TOMORROW, Dr. Ola Balogun’s band, Iroko, will be hosting a Children’s Day celebration in Lagos, from 4 to 6.30pm.
The J.K. Randle Memorial Hall Onikan (next to the Island Club) is venue of the event that will feature Jimi Solanke and Dr. Victor Uwaifo as guest artistes.
The concept behind the Iroko Naija Children’s Day runs counter to the unfortunate trend that has transformed the Father Christmas concept into a monopoly reserved for wealthy Nigerians, said the organisers in a statement.
The organisers said, “it will be an occasion at which every child who shows up dressed in traditional Nigerian costume will be admitted and given a free helping of food and appropriate soft drinks, no matter the child’s social origin, without regard to whether that child is the offspring of lowly placed night guards, bus drivers or highly placed Captains of Industry or Ministers.”
The organisers added, “at the celebrations, children will mingle and be entertained by Iroko performing authentic Nigerian contemporary music (as opposed to hip hop and other imported atrocities!). A professional indigenous dance troupe will also be on hand to teach the children various traditional dance steps, ranging from Ekombi (Efik) to Swange (Tiv) to Npokiti (Igbo) and Ijo olomoge (Yoruba).”
After on the spot coaching, a competition will be organised among all the children to choose the best dancers in various Nigerian dance steps. Prizes will also be awarded for elegant dressing and traditional hairstyles among girls.
The Children’s Day celebration will seek to both glorify Africa’s magnificent cultural heritage and spread a message of love and togetherness among Nigerian children.
To further enhance the occasion, a number of prominent Nigerian personalities noted for proven commitment to the imperatives and values of African culture have been invited to grace the occasion as well as constitute the panels of judges to select prize winners among the children and hand out prizes.
They include Prince Alaba Oniru (One of the highest placed scions of the famous Oniru chieftaincy family of Lagos and Chairman-designate of the occasion); Dr. Mrs. Nike Grange (former Federal Minister of Health); Chief Femi Majekodunmi (the renowned architect); Professor Osato Giwa-Osagie (eminent pioneer of in-vitro child bearing techniques in Nigeria); Dr. Tunde Adeniran (former federal Minister of Education and former Nigerian Ambassador to Germany); Pastor Ituah Ighodalo (founder and pastor of Trinity House, a new generation Nigerian evangelical family currently setting the highest standards of probity and community leadership); Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu (former Federal Minister of Finance); Chief Mrs. Mary Bassey (distinguished literary luminary); Chief Mrs. Yinka Idowu (former regional Head of UNHCR for West Africa) and Mrs Adesuwa Onyenokwe (veteran tv presenter and eminent magazine publisher).
The doors of the JK Randle Memorial hall will be thrown open to children from 3pm onward, while the formal celebrations will begin at 4pm and end at 6.30pm. Parents are welcome to accompany their offspring to enjoy the music and dancing.
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