Fashion, dance and music took centre stage as Germany marked its thirty sixth Unity Day celebration in Lagos, with Nigerian creatives showcasing completely different expressions of the nation’s tradition and inventive heritage.
Held on the German Consulate General in Victoria Island on Tuesday, November 3, the cultural competition introduced collectively diplomats, enterprise leaders and friends for a night that highlighted the position of inventive expression in strengthening connections between Nigeria and Germany.
The programme opened with a trend presentation of the Eko Collection, that includes regionally designed items created by Nigerian designers educated by a German-supported initiative.
Displayed in opposition to a backdrop bearing the Eko Collection and GIZ logos, fashions walked the runway in outfits showcasing the work of designers who had obtained coaching by the Eko Fashion undertaking.
The initiative, supported by Germany’s improvement cooperation company, GIZ, concerned designers educated in a number of expertise, together with Adire manufacturing, sample drafting, digital trend illustration and e-commerce.
A drafting wall displayed on the venue, additionally produced by beneficiaries of the programme, represented the friendship and collaboration between Nigeria and Germany.
The presentation highlighted how expertise improvement and worldwide partnerships can create alternatives for younger folks in Nigeria’s inventive trade.
Celebrating Unity Through Culture
The programme continued with German language college students from Obafemi Awolowo University performing the nationwide anthems of Germany and Nigeria.
Addressing friends, German Consul General Daniel Krull mirrored on the importance of German Unity Day, which commemorates the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990 following the autumn of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
This 12 months’s theme, “Many Strengths, One Nation”, was drawn from the official celebration in Bremen, Germany.
Krull stated the theme carried a message related past Germany, highlighting the power that comes from folks with completely different backgrounds, abilities and experiences working collectively.
“Diversity is our greatest strength because when people with different backgrounds, talents and experiences come together and join forces, they achieve what no one alone could do,” he stated.
He additionally shared the story of the Bremen Town Musicians, a fairy story by the Brothers Grimm about 4 ageing animals who depart their former houses and are available collectively in the hunt for a brand new objective.
Krull used the story for instance how people with completely different talents can obtain extra by cooperation.
The message of unity and variety was mirrored in a dance efficiency that introduced collectively up to date Nigerian avenue tradition and conventional African heritage.
One group of dancers appeared in black streetwear, performing energetic city choreography to Nigerian street-pop, whereas one other group wore vibrant conventional outfits that includes patterned materials, layered wraps and elaborate feathered headdresses.
The two teams carried out contrasting dance kinds earlier than coming collectively on stage for a unified finale, creating a visible illustration of various cultural expressions sharing the identical house.
Music Brings The Celebration To A Close
Music carried the celebration into the evening, with performances by Oge Kimono, Nneka and Ade Bantu and associates.
The artistes introduced completely different sounds and kinds to the occasion, giving friends a possibility to expertise Nigerian music as a part of the celebration of German-Nigerian cultural connections.
In an interview with Arise News, International Nigerian musician Femi Kuti described cultural trade as an necessary method for international locations to construct relationships.
“I think it’s very important,” he stated.
“Culture is probably one of the most important, what you like to call it, exchanges that unify countries together.”
Kuti, who referenced his experiences with cultural exchanges involving France, the Netherlands and Germany, stated international locations shared their cultures by artwork, music and different fields.
He added that a number of embassies in Nigeria organised cultural actions that introduced folks from completely different backgrounds collectively.
The celebration provided a glimpse of how cultural trade can prolong past diplomatic engagements, creating alternatives for folks to share their traditions, showcase their creativity and discover frequent floor by trend, dance and music.
Ademide Adebayo
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