TV Programme to Highlight Connection Between Ireland and Nigeria
Documentary based on two Nigerian-Irish will be broadcast on RTE 2 television at 9.30pm this evening, Wednesday 14th December. It focuses on the experiences of Mr. Kamal Ibrahim and Ms. Jummy Agboola.
Mr. Kamal Ibrahim pictured with Ms. Favour Mwoga - Miss Nigeria Ireland 2016. Courtesy of www.independent.ie
The Nigerian diaspora make up one of the largest non-European minorities living in Ireland. A paegant titled 'Miss Nigeria Ireland', which follows a similar pattern to the Rose of Tralee, is one of the focal points of the social calendar for Nigerians living in Ireland. Part of the prize for winning the pageant is a charity trip to Nigeria. Jummy Agboola was last year’s winner and features on tonight’s documentary.
According to the Miss Nigeria Ireland website, the event 'celebrates Nigerian women and promotes the cultures and traditions of Nigeria as a people. Over the years, the organization has produced role models that have made us very proud of who we are as Africans and the Nigerians diaspora'.
Kamal Ibrahim was born in Lagos but moved to Limerick with his family at the age of eight. Ahead of the programme, Mr. Ibrahi, spoke to RTE about his background:
"It's kind of funny thing the boxes I tick. I'm a black Irishman with an Arabic name whose Christian, with an Italian Irish mother and a Nigerian father."
Kamal also shared what viewers of the documentary can expect:
"The documentary is exploring Nigerian fashion, food, music, traditions in Ireland, how it's integrated and the affects it's had. It's also kind of evolved into me going back to Nigeria after 22 years and rediscovering a hidden past. I've no real memories of living there, which is weird because I was 8 when I left."
Mr. Ibrahim was one of the judges in this year's edition of Miss Nigeria Ireland. The paegant is now sponsored by Mr. David Arowolo who heads up the Lucan based bread company ‘Heritage Confectionaries'.
Many OLA Sisters spent years on mission in schools, health facilities and in parishes across Nigeria. The Sisters continue to keep in contact with the Nigerian community in Ireland, some of whom are past pupils of OLA schools. Heritage Bread was one of the many gifts received from a Nigerian family who recently visited the OLA Sisters in Rostrevor.
Click here for more on the work of the OLA Sisters in Nigeria.
Click here for more in Miss Nigeria Ireland.
Click here to watch the documentary.
