LIFE & STYLE: People, Places and Events

IN a bid to promote the culture and tradition of the Osun people on an international platform, the state government recently partnered Eko Promotions to feature Oduduwa float at the Notting Hill Carnival held recently in London. The procession, which featured other cultural displays by other Nigerians in their traditional regalia, especially those from the Yoruba speaking states, witnessed a colorful display of African culture. Featuring for the first time in the history of the carnival that brings people across the globe together, the event paraded activities such as the famous Eyo masquerade, Sango, drummers and traditional dancers, who showcased electrifying steps. Speaking on the project, the Creative Directors of Eko Promotions, Mrs. Bose Akindipe, informed that the initiative was conceived as a platform to celebrate the rich culture of the state, as well as educate the younger generation on the importance of tradition. There is a large number of Nigerians in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world, she said. “These set of people are already feeling a sense of disconnect from their background and events such as this help to refresh their memory.” According to Akindipe, the Yoruba tribe has a very rich culture, which should always be showcase to the world. “Like other cultures in Nigeria, we need to create opportunities to promote the Yoruba culture; Notting Hill was a perfect opportunity to sell our culture. With the level of participation by Nigerians in the UK, it’s obvious that we still have people, who are committed to their roots.” Explaining the choice of Osun State as a partner for this event, Anthony Joseph noted that, “the source of the Yoruba origin is Osun State; it has demonstrated enough commitment to the advancement of Yoruba culture in and outside Nigerian. We are confident that subsequent events will provide opportunities for brands and organisations to showcase their products and services to the world.”