By Patricia Igho - Lagos, Nigeria

The long-anticipated Caribbean Tropical Fiesta 2024 hosted by Nigerian West Indian Association took place on Saturday the 20th of July at the Whitesands School in Lekki Lagos, Nigeria. The venue was colorful and the ambiance was nothing short of breathtaking. 

The bustling scenes took me down memory lane sometime in the early 1990s, when we would have yearly carnivals with different zones in Lagos, competing to win 'best costume' etc. Back then we had super talented 'aunties' who would make the glamorous costumes from scratch. 

These gatherings organised by Caribbean wives of Nigerian men living in Nigeria,  formed some of the most memorable times in my life. We would dance to calypso music all the way from our different zones at Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island. Big brands like Coca-cola were consistent with their sponsorship.

Carnival as we knew it, came to an abrupt end in ‘92 due to some political issues in Nigeria I'd rather not revisit. It is a sad time when a culture is allowed to diminish or die.  

Mini fiestas however continued to hold at every opportunity during private meetings and gatherings of friends and family, weddings, funerals, birthdays, and who can forget the bazaars organised by our special ‘Aunties’. The aroma of delicious snacks and food filling the air. Many Island cultures are represented here in Lagos. Escovitch fish was my personal favorite. 

Fast forward to 2024. After three decades and much deliberation, the Nigerian West Indian Association is considering  bringing back the Carnival. A lot has happened in that time, some families have relocated, a lot of 'aunties' have lost their husbands and moved back to their Caribbean home countries. That's not to say that there's a scarcity of able hands. The next generation of children and grandchildren are getting the idea for continuation. This is not a culture we would like to be forgotten.

The fiesta was an opportunity for people to have a taste of West Indian culture. The venue was decorated with real colorful flowers. There were stalls all across the hall, with displays of food, clothing and spices to name a few. The venue buzzed with activities, dance, games, a raffle draw, as the sound of Soca music filled the air. I took note of a few veterans of Lagos, as they beamed with nostalgia. 

The full day event slowly wound down as evening came. It was a success and plans are underway for another event later in the year. 

Recommended Read

The NigerWives of Nigeria by Pat Oyelola  is a book that documents the history, activities, experiences and lives of a group of foreign women who are married to Nigerian men and came together under the umbrella of their association, Nigerwives. Nigerwives was formed as an association to facilitate the smooth integration of foreign wives of Nigerians into Nigerian society, to provide friendship and support for one another, and to establish or assist in social projects that would benefit the Nigerian community.

Patricia Igho is of Nigeria/St. Vincent & The Grenadines parentage, and lives in Lagos.

Photos by Uzo Agafie