Nigerians at the Carnival!

Victor Amokeodo
First published: July 1992

The Notting-hill carnival is a time for love, a time for partying, a time to make some quick money a time to move out of the area or a time to meet some casual partners - depending, of course, on who you are. For Nigerians, it is a time to meet up with friends that were last seen a year ago and to fill in on the gossip of the missing months.

As has become the yearly custom, Nigerians took over the entire western half of Cambridge Gardens. They established their presence with suya and jollof rice stands, strains of Fela's music, the unmistakable shouted greetings in pidgin english etc. Ironically, the Nigerian crowd increased greatly over the previous carnival although the general attendance at the carnival fell.

JNA squeezed through this teeming mass of Nigerians to speak to people on their views of the carnival. Many people were satisfied that the carnival remained a meeting point for Nigerians but a significant number of people felt that the Nigerian attendance at the carnival should be more organised. They felt that if countries like Brazil, Philippines and Columbia were in the procession, there was no reason why Nigerians should not be there too.

Tunde Pam-Pam, an accountant from Stratford, summed this up: "It's good that we can all meet here every year but Nigerians should have their own troupe in the procession."

Jide Salu, Publisher of ROCKSHOCK Magazine agreed with this but had other things to comment on: "There are a lot of Nigerians here trying to change their accents and looks. they are pretending and behaving funny. It's annoying. I'm tired of this place."

CARNIVAL TO HIT LAGOS?:

JNA tried to find out how confident Nigerians were of the country's ability to organise a carnival on a similar scale. We asked the people whether they felt it was a good idea to import the carnival to Nigeria, or whether they thought it would be chaotic and disorganised. This was their response:

Yinka Aina of Harrow, Middlesex: "Why not? What do they do to create fun in Nigeria? Nothing. People need something like this in the country. Of course it will be chaotic, but that's half the fun."

"Snai" of Kingsbury said: "It will be okay if the organisers do not seek to make a profit out of it."

Kunle Odusamy: "Every year, there is a small-scale carnival in Bode Thomas, in Lagos anyway, so why shouldn't it work out?"

Gbenga Adekore of Edgware: "No it can't work at all! Nigerian girls are too overdressed for a good carnival. Besides, Nigeria is not exotic enough."

Biodun Adenuga, Enfield: "It can't work because everybody will try to do his own. The Ibo man, the Yoruba man, the Hausa man will all try."

Dr Gboyega Lawal of Greenwich District Hospital: "It's a good idea, but knowing the how funny Nigerians can be, they will probably mess it up. It all depends on the organisers and the part of Nigeria that it takes place."

Segun Olusanya of West Kensington: "It's a brilliant idea! Especially if it incorporates all

cultures. Everyone will meet just like in London. Yes, it will be chaotic but we have many festivals in Nigeria. It will be just another festival like the Eyo festival which has died out and needs a revival."

ABONE IDOWU - MAN OF THE MOMENT

Above the heat and noise in Cambridge gardens that evening, rose the sudden trumpet strains of the Nigerian national anthem. Nigerians were ecstatic! They immediately began to sing the anthem in loud nostalgic voices. After this emotionally exhausting experience, the trumpeter did not relent. He continued with a repertoire of well-known Nigerian

folk tunes like Labe igi orombo and Oni dodo oni moi-moi, to the great joy of the crowd. This was probably the highlight of the carnival, for most Nigerians.

JNA spotted the trumpeter on top of a small caravan, blowing out his sweet music. We decided to talk to him. Hear him: "I was just passing by with a carnival band called Sugumugu when I saw my fellow Nigerians here. I decided to pay tribute to them."

Abone says he teaches music and plays all instruments even though the trumpet is his favourite. He leads his own band, Angel Entertainers, which can be caught playing at Powis square on most days. "We play at concerts, gigs, etc for instance we played during the commonwealth Secretary General's reception at Piccadilly Circus.