The Nigerian (Yoruba) community in Austria celebrated a decade of Adire International Carnival in grand style. The Adire Carnival has been part of the Nigerian cultural festival celebration since her inception in the summer of 2013, with a short break in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. The three-day event started with an art exhibition organised in collaboration with the Susanna Wenger Foundation, showcasing the works of the late Susanna Wenger, also known as Aduni Olorisha, who is originally from Austria but lived, died, and was buried in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
The exhibition was attended by VIPs like His Royal Majesty Oba Pro. (Dr.) Adeyemi Obalanlege (The Olotao of Ota, Aworl Land of Ogun State, Nigeria) and Chief Mrs. Lola Ayorinde (Erelu Tuwashe), among others. Thousands of works of art from the late Osun Princess were on display.
Day 2 – Adire Carnival
The second day of the festival was dedicated to the children. The children were given the opportunity to display their knowledge of Yoruba culture and language skills, and the Yoruba language competition was well contested. The day was also devoted to the exhibition of made-in-Nigeria products. Despite the visa problem encountered by most exhibitors due to the refusal of the Austrian Embassy in Nigeria to support the event as they used to do in the past, the exhibition venue was filled to capacity, and many made-in-Nigeria products were on display.
The highlight of the day-two event was the interactive sessions by the Amazon of Nigeria in Diaspora, Honourable Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa OON, Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM. She encouraged the audience to unite and promote their different cultural heritages. Hon. Abike Dabiri noted that our diversity should be our strength. She encourages the Nigerians in the Diaspora to always promote Nigeria in a very positive way. She then took questions from the audience during the short Q&A session. The audience were then treated to a dinner and light entertainment by the organisers of the event thereafter.
The final day, Saturday, June 29, 2024, was set aside for the main event, the Adire International Carnival, tagged the Carnival of Peace and Unity. The carnival procession was declared open by the Head of Mission of the Nigerian Embassy in Vienna, Austria. His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Dogondaji Haliru BELLO handed over the Nigerian and Austrian mini flags to the president of the Yoruba Community in Austria (Egbe Omo Oduduwa Austria), Mr. Olanrewaju Fagbodun, to flag off the event. The carnival train then moved from the Nigerian Embassy in the third district of Vienna to the Weltmuseum in the first district of Vienna. The procession was joined by many VIPs, which included Ambassador Dr. Dogondaji Haliru BELLO, Hon. (Dr.) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, OON. Chairman/CEO NIDCOM, His Royal Majesty Oba Prof. (Dr.) Adeyemi Obalanlege (Olota of Ota Awori Land, Ogun State), and the King of the Yoruba community in France, Oba Sadiq Bamidele ADERONMU, among others.
Olota of Otta Awori Kingdom Leads Celebration
A young, beautiful Nigerian lady from Manchester in the United Kingdom Miss Victoria Ibukunoluwa LARUNSI was crowned the 2024 Adire International Carnival Queen. Many prominent personalities were also recognised for their exceptional services. Prominent among them are:
- His Royal Majesty Oba Pro. (Dr.) Adeyemi Obalanlege (Olota of Ota Awori Land) – Patron of the Adire Int. Carnival.
- Chief Mrs Lola Ayorinde (Erelu Tuwashe) – Matron of the Adire Int. Carnival
- Ms. Barbara ALLI (CEO, Handmade Story) – Award of Excellence
- Princess Adejoke SHOMOYE (Ewaede) – Award of Excellence/Adire Ambassador
- Mr. Mohammed AMANNI (Nigeria Embassy Vienna) – Award of Excellence
The Adire International Carnival, which is adjudged the largest gathering of Nigerians outside the shores of Nigeria, made good her name as it was attended by Nigerian Diasporans from the USA, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and Hungary. Stay up to date on the latest in fashion, arts, beauty, and lifestyle by following FAB L’Style Magazine.
Adire International Carnival is a cultural event organised to promote Nigerian cultural heritage, tourism, trade, and commerce and to foster a friendly relationship between Nigeria and our host country, Austria. The event also served as a vessel to promote the Adire (Batik) textile fabric, which originated in the western part of Nigeria. The event supports the small-scale and middle-scale textile industry with the creation of job opportunities for men and women selling textile fabric used for the Adire design, the different colour dyes, the fabric binders, people dying the fabrics, the dryers, ironing workers, and the traders selling the fabrics after production. It also serves as a foreign exchange earner for the government, as thousands of bundles of Adire fabrics are being exported to Austria and other parts of the world. The 2024 Adire International Carnival was indeed a great success.
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