Nigerian culture was put on display in an all-out celebration March 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the D.P. Culp Student Center Auditorium.
“Culture Shares” is a new series of events hosted by the ETSU Multicultural Center that work to showcase and celebrate the diversity of cultures that populate campus. The event was set up by Brittany Brooks, coordinator of International Student Success with the ETSU Multicultural Center. ETSU Shades of Africa was also a partner of the event.
“We have so many wonderful diverse cultures represented on campus through our international student population,” said Brooks. “So we wanted to give them a platform and a place to share and teach the ETSU community and to really celebrate the awesome cultures that we have here on campus.”
The audience saw a range of performances and dances, and a special Nigerian dinner was also served in the Culp Center Dining Hall.
Students learned about the three broad ethnic groups of Nigeria: the Yoruba Tribe, which was told by public health student Ejiwumi Opeyemi, the Igbo Tribe, which was taught by public health student Joy Okoro and the Hausa Tribe, which was taught by graduate student Greg Odey.
“So for you to understand Nigeria as a country and the people and the culture, we decided to split it into the three major ethic groups and give you explicitly told discussion about these people so you will appreciate Nigeria as a people,” said Odey.
Attendees saw two musical performances by rappers. Both musicians showed off their dance moves, much to the enjoyment of the clapping and whistling crowd.
“Nigeria is a huge country; it has 500 languages, 250 ethnic groups and 200 million people,” said Opeyemi, who gave the audience a little background on Nigeria.
Students were treated in the dining hall with spiced chicken, beef and peppers with jollof rice, as well as fried rice as a side.
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