By Milton Tella – The highly successful 4th edition of the African Cultural Gala Night, which held at the Hilton Hotel Croydon, United Kingdom on the 6th of October 2023, left majority of the audience wanting some more. The event was a huge credit to the founder, Ayan De First – Mr Culture and his supportive team.
The large gathering of British African guests began, to arrive at the venue of the highly advertised celebration of the arts, music and rich culture of Africans as early as 4.00pm dressed in flamboyant and colourful regalia to showcase their pride and heritage.
The exhilarating evening explored the rich and diverse aspects of the African culture, arts, clothing, food, music, story-telling and palm wine drunk in calabashes.
The excitement of the evening reached a crescendo with the illuminating cultural performances that featured colourful ensembles from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Morocco, Mali, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal and Nigeria.
To cap the evening performances was the spectacular stage appearance of Mr Culture himself with the talking drum and backed by trumpeters, drummers and cymbalists that sent reverberating messages to the diaspora to reclaim their roots.
The organiser & founder of the African Cultural Showcase Gala Night Ayan De First – Mr Culture said, “It is important for Africans not to lose their cultural heritage. It has been a long time dream for me to celebrate Africa’s diverse culture and tradition on a global stage.”
The showcase was compared by the duo of MC Mark and Rose Grayham had in attendance large arrays of royal sons and daughters from diverse tribes in Africa, Chiefs, Diplomats, British politicians, celebrities and notable members of the community.
A number of special guests in attendances were Hon. Abike Dabiri – Erewa Chair, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Cllr. Michael Situ, Mayor of London Borough of Southwark, Princess Golda & Prince Mike Abiola, Otunba Femi Okutubo, Dr & Mrs Peter Ozua, Otunba Bimbo Folayan and wife, Councillor Kate Anolue, Councillor Adedamola Aminu and wife, Councillor Sunny Lambe, Dr Boma & Mrs June Douglas, Dr. Abbey Akinoshun, Princess Moradeun Adedoyin Solarin, Princess Toyin Onagoruwa, Princess Banke Hastrup, Hon. Doyin Ola, Sunny Faseun, HRH Theodora Ibekwe Oyebade, Cordelia Emeh, Adesola Adeyeye, Mr & Mrs Bamgbopa and many others.
Congratulations to Mr Culture and the planning committee members on another hugely successful African Cultural Gala Night. Majority cannot wait for the 2024 edition as the event has proven to be a regular part of the social calendar of the British African community in the UK.
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