Naija Market Day shines spotlight on Nigerian culture in Winnipeg

Many members of the Nigerian community came out to Soul Sanctuary in Winnipeg Saturday to celebrate the culture with a traditional market. Joanne Roberts has the story.

Winnipeg’s Nigerian community celebrated their culture with the city’s first-ever Naija Market Day on Saturday.

The community came out in droves for the event, which brought a taste of Nigerian celebration to the south end of Winnipeg.

“Naija means Nigeria. That’s a nickname. Today we are bringing Nigeria and indeed Africa down to this venue,” said organizer Abiodun Adetu.

Adetu says Naija Market Day was about showcasing local Nigerian talent, and letting the city know people don’t have to travel to Africa to engage with the culture and its arts.

Naija Market Day organizer Abiodun Adetu. (Joanne Roberts, CityNews)

At the Soul Sanctuary on Saturday, people could find a wide variety of vendors from the Nigerian and Carribean community. Traditional wear, fashion accessories and traditional foods were among the dozen stalls at the venue.

“In Nigeria, we have markets,” Adetu said. “It’s not like a ‘Superstore’ or your ‘Walmart.’

“We miss home. And this is a way of saying, ‘this is home to you.’”

Many leaders in the Nigerian community attended the event, including Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Uzoma Asagwara, ACOMI’s past president Titi Tijani and NAMI’s Vera Keyede.

“We love fun,” Abetu said. “Celebration is always grand.”

Winnipeg’s Naija Market Day, a celebration of Nigerian culture, on June 8, 2024. (Joanne Roberts, CityNews)
Winnipeg’s Naija Market Day, a celebration of Nigerian culture, on June 8, 2024. (Joanne Roberts, CityNews)

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