Throwback Thursday today takes me on a trip back in time, revisiting one of the most favorite experiences I had in primary school - Cultural Day. The picture shared above is of me in my cultural outfit during a fun and enlightening day we celebrated back in primary three.
Cultural Day was a day in my school where many cultures of Nigeria were represented and celebrated by the students. On that day, I was super proud to represent my tribe - the Yoruba tribe, one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. I wore an iro (a wrapper), a buba (a loose top) and a gele (our tribe's distinctive head-tie usually worn by women). This outfit was a representative of the rich culture of the Yoruba people,and putting it on was a very special feeling for me as it mde me feel closer to my ancestral heritage.
Honestly, it was not just about dressing up; it was about taking in the beauty of the diverse Nigerian tribes. Every student and staff represented their outfits, their food, their dances, and songs. We got to learn about other cultures, taste different native dishes, and dance to music from different tribes. I remember savoring the succulent flavors of Oha Soup and Starch, a popular dish from the Igbo Tribe and Tuwo Shinkafa from the Hausa Tribe. The atmosphere of that day was filled with joyous moments as we celebrated our differences.
With more than 70 different tribes, Nigeria is a plethora of culture. A fascinating observation I made during this program was the similarities of our cultures, for example how similar many tribes happen to be in values or even some dishes, just prepared in slightly different ways. Although, I also noticed the differences, like the uniqueness in languages, in dress codes, and in the kind of traditional dances. Being exposed to such a wide range of traditions in my childhood was both enlightening and thrilling. It made me appreciate our cultural heritage and the value of diversity.
I find it very outstanding how much impact such an event could have my young mind. To this day, I still bring with me the lesson I learnt that day: the importance of embracing not only our own culture but also that of others
So many memories that a single photograph can give us... You have really succeeded. Thank you very much for being part of #tbt Thursdays and for giving us a little more of the history and culture of your country, I hope to read you here every week that you have some event to remember my friend...
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Thank you for stopping by♥️🙏. The up votes and comments have been quite interesting and welcoming. Even seeing as this is my first post here. You will definitely see more from me. I have a lot of interesting stories😁
I love the concluding thought to this post, embracing the tribes of yours and others 🥰
You didn't change much of your facial looks growing up Moyin! So beautiful and looks calm as always 😊
The Gele though 🤣
Hahaha😂😂😂😂 thank you. I think with tribalism on the rise in Nigeria, the last message is something everyone should hold on to tightly
Now about the gele😂😂, it was tied well before but I loosened it while playing so when I wanted to take the photo, they just tied it anyhow on my head😂😂😂
Nigeria, a country full of love.... You know I read a book of Nigerian author "Chinua Achebe" it was really a masterpiece and I got to know much about Nigerian Culture from the lense of Nigerian himself. I have great urge to visit one day.
That's so interesting!!! There are lot of Nigerian Authors that are so interesting. You can also check out Tomi Adeyemi and Chimamanda Adiche. Amazinggg
You can come visit. The culture is something to experience at least once. And the food too🤗🤗. Nigerians love foreigners so you will be well taken care of, trust me.
Thank you for stopping by
See how cute you were looking at a young age. I can't really remember much about cultural day when I was little. I did not really participate aside from watching the events. But one thing I am sure of is that the Cultural Day event used to be a lot of fun.
Yes oh. Although they later cancelled it in my school (for reasons I don't know), I was glad I was able to experience some.
Since you haven't experienced any cultural day, you can add it to your to-do-list to attend any festival. Trust me, you will lock in so hard with your ancestral side and embrace the beauty of culture
I love cultural day in school, oh my God this memory is beautiful