The 6th cultural day celebration and Nigerian independence party of Lagooz schools was held on Friday, 30th of September, 2011 at their school’s premises in Agege, Lagos. To celebrate Nigeria’s 51st Independence, the students had a clearer picture of Nigeria before and after her independence in 1960. One way used to elucidate this point was the information on different cultural practices in Nigeria through art, drama and dance.
The staff and students of Lagooz Schools were costumed in colorful attires depicting some of the different ethnic groups in Nigeria .i.e. Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Igala, Nupe, Igbiria, Esan, Edo, Itshekiri, Urhobo, Ibibio, Efik etc. The event kicked off with an opening prayer by Pastor (Mrs.) Adeoti and the students recited the National and Lagooz Anthems respectively.
The master of ceremony and head of the organizing committee Mr. Lawal Ismaila addressed and welcomed the children, and the principal Mrs. E.O. Otubela gave the opening speech. Kazeem Balogun from The Tourism and Culture Magazine made a presentation on tourism and its importance through a detailed activity of pre-colonial Nigeria, colonial masters and their tenures, the military rule, the civilian regime, and Nigeria’s struggling democracy. In this way, the magazine is in line with Goge Africa Foundation’s initiative to capitalize on the gains of Nigeria’s freedom in building a brighter future for Africa’s Youths.
The Hausa troupe made a show of the Fulani culture – females dressed in knitted fabric sewn as ‘blouse’ and a wrapper tied around their waist with a Calabash. Males had the same knitted Fabric as the females but with sewn trousers while holding a thin stick on the shoulders behind their necks to mimic cattle rearers.
The Igbo Cultural Troupe entertained the audience with their different styles of dance, while their bodies were adorned colorful wrappers of yellow and red, and their legs with beads that made interesting sounds as they stamped their feet on the ground.
The Yoruba cultural troupe had a traditional display of their indigenous fashion called “aso oke’’ – the females wore the “Iro and Buba’’ while the males wore “buba and sokoto’’. A lecture on the Origin of the Yoruba people was given by the coordinator, who provided deep insights on the creation of the Yoruba people, how the children of Oduduwa separated into different parts of West Nigeria, and how they migrated and formed the 7 clans they represent today. In lieu of this, a Bata dance performance was presented.
To end the celebration, there was a Drama presentation with a title, “Nigeria’s Unity’’ demonstrating to us Nigeria’s need for love, care, peace and unity.