Saturday evening at Ping Center, Ohio University’s Association of Nigerians hosted an event to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence from the United Kingdom.
Tables filled rapidly as people gathered for the celebration.
Popular music by Nigerian artists such as D’Banj, Flavour and Wale created an upbeat atmosphere as Nigerian men, women and children, wearing the traditional dress of their country, prepared technology and food for the evening’s jam-packed agenda.
A short presentation came first, teaching viewers about Nigeria’s rich culture and history. The country’s first inhabitants, dating back to 500 BC, are thought to have been the Nok people. Other tribes migrated to the area over time, until Islam was introduced in the 13th century.
The empire of Kanem ruled the area from the 11th to the 14th century.
After that, the Fulani Empire ruled until the British seized control of the region in 1886.
Nigeria finally gained its independence on Oct. 1, 1960, and is now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.
The presentation also recognized several celebrities of Nigerian descent, including the above-mentioned musician Wale, as well as football player Nnamdi Asomugha and Scrubs actor Donald Faison.
Subsequent activities included a buffet dinner of Nigerian cuisine, a display of the tying of a traditional headdress called a “gele,” a dance performance and a fashion show of the country’s colorful traditional garb.
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