child became a major subject of discourse as the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) celebrated the 2021 Day of the African Child in grand style with the theme ‘African Culture Fit for Children’.  The Celebration of the Day of African Child is in line with the African Union (AU) Charter on the rights of the African Child. It brought together Youths and Secondary School Children from within and around Lagos that engaged in diverse Cultural activities. It was a platform that offered the children a voice on cultural matters.

The event which held at Testimony Place, Oniru, Lekki Lagos recently had fifteen schools participating in four different activities which were Inter-Secondary Schools Debate with the title ‘Is the African Culture important in the upbringing of the African Child’?, Poetry rendition, African cultural fashion parade and cultural dance/drama.

In her opening remarks, the Director-General, CBAAC, Oluwabunmi Ayobami Amao stated that the choice of the theme for the 2021 Day of African Child Celebration was informed by the need to redirect attention to the eroding cultural values being experienced in our society in recent times. ‘The situation has become quite distressing that if urgent actions are not taken, there might be a total erosion of our values and we would have no society to live in. The African culture is potent enough to mold our children into what we want them to be. Regrettably, it is disheartening to note that those good aspects of our cultural values are being lost to the forces of so called civilization. I recall with nostalgia how we were brought up through values that were rooted in our culture and tradition such as those of respect for elders and constituted authorities, hard work and productivity, honesty and chastity, decency, good neighbourliness and the concepts of Omoluabi, amongst several others. Unfortunately these have all become very scarce commodities among our children’. She reiterated the essence of intimating the current generation of children and youths with native traditions, values and intelligence.

The chairperson of the occasion, Dr Oluwafemi Ogunsanya congratulated the children and reminded them that they are the future of the continent. She affirmed the D.G’s statement that a lot of the young ones out there have lost their identities and CBAAC has taken a step in the right path by organizing a programme such as this which would help recoup their confidence in understanding and appreciating their cultural background which is indeed a major source of their identity. She urged participants at the event to ensure they communicate often in their mother tongue as it was the only way they could understand the richness of the African culture.

Going further, the visioner and founder of Liberation Alliance, Mr Taiwo Otegbeye remarked that the culture of a group of people is their identity and once the culture is lost, everything is lost. Children at all levels should be encouraged to study history and ensure they know their panegyrics and other family renditions, this could revive some of the fading African values. They should emulate the good virtues instilled in the African culture by embracing the African cuisine, fashion, dance, music, language etc. This will in no small way help inspire and move the African Child to greatness. He concluded by saying ‘When you lose the fabrics of your culture, you lose your identity’.

The line-up of activities for the celebration started with a drama/dance presentation from participating schools such as Cannon James Pearse Anglican School, STC College, Home Science Association School, Adegoke Comprehensive College, Dowen College etc. The schools had different presentation that tallied with the theme of the event ‘African Culture fit for Children’. The activity was keenly contested with students showcasing traditional dance steps, acrobatic displays and dramatic monologues. The trio of Mrs Tinuke Nwakohu and Mrs Adenike Folarin were on hand to judge the performances of the children in this category.

The Inter-Secondary School Debate which was the star event of the day had schools like Chrisland College, Top Grade Secondary School, Christ Redeemers College, Dowen College, FSTC Yaba, Queens College, and Cannon James Pearse Anglican School tussle for the top position by presenting different arguments and postulations on the title: Is the African culture important in the upbringing of the African Child? This category had a Lead Speaker and a supporting speaker representing each school by giving justifiable reasons for their positions on the title. The judges in this category were: Dr Tola Odubajo, Mr Tosin Ayoade, Mrs Oyinkan Afolabi.

The African Cultural Fashion Parade was one of the activities aimed at showcasing the rich and diverse beauty in African Fashion and dressing. The Nigerian society alone boasts of over 400 ethnic groups, each with its own peculiar way of dressing. Some of these ethnic groups were represented as the children had beautiful outfits to display the beauty nature of the African culture through the African Fashion and Style. Schools such as Dowen College, Chrisland College, Home Science Association Schools, Topgrade Secondary School, Aunty Ayo Schools, all slugged it out in this category. The trio of Designer Folake Majin, Princes Ibinye Buowari-Browne and Mrs Aramide Akinkuotu were the judges of this category.

The last category at the event was for the Poetry Rendition. This highly intellectually rated category was critically analyzed by the judges which comprised of Mr Ola Awakan, Mrs Osaro Osayande, and Mr Taiwo Otegbeye. Schools like Mary Anne College, Cannon James Pearse Anglican School, Topgrade Secondary School, Chrisland College, STC College, Home Science Association School, Dowen College, FSTC Yaba, and Adegoke Comprehensive tussled it out in this category.