Convener of the Flavours of Nigeria Festival, Chukwuebuka Anyaduba, has urged Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to support cultural festivals as a way of preserving heritage and promoting the country’s image abroad.
Speaking at the second edition of the festival held at Brampton’s Gage Park in Canada, Anyaduba said such platforms go beyond entertainment and food, serving as bridges between generations and nations.
“Flavours of Nigeria go far beyond food. It is an immersive cultural showcase that weaves together gastronomy, music, fashion, arts, and crafts into one rich experience.
“However, festivals like this require support not only from government and corporate sponsors, but also from Nigerians themselves, both at home and abroad.
“They thrive on participation, funding, and the willingness of the community to share and preserve its story,” Anyaduba said in a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Friday.
The 2025 festival, themed “A Cultural Voyage,” spotlighted the historic Benin culture of Edo State.
Highlights included performances by the Afrikan Peach Cultural Group, Ugandan Cultural Troupe, Bepraise Sax, Shemilore, and the arrival of the towering Ike ka Ike masquerade from Nigeria, which drew loud applause from the crowd.
The statement said hundreds of Nigerians, Caribbeans, Canadians, and other Africans turned out to celebrate the festival.
It added that many attendees described the experience as an opportunity to reconnect with Nigerian traditions, while others saw it as a chance to introduce their children to their roots.
“I’ve never seen a masquerade before. It makes me feel closer to where my parents come from,” said Sarah, a Nigerian-Canadian teenager, who watched in awe with her parents.
The Nigerian High Commission in Canada was represented by Charge d’Affaires Ambassador Abba Zanna-Kawu, alongside several Canadian lawmakers, ministers, and councillors. Nollywood actor Uzee Usman, artiste Jumabee, and celebrity chef Sanni Sherif also joined the celebration.
Co-Convener, Ambassador Akin Oduntan, thanked sponsors and partners, stressing that more Nigerians must rally behind cultural initiatives abroad to ensure their continuity.
