Cultural Diversity
Door: Thessa
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30 November 2006 | Nigeria, Abuja
One out of every 6 Africans is Nigerian and within this huge population there are over 250 ethnic groups. The diversity never became so clear as last weekend, during the Abuja Carnival.
The photos are taken during the Durbar –an event originally meant for emirs showing off. In Nigeria you’ll only find it in the north, but all the emirates were there with horses, camels, weapons and music. The bit where they started charging with their horses while shooting and shouting, was in one word spectacular! I took so many photos that I couldn’t quite select, but they give you an idea.
The day after was the closing ceremony of the carnival (4 days of which I saw the last 2) and all the 36 states of Nigeria were presenting their dance, music, traditional dresses and products. I can say that it was much different from Maastricht carnival… Unfortunately I was placed just behind a big jar of plants so couldn’t see much and only later did I find out that it was in fact also street carnival, but it was absolutely fantastic to see all that diversity and the pride of the people in their cultural heritage!
So, if that’s only 2 days, then why didn’t you hear from me in a while? Well, we also had a VSO training (which was great fun & also involved dodgy bush bars) and I went to the annual Berger (big German construction company) Christmas party. Nothing is as surreal as visiting such an event when it’s 33 degrees outside, having bratwurst und gluhwein while hearing Last Christmas by Wham on the background… Surreal, but fun!
The entire week I spent in a hotel with AC (even have a cold now) and hot shower, so it’s only because of World Aids Day that I returned to Kubwa to help Amy with her big event. Hopefully with those initiatives we can help create a bit of awareness here, or rather behavioural change. Everyone knows what it is, but especially the men here generally blame promiscuous women, the barber and his razor or the devil, but will not stop to think that it’s maybe their own behaviour that needs change.
Anyway, I apologize when you don’t hear from me that often: both work and partying keep me quite busy… haha!
Looking forward to your stories…
The photos are taken during the Durbar –an event originally meant for emirs showing off. In Nigeria you’ll only find it in the north, but all the emirates were there with horses, camels, weapons and music. The bit where they started charging with their horses while shooting and shouting, was in one word spectacular! I took so many photos that I couldn’t quite select, but they give you an idea.
The day after was the closing ceremony of the carnival (4 days of which I saw the last 2) and all the 36 states of Nigeria were presenting their dance, music, traditional dresses and products. I can say that it was much different from Maastricht carnival… Unfortunately I was placed just behind a big jar of plants so couldn’t see much and only later did I find out that it was in fact also street carnival, but it was absolutely fantastic to see all that diversity and the pride of the people in their cultural heritage!
So, if that’s only 2 days, then why didn’t you hear from me in a while? Well, we also had a VSO training (which was great fun & also involved dodgy bush bars) and I went to the annual Berger (big German construction company) Christmas party. Nothing is as surreal as visiting such an event when it’s 33 degrees outside, having bratwurst und gluhwein while hearing Last Christmas by Wham on the background… Surreal, but fun!
The entire week I spent in a hotel with AC (even have a cold now) and hot shower, so it’s only because of World Aids Day that I returned to Kubwa to help Amy with her big event. Hopefully with those initiatives we can help create a bit of awareness here, or rather behavioural change. Everyone knows what it is, but especially the men here generally blame promiscuous women, the barber and his razor or the devil, but will not stop to think that it’s maybe their own behaviour that needs change.
Anyway, I apologize when you don’t hear from me that often: both work and partying keep me quite busy… haha!
Looking forward to your stories…
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