Nigerian community planning Igbo celebrations in June

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A local African population will celebrate their culture, food and fashion in a gathering next month in Fort St. John.

Preparations are being made to celebrate the Igbo community, relating to people who are historically in eastern Nigeria.  

The Igbo people are also found in Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Obinna Amaefule, chair of the planning committee, promises attendees a “colourful” event showcasing Nigerian cuisine, fashion and everyday life.

“You probably haven’t seen Nigerian cultural dancing,” said Amaefule. “You’re going to see the proper Nigerian dresses, what we call the Isiagu. [It] represents royalty. It’s something that we like to celebrate, and it’s just one piece of what we’re going to be displaying.

“You’re going to see coral beads and what they signify. We’re going to be displaying some cultural Igbo artefacts to people, like the broom that you use in your home. We have what we use as a broom back home in Nigeria.”

Amaefule came to Canada in 2018. After stops in Manitoba and Alberta, he found himself in Fort St. John during the Covid pandemic in 2020.

“When I came, there wasn’t a very huge Nigerian community presence,” said Amaefule. “Maybe because it was Covid, but post-Covid the community has grown.”

With a town population of just 21,153 as of the 2021 census, it is estimated that of the 160 residents of African descent, 62.5 per cent – or 100 people – called Nigeria their country of origin.

“I have four kids who were all born here in Canada,” said Amaefule. “They know nothing about Nigeria. They know nothing about my culture.

“We’re trying to bring them in to understand our culture, teach them a bit of our language, quiz them on the language, get them to do dances, get them to see the way we dress and the meanings of those things.”

Invitations have been extended to Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer and Fort St. John mayor Lilia Hansen, and Amaefule said Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy will be in attendance.

“It’s an opportunity for us to also interact with Canadian public figures, politicians, to tell them who we are, what we do, what we bring to the table as a unique people,” said Amaefule.

The event will take place on Saturday, June 7th at the Radisson Hotel at 9223 100th Street in Fort St. John’s downtown core starting at 2 p.m. The free event is open to the public.

For more information, email Amaefule at edobam@yahoo.com.