Donegal’s African community celebrates end of year with cultural celebration

Members of the African community in Donegal recently gathered in Letterkenny for their end of the year party, an event filled with cultural celebration, reflection and unity, held under the theme of “children first”.

The well-attended event brought together families and individuals from different African backgrounds, creating a vibrant atmosphere that celebrated shared values, culture and community spirit while placing strong emphasis on the welfare and upbringing of children.

Addressing attendees, the chairperson of the African Community Donegal, Mr Billy Banda, spoke passionately about the importance of integrating Africans into the wider Donegal community. He encouraged members to reflect on the moments and shared experiences that brought them together and urged everyone to continue supporting one another.

“We must always be our brothers’ keepers,” Mr Banda said, highlighting unity, kindness and collective responsibility as key pillars of the community.

Some of those that attended  the event

Mr Banda expressed appreciation to the Ipas centres in Inishowen for their continued support, particularly for providing transportation and donations that enabled many members to attend the event. He also commended the executives of the association for successfully organising the programme and thanked members for turning out en masse.

He noted that the kindness and support shown by all made it possible to celebrate together, share laughter and end the year on a joyful note. According to him, the end-of-year programme was more than just a party.

“This event is a reminder of the strong, caring and united community we are lucky to be part of,” he added.

Speaking at the event, the organiser of the African Community Donegal, Mr Tony Abimbola, addressed the gathering on the theme of “children first”, calling on parents to take a more active role in preserving African cultural values among the younger generation. He warned against the gradual erosion of African traditions and urged parents to deliberately instil cultural practices in their children to ensure they remain connected to their roots.

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Mr Abimbola further advised parents to be vigilant about the company their children keep, emphasising the importance of proper guidance and timely correction as essential elements of good upbringing. He reminded parents that children represent their future and cautioned against prioritising work over parental responsibilities. Acknowledging that many families live far from their countries of origin, he stressed that caring for and nurturing their children should be a top priority to ensure they grow into responsible and productive adults.

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of prizes, including the Most Well Dressed Male award, which was won by  Lukmon Ademoye. Expressing his happiness, Mr Ademoye appreciated the organisers for putting together what he described as a meaningful and unifying programme. He noted that such events continue to strengthen unity among Africans in the diaspora.

 From(L-R) The winner of the most dressed African man, Mr Luqman̈ Ademoye, the Organiser, African Community Donegal, Mr Tony Abimbola and the winner of the most dressed in the female category, Lady - Lolo Nse Precious Chidinma Iheukwumere while receiving their prizes

Sharing their experiences, attendees Mr Efe, Miss Elizabeth Fawibe, and Olaide Lawal said they thoroughly enjoyed the event. They praised the cultural display of traditional clothing, food and music, noting that it made them feel as though they were back in their various home countries.

 The event also saw the recognition of outstanding young achievers within the community. Nina Nwankwo and Erick Nwankwo were honoured for their impressive performances in basketball, while Isaac Joel and David Olaniyan received awards for excellence in soccer. Paul Bruce and Daniel Adeyeke were also recognised for their achievements in football.

In addition, prizes were presented to Chika, Angel and Georgia, who emerged winners of the dance competition. Lolo Nse Precious Chidima Iheukwumere and Luqman Ademoye were crowned Best Dressed in the female and male categories respectively. The celebration was rounded off with award presentations, games and vibrant dance performances, bringing the event to a memorable and high-spirited conclusion.

Overall, the end of the year party reaffirmed the African Community Donegal’s commitment to unity, cultural preservation and putting children at the heart of community development.