“And each time they win, it’s a victory for us Nigerians as a result of we’re one. Jamaica and Nigeria, one folks, one future, one historical past,” mentioned Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria's Minister of Overseas Affairs.
He referred to Jamaica's “famous person athletes” final Sunday night throughout his speech on the Emancipation Anniversary Vigil on the Seville Heritage Park in St. Ann, the place he was a particular visitor.
“It's not simply Jamaicans, it's Nigerians, it's Africans. And each time they dash, we cheer them on with 210 million folks,” he additionally mentioned.
Black Jamaicans are folks descended from the Africans who had been dropped at the island and enslaved on sugar cane and different plantations. Jamaican tradition subsequently has its foundation in what the Africans introduced with them from Nigeria, Ghana and different West African areas.
Seville in St Ann was the primary Spanish settlement on the island. It was a plantation the place many Africans lived and died. A tomb containing the stays of Africans discovered on the location a while in the past was reburied. Now Jamaica and Nigeria have robust diplomatic ties, with Nigeria being one of many few African international locations to have a everlasting diplomatic put up on the island.
Over time the ties appear to have grown stronger. And based on Minister Onyeama, in Jamaican, the Nigerian Excessive Fee is “doing a lot to deliver our folks collectively.” The theme of the night, 'Reigniting the African Spirit', was subsequently acceptable in additional methods than one, and the Nigerian Excessive Fee and the Nigerian Authorities absolutely supported it.
“President Buhari was decided that Nigeria can be represented right here. He requested me to return right here to signify over 200 million Nigerians and present like to our brothers and sisters in Jamaica; to inform you that we’re very a lot with you, and that we really feel very a lot part of you; and naturally you might be a part of us. And to deliver solidarity and good needs from the folks of Nigeria,” Minister Onyeama mentioned.
He famous that this was his fourth go to and that it was all the time a “nice pleasure to be in Jamaica.”
The minister mentioned he felt extra at dwelling in Jamaica than in every other nation and it was as if he had not left Nigeria.
“Once I see a Jamaican, I see a Nigerian, no distinction bodily or every other attribute.” He famous that the 2 peoples are equally aggressive, cussed and powerful.
In his congratulations to those that organized a “unbelievable anniversary”, Minister Onyeama described Sunday night’s present as “spectacular”. Nigerians themselves had been additionally a part of the spectacle, because the Nigerian authorities had despatched “considered one of its best cultural teams” to indicate us “only a style of Nigeria's wealthy tradition.” They teamed up with some compatriots who dwell right here for an entertaining show of conventional Nigerian theatre. There was additionally a 'Welcome to Nigeria' stall with conventional objects and printed clothes.
A well-received four-part presentation dramatized a standard Nigerian wedding ceremony, with the mother and father of each bride and groom absolutely concerned. It was a portrayal of an actual life state of affairs the place a marriage/marriage is a really severe matter. Then there was a serenade to Jamaica from a feminine Nigerian physician who labored on the Kingston Public Hospital. And there have been {couples} from the Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa folks presenting numerous tribal dances.
Via an attractive narrator, holding a 'spearhead', the climax got here with a battle dance, that includes characters just like these within the Jamaican Jonkunno, solely extra elaborate and flamboyant. And because the performers mesmerized the viewers, Minister Onyeama and Dr. Maureen Tamuno, the Excessive Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Jamaica, appeared on and beamed with delight.
On diplomatic and bilateral cooperation, Minister Onyeama paid tribute to the Minister of Overseas Affairs and Overseas Commerce, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, for the work she is “doing to strengthen the connection between Nigeria and Jamaica”, for which larger contact can be ought to be by way of direct air connections. He mentioned it’s the coverage of the Nigerian authorities to prioritize Nigeria's relationship with the Caribbean, with Jamaica being the point of interest of such relationship.
He expressed his delight that Jamaica was changing into a veritable vacationer vacation spot for a lot of Nigerians and that there can be larger cooperation within the areas of sports activities, enterprise, tourism, music, economics and commerce. “The Nigerian Authorities has particularly supported a Technical Help Corps program to encourage younger Nigerian professionals to return and share their information and expertise with the folks of Jamaica,” he mentioned.
